Prince Albert has inaugurated a special exhibition in Italy dedicated to Claude Monet and to which he leant one of his own precious artworks to be showcased.
Prince Albert and Marianne Mathieu in Bordighera
The exhibition, titled ‘Monet, back in the Riviera’, comes 135 years after his visit to the region. Three paintings by the famous French artist have returned to where they were made.
The project is the result of a collaboration between the Marmottan Monet Museum of Paris and the work of Marianne Mathieu, in charge of the museum collections. Two of the three paintings on display, ‘The Castle of Dolceacqua’ and ‘Sasso Valley. Sun Effect’, come from the Marmottan Monet museum, while the third, ‘Monte Carlo seen from Roquebrune’, comes from the private collection of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The paintings, all made in 1884 during the artist’s stay on the Riviera, will be exhibited in two different locations. ‘Sasso Valley. Sun Effect’ can be admired at Villa Regina Margherita in Bordighera, while ‘The Castle of Dolceacqua’ and ‘Monaco, seen from Roquebrune’ are on display at the Doria Castle in Dolceacqua.
The inauguration on 29th April took place in the presence of Italian authorities, the mayor of Dolceacqua Fulvio Gazzola, the mayor of Bordighera Vittorio Ingenito, HSH Prince Albert II, director of the Museum Marmottan Monet of Paris Patrick de Carolis, and scientific director Marianne Mathieu.
The exhibition will be open to the public until 31st July. For further information visit: https://www.monetinriviera.it
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Saint Tropez to Monaco: A cycling adventure for charity
Monaco Life’s Lauren Coles joined riders on the annual COCC on the weekend and learned that, together with champagne and oysters, it is charity that drives the hearts of these cyclists.
The sky was partially cloudy as a gentle wind blew across the port in Saint Tropez. But as the sun rose, the wind got stronger. Gary Sacks woke from his cabin aboard motor yacht Lizzi. He’d sailed there from Port de la Rague after arriving in a prop jet from London with Tom Upton. Along with Monaco local Kevin Bonnie, the group had tracked their way across air and sea to the jewel of the French Riviera for one reason: charity, and the beneficiary was the Princess Charlene Foundation, best known for its projects preventing children from drowning.
“It’s a good excuse to go riding and do something good at the same time,” said Sacks.
Former pro cyclists Calvin Watson (left) and David Tanner (right) with Monaco Life’s Lauren Coles
The guys were in tight cycling clothes, covered with sponsors’ logos. In the middle on the back was a large IYC logo. Kevin Bonnie, the director of IYC, has been a sponsor and rider at the Champagne and Oysters Cycling Club since its inception in 2012.
“I thought about the cause, the great idea for the ride, the camaraderie of all the people I know in Monaco, and it was fun the first time. I’ve been sponsoring it ever since,” he told me.
The COCC charity ride was originally a fun way for friends from Monaco to get together for a long cycle, and to fundraise for a good cause. It has now become a tradition and people from all over the world travel to the region to enjoy the ride and support the cause.
The winds got stronger as the clock approached 8am. 105 riders, in their red and black cycling gear, happily stood in a group that reminisced knights in shining armour heading towards a beautiful but treacherous ride, ending in champagne and oysters with the Prince of Monaco. One guest of honour stood out: Alden McLaughlin, Premier of the Cayman Islands.
Prince Albert with the Premier of the Cayman Islands Alden McLaughlin
“The Cayman Islands has a big share of the superyacht market in terms of our shipping registry, so that is why we come to Monaco on a regular basis,” the premier revealed. “In September, we had a reception on one of the yachts and invited Prince Albert. He started asking me what I do, and I told him cycling is one of my interests and passions. He said it is his as well, and he told me about this ride and invited me to come.”
A small entourage of supporters cheered on the premier and his friends Orret Conner (the eldest rider of the day), Andre Tahal and Eric Bush – all involved with the office of the premier. The group travelled together in a van and checked in at almost every stop, while observing some of the most beautiful views in the south of France. The red cliffs of the Esterel were like solid monuments in the background, as riders in red outfits zipped by. The energy was electric. Riders looked exhausted as they arrived at Ma Nolan’s in the port of Nice. Former professional cyclist David Tanner commented: “Everyone pushes themselves for a good cause, and it’s always a great group of people here.”
The riders take a break at Ma Nolan’s on the port of Nice
“The Esterels are a lovely part,” added former professional cyclist Calvin Watson. “The sun has come out. We are sitting here in Nice enjoying a few drinks.”
A few other famous people were in the group, including Belgian former F1 driver and prominent Monaco businessman Thierry Boutsen, Finnish former F1 driver and Monaco resident Mika Häkkinen, and Norwegian former pro cyclist and winner of the 2010 UCI Road World Championship Thor Hushovd, who also happened to be the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France.
Nigel Essam revealed how his cycling routine centres around the 140 kilometre ride from Saint Tropez to Monaco. “This is my seventh year. I start training around January until end of April, then I put my bike away for the rest of the year, and don’t pick it up again until January.”
The youngest rider, 15-year-old Patrick Torrison, enjoyed a lunch with his father. “The most challenging part was probably the Esterels,” he said.
And then the riders were off for the last leg. With the sun still shining, the group enjoyed a downhill swoop into Port Hercule with the youngest rider in the lead, finishing up at Stars n’ Bars. Owner Kate Powers greeted guests as she stood by the Prince, and kindly helped this humble intern journalist get a few words from His Serene Highness:
“This is a great, friendly event, not only to promote cycling, exercise and sustainability, but also for my wife’s charity to fight against drowning. Doing exercise and sports in a healthy environment is perfectly aligned with what we are doing here in Monaco, in terms of sustainability and wellbeing, in a cleaner future for all of us.”
Prince Albert speaking to Lauren Coles from Monaco Life
Camaraderie continued as the group reunited after a quick rest and clean-up. They looked much more dignified after showering. Riders and their friends and family enjoyed live music and a delicious barbecue in the evening at Slammer’s.
“The event just gets better and better every year,” said organiser Damian Crean. “It has now become a firm fixture in the Monaco calendar but we also had participants this year flying in from The Cayman Islands, Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland and many from the UK – a lot of whom have already confirmed again for next year. The support team did an amazing job again this year; without them, the event could not take place.”
Some people danced until the wee hours, while Gary and Tom returned to the yacht Lizzi in the port at Fontvielle, to rest. In the morning, shortly after sunrise, they awoke to sore bodies but full hearts: all their hard work, and that of all the participants, had raised more than €100,000 for the Princess Charlene Foundation.
The Riviera Electric Challenge will once again be held in May, crossing three countries and celebrating the use of electric vehicles in the professional sphere.
Organised on the fringes of EVER 2019, the 5th edition of the Riviera Electric Challenge will build on the success of past years, and aims is to bring together companies and groups carrying out best practices in the integration of electric vehicles into their fleets.
The objective of this event is to complete a route in an electric vehicle using as little energy as possible. The route will start in Cagnes-sur-Mer and end in Monaco, both towns being founders of the event. At each staging post, participants will be asked questions linked to the implementation of energy transition in each site.
For the second time, a staging post party will be organised in Dolceacqua, a commune in the Province of Imperia, in the presence of the mayor and prominent Italian figures.
EVER 2019 will bring together specialists from universities and industries, involved in R&D projects in the area of ecological vehicles or renewable energies or both, for a conference at the Grimaldi Forum. They will have the opportunity to share their scientific, technical, business and social experiences with other attendees coming from all over the world, through the presentation and the discussion of their recent works either at lecture or poster sessions.
EVER Monaco will be held from 8th to 10th May. The Riviera Electric Challenge will kick off on 8th May at 2pm in Cagnes-sur-Mer, and finish in Monaco on 9th May at 8.30am at the Grimaldi Forum.
The Prince’s Palace is now completely heated by biofuel. The move to a more sustainable source of heating was initiated by Prince Albert II, who is hoping all Monegasques will follow his example.
The courtyard of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco
Considered one of the most important and recognised voices in the fight to protect the environment, especially through his foundation, Prince Albert also aims to set an example in his everyday life. He has pushed for the palace to replace its use of fossil fuels, utilising a 100% vegetable biofuel instead.
Named B100, the rapeseed oil has many benefits. It is 100% vegetable based, it emits between 60% and 70% less greenhouse gas than domestic fuel oil, it is non-toxic, non-flammable and odorless. The only downside is that it costs almost 10% more than traditional fossil fuel.
Romano Energy is in charge of implementing the transition at the palace. On Monday, the company installed boilers adapted to the new fuel in the West Wing. The Prince is also adapting the family estate at Rocagel.
“I think it’s a very good solution to meet energy needs,” said Prince Albert II. “There’s also no need for traditional boilers to undergo a major transformation. If it can reduce our percentage of CO2 emissions, everyone is a winner.”
The Prince is encouraging all Monegasque property managers to opt for a fuel with less CO2, in order to respect the commitments made at COP 21, which include reducing the effects of greenhouse gases by 50% by the year 2030.
And it seems that the call is being heard, with several buildings in the Principality already following suit.
Monaco is continuing its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, with experts gathering in Senegal for an important discussion with Francophone countries including Mali and Belgium.
The Financial Circular Information and Control Service (SICCFIN), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Principality, represented by acting director Philippe Boisbouvier and analyst Jenny Perrot, have taken part in a working meeting of the Egmont Group Francophone FIU Circle held in Saly.
The Egmont Group is an international organisation which now includes 165 CRFs. Its mission is to fight against money laundering and terrorist financing (AML /CFT).
The meeting was attended by representatives of many countries including Benin, France, Togo, Belgium, Senegal, Congo, Cape Verde, Mali and Cameroon. Participants defined the priorities of Francophone FIUs for the coming year, which will be presented at the 26th Plenary Assembly of the Egmpont Group to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, in July this year.
The groups also worked and exchanged information on several topics that are relevant to the fight against money laundering, the financing of terrorism and corruption worldwide.
Topics covered included:
– The fight against corruption with a presentation of investigative techniques and forms of cooperation of FIUs with national actors (judicial services, police, etc.). The fight against corruption is a matter of primary importance for the 165 members of the Egmont Group.
– The declarative activities of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs): how to improve the level of adherence to the AML /CFT and the quality of suspicious transaction reports.
– The necessary public to public partnerships, between the FIUs, the judicial and fiscal authorities, the various services of the Ministries of Finance and Economy, customs services, etc. In discussing this subject, SICCFIN representatives made a comprehensive presentation of the mechanisms put in place for this purpose in the Principality: Liaison Committee, Contact Group, Coordination Committee.
At the end of the meeting, it was unanimously proposed and accepted by the participants that the next working meeting of the Francophone FIU Circle, to be held in spring 2020, will take place in the Principality of Monaco.
Monaco Life caught up with Giovanni Paolo Risso, the new president of the Italian entrepreneurs association AIIM. So what does the future look like for this important business networking group? Well hold on to your hats, because there are some serious changes ahead.
It’s a beautiful day here at the Monaco Yacht Club Paolo, can you share with us your story of how you came to be in Monaco?
I used to come to Monaco with my parents when I was a kid, because my father had a lot of clients here from the shipping industry. We would come socially, on invitation, and then we set up a company 35 years ago. After a number of years I decided I needed a new life so I moved here to Monaco, and now I have been a resident for 17 years. I have three adult children, and I started a real estate consultancy company worldwide.
Congratulations on becoming the new president of the AIIM, tell me about the association and why it is so important?
The AIIM was created 15 years ago by a group of friends who were entrepreneurs in Monaco, including myself. We started gathering all the Italian entrepreneurs living in Monaco together to have a common place to meet and talk, to meet local authorities and present ourselves to the government as an institution of entrepreneurs.
How has the AIIM changed over the years?
We have come a long way in 15 years. The association now has almost 200 members and there is huge potential to keep growing. The former chairman remains a member of the board and is also an honorary chairman because of his dedication. But we felt the need for change in the way the association proposes itself to members.
There were some interesting changes to the board as well?
Over the past six months we have listened to the members’ opinions of what we should do. There are 12 board members and for the first time in 15 years we had 20 candidates during the recent election, so it means that the members really wanted to get involved. We now have six members of the board who are completely new. We have two ladies, which isn’t enough female representation but it is something, including Federica Nardoni Spinetta, who organises Monte Carlo Fashion Week, as the secretary general. Then we have Alberto Vitale who is the treasurer, and he is a well-known jeweller and diamond merchant in Monaco.
So a new board with fresh ideas. What differences will the members see?
What we want to do is change the way the association conducts business. We used to organise dinners every 45 days in the same location at the Salon Bellevue at the Café de Paris, with an average of 40 to 50 members at each event. Recently, we organised an evening at Twiga to offer something more fun, while still promoting the exchange of contacts and creating business relations. There were 120 members attending. So this was a sign that people wanted something different.
Now, what we want to do is firstly create more events. In fact we are going to have another one at Twiga on the 15th May. We also had a gala dinner every five years, but we have decided to make it an annual event each November. We are going to have many more events that will allow the members to get together, such as a summer dinner, Christmas party, etc.
Then we want to create various divisions, for example in real estate, banking, and tourism. Because this will allow the board of directors and members to participate in events that are relative to them and where they can network properly. We will also have new members give a presentation of themselves each year. And we have in mind an engines and motors event inviting racing stars. What we really want is to make the AIIM fashionable.
Is the AIIM exclusive to Italian nationals?
Well this is also something that has never been done in the past, we want to open our doors to other associations, such as the Greek association, the Argentina Association, the Baltic Association. We really want to broaden the scope of our existence and make it more attractive for people to become a member.
We want also want to exchange more contacts and cooperation with various institutions, like CREM and the Monaco Economic Board.
We will have a bilateral meeting with Genoa, to exchange business and network with entrepreneurs there. We will do the same for Milan, Rome and Turin.
There is much to look forward to, and we have some great support from the Ambassador to Italy Cristiano Gallo.
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