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Day: 15 October 2020

Government members lead flu campaign by example

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/10/2020

Minister of State Pierre Dartout was one of three leading members of the Prince’s Government to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu on Thursday, kickstarting Monaco’s large scale, free vaccination campaign.
As the circulation of the Covid-19 virus remains “very active” throughout the region, the government is strongly recommending the population be vaccinated against the seasonal flu. “It is important to do everything possible to limit, as much as possible, the combined effects of the two viruses which could circulate at the same time,” said the government in a statement.
Health professionals have been instructed to initially only vaccinate citizens and residents aged over 65, who have automatically received a voucher from SPME or CCSS. This voucher allows the holder to access one free vaccine in a pharmacy. The patient can then have the vaccine administered by a pharmacist, an attending physician or a private nurse.
The government indicated that it will soon communicate the vaccination process for other categories of people.
“The goal of the Monegasque health authorities is to get as many people as possible to be vaccinated. For this reason, the flu vaccine is this year fully reimbursed for anyone affiliated with Monegasque social security,” the statement reads.
There are a number of advantages to having the flu shot.
Seasonal flu and Covid, although caused by very different viruses, have identical symptoms: fever, cough, fatigue, and muscle pain. Diagnosis will therefore be easier if an infected person shows these symptoms but is vaccinated against influenza.
Each year, some flu patients are admitted to the emergency department with complications, but hospital resources need to be available to address serious forms of Covid.
Vaccination can also reduce the number of PCR tests carried out to determine if a person has coronavirus, when they are actually contaminated with the flu.
When a person has symptoms that are evocative of Covid, professional or school closures are the rule pending the results of PCR tests to reduce the risk of spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, vaccination decreases the number of closures.
Finally, eliminating the flu reduces the number of days people will have to be away from school or work.
Minister of the Interior Patrice Cellario and Government Secretary General Robert Colle were also given the jab on Thursday to launch the campaign.
 
 
Photo caption: Minister of State Pierre Dartout © Government Communication Department / Manuel Vitali
 
 
 
 

MER makes its first wind investment

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/10/2020

Monaco’s push towards a carbon-free future has taken an important leap with the acquisition of three new wind farms in France. It means that a quarter of the Principality’s consumption needs will soon be met with clean energy.
In an effort to support Monaco’s transition to a carbon-free society by 2050, the Prince’s Government and the Société Monégasque de l’Electricité et du Gaz (SMEG) combined their skills three years ago to create the Monaco Energies Renouvelables (MER) company. The aim: to meet the energy consumption needs of Monaco with 100% green electricity production.
To best achieve this, the government chose to combine solar, wind and hydraulic power technologies.
On Thursday, the government announced that MER has just acquired three projects developed by ABO Wind. This partnership with one of the world’s leading references in wind power development has enabled the construction of three wind farms comprising two to four wind turbines per project. Two farms are located in Charente in western France, and the other is located in the Côtes d´Armor department, north of Brittany.
The wind turbines are expected to produce around 57 GWh per year, which equates to around 10% of the Principality’s electricity consumption.
Supplementing solar power
The solar power parks which Monaco has invested in heavily so far only produce energy during the day, with a production peak at around midday – when electricity consumption in the Principality is at its highest.
Wind power plants will therefore be able to cover the “basic” energy consumption habits of the Principality, especially at night.
According to the government, construction of the wind farms will be completed in the coming months, and the wind turbines should be connected to France’s public grid and inaugurated between December 2020 and June 2021.
With these three new wind farms and Monaco’s 10 solar power parks, MER will be able to secure 75 MW of renewable energy, or 25% of the Principality’s consumption.
“2020 will remain a key year in the development of our strategy and constitutes an important step towards the energy independence of the Principality,” said Samy Touati, President of Monaco Energies Renouvelables. “These new wind farms will enable MER to respect its growth trajectory, with the intermediate ambition of covering 50% of our electricity consumption by 2025.”
 
Photo source: Pixabay
 
 

“Support is key word” in relaunching Monaco’s economy

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/10/2020

The government has offered a “practical guide” for economic recovery in the Principality, vowing to protect employees as well as assist companies in trouble.

At a press conference held Wednesday at the Oceanographic Museum, the Minister of State, Pierre Dartout, set out the government’s plan for economic recovery for those hit hard since the start of the pandemic.

“Support is the key word of the government’s policy to safeguard businesses and jobs and thus revive the economic machine. Our method is to be as practical as possible through a guide that we are presenting to you today and which lists all the assistance measures, especially their instructions for use,” said Dartout.

Minister of Social Affairs and Health Didier Gamerdinger, added that the government wants to “reassure and protect employees while helping companies in tension”, and reminded those present of the commitments that the government has already set in motion, including the extension of the CTTR system until 31st March 2021.

“Over 12 months, the CTTR represents a cost of €150 million, or more than 10% of the state budget,” said the minister, who also welcomed the widening of the scope of exemptions from charges for companies with up to €5 million in annual turnover.

A more exuberant word came from Jean Castellini, Minister of Finance and the Economy, who said, “The recovery is now! And to better disseminate this message of support, this practical guide of around 15 pages is an essential tool. It is the summary of all the concrete aids deployed through the various Funds of the Recovery Plan, which should benefit both professionals and individuals, giving priority to support for the economic fabric and the revival of activity for SMEs, artisans and traders in the Principality.”

The guide covers topics from aid for energy-efficient housing upgrades, to help improving business productivity. It also explains how the digital transition can save companies money, as well as elicit bonuses, for things like buying electric vehicles and bicycles for company use.

Finally, Laurence Garino, Head of the Welcome Office, laid out some specifics that will positively impact citizens, especially as the Christmas holiday season approaches.

“In a budgetary deficit context, the state will inject €4.6 million into the local economy through the granting of an exceptional end-of-year bonus to all civil servants, state employees and retirees of the Civil Service – nearly 8,000 people, under the form of vouchers for shops in the Principality. Add to this the free four-hour parking on weekends and public holidays for customers of Monegasque businesses and the establishment of a new intramural travel service by Monaco Taxis that merchants can offer their customers, thanks to subsidised tickets, the objective of consuming in the national territory is reinforced.”

 
Photo from left to right: Didier Gamerdinger, Pierre Dartout, Jean Castellini, and Laurence Garino © Communication Department – Manuel Vitali
 
 

 

Clean Equity Monaco 2020

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/10/2020

Up to 30 cutting edge “next generation” technology companies committed to sustainability and energy efficiency will be pitching for investment at next week’s Clean Equity forum in Monaco.

After its initial rescheduling from March this year, Clean Equity Monaco, hosted by London-based investment bank Innovator Capital, returns on 22nd and 23rd October at the Fairmont Monte Carlo as a facilitator for up and coming tech companies to show their stuff, meet with potential investors and discuss their visions for the future.

The event was co-founded by Prince Albert II of Monaco and Mungo Park in 2007 to “provide exceptional sustainable and resource efficient companies with a platform to springboard to self-sufficiency. The collegiate atmosphere allows meaningful conversations with a common focus of helping companies achieve their goals.”

The companies attending have gone through a rigorous selection process, and the delegates are chosen on an invitation-only basis to ensure top-shelf attendance all around. Sponsors of the event include such heavy hitters as BP Ventures, Earth Capital, Cision, Covington, Parkview, Taronis, Climate KIC and Cranfield University. The Principality is represented by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Invest Monaco.

The presenting companies give 20-minute presentations, followed by a question and answer period where investors, policy makers, end users and media representatives get to know the company and their philosophies. Additionally, there will be workshops, speakers and networking opportunities during the sessions.
Participants and attendees are also invited to a gala dinner during which the best new companies are awarded. The Clean Equity awards are created by renowned artists and have been fashioned in the past by the likes of Damien Hirst, Michael Joo and Annie Cattrell. The awards address three stages of growth for ‘Excellence in the field of environmental technology’: research, development and commercialisation’.
 
Photo: Clean Equity Awards Ceremony 2018, courtesy Clean Equity
 
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Roca Team crushes Telenet Giants Antwerp

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/10/2020

AS Monaco Basketball’s trouncing of Telenet Giants Antwerp in a 96-64 win on Wednesday puts them squarely at the top of Euro Cup 7 league alongside Segafredo Virtus Bologna.

An undefeated Roca Team took to the courts on Wednesday, blowing 2019’s third place-ranked Antwerp clear out of the water at a game played at home in Salle Gaston Médecin.

While the whole team was on top form, it was Marcos Knight who stood out with an amazing 20 points on the night.

“What drives us is the taste for victory. We are a team where everyone plays for the other. We take great pleasure in growing together,” declared a rather humble Knight after the match.

Team Captain Dee Bost and Darral Willis also came up aces with 14 points apiece and JJ O’Brien pulled his weight adding 13 points to the score.

The team converted 28 shots out of 51, with 9 out of 20 in the 3-point range. Matthias Lessort boasted eight rebounds and Will Yeguete had seven out of the 42 total.

Antwerp came out strong in the first quarter where they briefly held the lead, scoring a whopping 27 points, but couldn’t hold onto the momentum after that. The Giants’ Ibrahima Faye had a seriously good showing, scoring 21 points and teammate Kenneth Smith came in with 15 points.

Antwerp’s coach, Christophe Beghin took the defeat with grace, saying, “If you are not ready for the physical challenge against Monaco, you have no chance.”   

Monaco Coach Zvezdan Mitrovic was quietly proud but guardedly optimistic, saying, “In the second half, we put out good defence, intensity, fast play, against a good team from Antwerp. I am satisfied. The team is building up. The test for us will be against the two toughest, and the favourites of the competition, Bologna and Krasnodar.”

The Roca Team’s next event will be played on Saturday in a Jeep Elite match against Elan Chalon in Gaston-Médecin.

Listening to the opinions of youth

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/10/2020

The Economic, Social and Environmental Council has invited high school-aged students from the Principality to join in discussions, as well as offer opinions, on their latest projects.

Since 2007, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) has been inviting young people to actively participate in meetings on topics that are relevant to what is being talked about in government.

“The members of the CESE youth are 16 to 17 years old. They make wishes often followed by facts,” explained Caroline Rougaignon-Vernin, President of CESE in an interview with Monaco Info. “Sharing points of view allows us to best advise the government.”

The organisation decided to involve youth, “because they have young, innovative, fresh ideas,” she said.

The young people joined in the meeting on Tuesday entitled ‘Purchasing power and social cohesion in the French overseas territories: fractures and opportunities’, hosted by Véronique Biarnaix-Roche and Joel Lobeau on behalf of the overseas delegation, chaired by Jean-Etienne Antoinette.

The focus of the discussions covered the high cost of living, deemed one the biggest causes of discontent in the overseas territories. Following a report made by the CESE overseas delegation, they made clear that living conditions in the territories are continuing to deteriorate as seen by high unemployment, low incomes and high food prices.

“We give opinions to the government or the National Council on different legal projects or regulations. We act as consultants,” said Ms Rougaignon-Vernin.

Photo source: Pixabay