Month: March 2019

Almost 20 years after it was taken off the events calendar in Monaco, Elegance and Automobile Monte Carlo is back on the agenda. The exceptional event brings together an impressive number of vintage and contemporary cars in one luxurious location for the public to enjoy.

Formerly part of ‘Rallye Monte-Carlo de Voitures Anciennes’, the 13th and final edition was held in September 2001.

“This prestigious event is in line with the great tradition of authenticity that Monte Carlo is famous for, mixing past, present and future,” says organiser the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM). “It is the result of a strong commitment to renaissance, by ACM, in order to exhibit the most exceptional antique and vintage cars, as well as to make sure that they parade in front of a public of enthusiasts, a bit like top-models on the catwalk during Paris Fashion Week.”

Far away from the roar of motor racing competitions, the aim is to showcase prestigious pre-War (1930-1940) and post-War (1950-60) cars with superb contemporary cars. With the support of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, around 50 have been chosen by ACM to take part. Participants will be welcomed on Thursday 27thJune at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, their home for the whole duration of the event. On Friday 28th June, in the true spirit of the past, they will enjoy a pleasant ride in the countryside.

On Saturday 29thJune, another dimension will be added to the event at the prestigious Place du Casino in Monte-Carlo. The cars will be exhibited in both static and dynamic conditions in front of a jury of personalities, followed by asumptuous gala dinner in the private lounges of the Monte Carlo Casino.

Last but not least, on Sunday 30thJune, within the Prince’s Palace, the Final Awards Ceremony will be held in the presence of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.

The world-famous Monte Carlo square will soon reclaim the rest of its gardens, as temporary luxury boutiques bid their final farewells. This marks one of the finishing stages of a multi-billion euro development and a new era for Monaco.

The development of One Monte Carlo and the extension/renovation of the Hôtel de Paris meant that a significant number of luxury shops had to be rehoused. The post-modern Pavilions were created in the only space that was still available – the Boulingrins Gardens.

Now, One Monte Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris are completed, and removal of the futuristic, pebble-like Pavilions is the final phase of the development of this new sector.

The Société des Bains de Meraims to restore the Boulingrins Gardens by the end of June, and the very small number of businesses that remain are likely to be gone April.

Next, the Casino Square itself will receive a facelift, just in time to welcome the Elegance and Automobile event, which will be held from 27th to 30th June. Organised by the Automobile Club of Monaco, it will showcase 50 of the most exceptional vintage cars in the world in front of the Monte Carlo Casino and the Palace Square. That’s certainly one date to put in your diary!

There’ll be major upheaval in the streets of Monaco from the end of March as Monaco Telecom continues the rollout of its optical fiber network. Residents, pedestrians and motorists in the quartier des fleurs will bear the brunt of the works.

The Fleur district of Monaco is set to undergo six months’ worth of work, involving rue des Lauriers, rue des Roses, rue des Géraniums and avenue Saint Michel.

The three-part project will be handled by Monaco Telecom, the Monegasque Water Company and the Urban Planning Department for Sanitation.

“This operation is part of a project to deploy optical fiber in the Principality, a project that will take a few years,” said Martin Peronnet, CEO of Monaco Telecom.

The company is aiming to equip 100% of eligible buildings by the year 2023. In the case of non-eligible buildings, more substantial and long-term works are to be expected. Nearly 76% of buildings in the Principality are apparently “difficult to equip”.

“The first step is to take the fiber from our premises to the buildings and connect it to the apartments. This is an evolution for the Principality,” said Mr Peronnet.

The sanitation work is expected to be significant given the deep nature of the network, revealed the Director of Urban Planning Jean-Luc Puyo. Water cuts are planned, but they will be announced to residents. In addition, anti-noise devices and traffic changes will be put in place.

“This work will have a major impact on the neighborhood, so we are trying anticipate the movement of pedestrians and vehicles. There will be no parallel work in the streets,” said Mr Puyo.

The works will begin on 25th March and are expected to conclude on 10th October.

Four children from developing countries have received life-saving operations thanks to money raised at the last No Finish Line.

The popular event was held in November 2018 in Monaco, with more than 15,000 people taking part. They all walked or ran a total 432,662 kilometres, meaning that the NGO Children & Future was able to donate €432,662 to the various projects that it supports.

The highest donation of more than €100,000 was given to the Cardio-Thoracic Centre by Monaco Collectif Humanitaire to help children in need.

It was revealed this week that four children suffering congenital heart disease have been receiving life-saving surgery thanks to the donation. They are: four-year-old Awa from Mali, nine-year-old Nouredine from Burkina Faso, 11-year-old Ahmet from Senegal, and nine-year-old Tony Blaise from Burundi.

Princess Alexandra of Hanover lended her support to the 2018 No Finish Line, as well captain of the legendary Roca basketball team Amara Sy.

A delegation of Business Russia members has been hosted by the Monaco Economic Board. It was aimed at strengthening relations that the MEB has built with Russia for over five years and has resulted in numerous business partnerships between the country and state.

The delegation was welcomed in the new MonacoTech establishment on Monday 11th March. It was organised with the backing of the Monaco Embassy in Russia and other entities in the Principality.

The day began with presentations by various ‘Team Monaco’ organisations to highlight the advantages of living and working in the Principality. They included the MEB, Monaco For Finance (AMAF), the Tourism and Convention Authority, the Princess Grace Hospital and event host MonacoTech, which took the opportunity to pitch three of its startups – Onhys, Surgisafe and Coraliotech.

Around 30 representatives and members of Business Russia, most from the St. Petersburg region, then presented projects for which they are looking for partners/investors in a range of sectors – real estate, events with the famous St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), arts, health and land use planning.

Fifty MEB members attended, taking advantage of a networking cocktail that followed to make new contacts and broaden their networks at the highest level.

The event has reaffirmed the strong ties that the MEB has forged with Russia since 2013 when it organised its first Trade Mission to Moscow. Two years later, as part of Russian Year in Monaco, the MEB hosted 50-plus entrepreneurs for a business forum at which three partnership agreements were signed with the Russian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, RSPP (Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs) and Business Russia. In 2016 and 2017, two more Trade Missions to Moscow further consolidated ties and allowed follow-up of operations already initiated.

For 2019, to further expand networks and provide new opportunities to members, the MEB is set for a Trade Mission to Rostov on the Don on 17thto 19thSeptember 2019, and is looking at the possibility of a return trip to St. Petersburg in the light of the success of Monday’s event.