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Month: October 2021

The Princess will return for National Day, says Prince Albert

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/10/2021

Prince Albert has revealed that Princess Charlene will return to the Principality “very shortly” and is anticipated to be on the scene for this year’s National Day festivities.
After months of rumour and speculation, Princess Charlene’s return to Monaco now seems all but imminent.
Speaking to People this week, the Prince said he expects doctors to give her the all-clear in a matter of days, with her homecoming set within weeks.
“She’s in good form and much better spirits. She will be here way before National Day, 19th November. WAY before,” he told the publication.
The Prince is also hoping Charlene will be fit enough to join him on a trip to Dubai’s World Expo on 13th November, where the Monaco Pavilion 360º has attracted plenty of positive attention, but said “we’ll make that decision at the last minute.”
Princess Charlene has been in her native South Africa since mid-May after falling victim to a nasty ear, nose and throat infection that has caused months of complications and required numerous surgeries, that last being performed on 8th October. The infection and subsequent treatment left her unable to equalise pressure in her ears, leaving her unable to fly above 20,000 feet.
In September, just ahead of her return to the Principality, she had a relapse that sent her to hospital, again delaying her arrival back in Monaco.
“Obviously she misses the children,” said Prince Albert in his latest interview, “and they miss her. We all miss her.”
On Tuesday, Princess Charlene shared some sad news on her Instagram page, revealing the death of one of her chihuahuas.
“My little Angel died last night, she was run over. I will miss you so much, Rest In Peace,” she wrote, adding a broken heart emoji along with a photo in which she is cuddling her little friend.
There is no doubt this latest news from the Prince will be well received by Monaco and its population.
 
 
Photo of National Day 2020 celebrations by Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace
 
 
 

Save the dates: two fun December events

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/10/2021

Local charity Les Enfants de Frankie will be organising back-to-back events in December to benefit sick and disadvantaged children, including the popular Kids Nite and Day.
Formerly known as Kids Nite, the event being held on 5th December is now called Kids Nite and Day. The festivities start with a Brunch Party that runs from noon until 4pm at the Salle Empire in the Hôtel de Paris. Guests will be entertained with activities, a dance floor and a show.
Held under the patronage of Caroline, Princess of Hanover and supported by G&M Design, the event will raise money for the 24th annual Frankie’s Christmas day on 22nd December, when gifts will be distributed at the Palace to hundreds of children in difficulty, giving sick kids or those from underprivileged backgrounds a dose of proper holiday cheer. Additionally, a screening of the best moments from the past decade will be shown for added fun.
Tickets for Kids Nite and Day are €150 per person and the dress code is chic. Spots must be reserved in advance as space is limited.
The following day, Monday 6th December, is the association’s 17th annual Monaco Red Nose Day. Les Enfants de Frankie has teamed up with Smiley World Limited for the sixth time to organise the event, which also shows support to children in difficult circumstances.
The funds raised from the Red Nose Day allow these children to take educational, cultural or therapeutic outings they may not otherwise be able to do. A portion of the donations also goes toward medical or transport equipment to make the daily lives of these kids easier.
For just €2, a red foam ball, or “nose”, can be purchased from one of several vendors in the area. On the 6th, all those who bought a red nose are asked to display it on their vehicle in a show of solidarity.
The red noses can be purchased at Carrefour Commercial Gallery sales stand on Wednesday 27th October, at the Carrefour hypermarket from 29th October to 19th November, and at the post office, pharmacies and participating companies from 2nd November to 6th December.
Created in November 1997, Les Enfants de Frankie supports sick, disabled or disadvantaged children living in Monaco and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d´Azur region by bringing them comfort and cheerfulness. The charity works with hospitals, social services, care homes, childhood aid facilities and over 200 other organisations that touch the daily lives of children in need.
 
 
Photo source: Les Enfants de Frankie
 
 

French Riviera airport group behind new flying taxi initiative

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/10/2021

Nice airport is earmarked for one of the world’s first vertiports for electric flying taxis, due to be created within the next three years by Urban Blue.
Urban Blue, launched this week, is a company that has been set up by Aeroporti di Roma, Aeroporto di Venezia, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi di Bologna to build and manage infrastructure for flying taxis.
The infrastructure, also known as vertiports, will be used to deploy battery-powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically, offering a new way for travellers to beat traffic and hop between cities.
In addition to Italy and France, the company is seeking new industrial, technological and financial partnerships for the gradual expansion of Urban Blue in different cities.
Urban Blue will handle the study, design, build and infrastructure management of the vertiports, essential for the vertical take-off (e-VTOL) of electric planes.
“Urban Air Mobility represents a stimulating challenge, capable of mobilising new resources and skills and projecting us into a future of innovative and sustainable mobility,” said Nazareno Ventola, General Manager of Bologna airport.

Image source: Volocopter

The UAM sector is growing strongly, with a market value for Europe estimated at more than €4 billion by 2030.
The initial network of vertiports, scheduled for 2024, will include Rome, Nice and Venice, areas with strong commercial potential as well as favourable weather conditions and flat or coastal environments, which increase the e-VTOL aircraft operability.
“As a laboratory for the airport of tomorrow and the leading French airport group with a neutral carbon footprint, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur aims to amplify the effects of the energy transition of air transport and to anticipate new uses,” said Franck Goldnadel, General Manager of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur. “As the manager of airports located in a landlocked territory, between sea and mountains, at the heart of urban areas, but also industrial areas, the group anticipates the spread of this new form of mobility in the short term. This is why participating in the creation and development of Urban Blue is not only part of our strategy, but also of our convictions in terms of sustainable mobility.”
Urban Blue will partner with German flying taxi startup Volocopter and will be supported by investment fund EDF Invest, a shareholder of Aeroports de la Cote d’Azur.
“We have repeatedly shown the world that our planes can fly. But Urban Air Mobility can only function within a suitable ecosystem,” said Christian Bauer, Head of Customer Service at Volocopter. “A renowned infrastructure partner like Aeroporti di Roma creating a company like Urban Blue that will build vertiports, take-off and landing infrastructure, plays a vital role in bringing electric air mobility into cities.”
On Wednesday, a Volocopter, a battery-powered passenger aircraft, will be presented at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.
 
 
Photo source: Velocopter
 
 
 

Monaco Boost seeks new local startups

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/10/2021

The government-backed business incubator Monaco Boost has launched its third call for applications, encouraging Monegasque citizens to take advantage of the business support programme.
Launched by the government in January 2021, Monaco Boost offers a range of services to entrepreneurs of Monegasque nationality who are in the process of creating or recently created an activity in the Principality.
Successful candidates are allocated a workspace, private or shared, as well as equipment and services designed to promote networking and collaborative exchanges.
They are also able to benefit from professional support during the development of their activity, as well as group training, conferences and seminars on various themes related to the world of entrepreneurship.
Monaco Boost is currently supporting 26 distinct activities within its infrastructure.
Interested persons must submit an application file before the deadline of 26th November 2021, for a start date in January 2022.
Candidates are examined by a committee chaired by Minister of Finance and the Economy Jean Castellini, and composed of representatives of the National Council, the Administration and Monaco Boost.
Further information can be found at the website: https://service-public-entreprises.gouv.mc/Local-et-travaux/Local/Locaux/Monaco -Boost
 
 

Monaco's Digital Transition: where to from here?

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/10/2021

In just three short years, Monaco has turned the idea of creating a world-class digital infrastructure in the Principality into a reality. The key players in making this happen have come together to talk about their past successes as well as their future plans.

The Principality has taken several decisive steps under the Extended Monaco banner to make the country future-ready, including the introduction of the 5G network, creating 10G super high-speed fibre connections, creating a digital identity for residents, and being the first in Europe to have its own sovereign state cloud.

The plan, based on the precepts of sovereignty, performance, security and proximity, has aimed to give both the private and public sectors unprecedented access to the latest technology.

It has also put forth a way to promote new tech in the form of the Blue Fund. Launched at the end of 2020 as an economic recovery tool during the darkest days of the pandemic, the fund has backed over 350 digital transformation projects, supported by local service companies in nine out of 10 cases. In human terms, this means that 250 new jobs have or will be created.

A meeting was held on Monday 25th October at the Princess Grace Theatre to outline the whirlwind of activities of the past three years that have marked the initial stages of Monaco’s digital transformation.

Prince Albert II, along with Minister of State Pierre Dartout, President of the National Council Stéphane Valeri, Interministerial Delegate in charge of the Digital Transition Frédéric Genta, and several other top government officials in the nation’s political and economic realm gathered to outline the next steps in the Extended Monaco programme and to applaud the efforts made thus far, despite being in the grip of a global pandemic.

“In less than three years, digital technology has seen spectacular progress for the daily life of Monegasques, residents and commuters,” said Prince Albert. “Our economy has taken the digital turn. The enthusiasm of our companies for our support and recovery measures is proof of the expectations of the Principality’s economic players in this area.”

The country’s lightning-fast transition to a digital framework, says Frédéric Genta, makes Monaco an incredibly attractive option for companies beyond the Principality’s own borders.

“On the strength of its cutting-edge digital infrastructures, the dynamic transformation of its economy, a protective legislative framework vis-à-vis certain intrusive global practices and its ecosystem of investors, the Principality has unique advantages to attract the residents and businesses of tomorrow, not to say today,” he stated proudly.

Photo: Frédéric Genta, Interministerial Delegate for the Digital Transition, by Manuel Vitali/ Government Communication Department

The pandemic, which potentially could have been disastrous, became an opportunity for Monaco to transition more quickly digitally, and the country took full advantage. Services that were once face-to-face went online, notably the dematerialisation of aid requests for companies, the launch of teleconsultations, the creation of the covid19.mc website and the establishment of solid distance learning and work-at-home programmes.

This, in turn, has given rise to positive changes in many sectors. The education system was able to overhaul its teaching practices, soft mobility options to reduce the carbon footprint were realised, 3D modelling assessments for urban works were created to lessen the impact on residents through noise and dust reduction, and an online portal for doctors and patients was developed making appointments easier as well as giving doctors quicker access to patient files.

This seems to be just the start. Pierre Dartout announced that in the “next few days” a new service called the ‘Digital Single Window’ will be launched. This allows all the administration’s tele-services to be accessed in one place, allowing authentication through digital identities.

“This Digital Single Window will gradually evolve in the coming months,” said the minister of state. “It will naturally be enriched by the new tele-services that will emerge, but also by a safe storing of the electronic documents exchanged with the administration. We will also work to create a ‘tell us once’ service for major life events.”

The new portal is the climax of a project that began in 2019 to streamline the services for end users by offering them round-the-clock and seven-days-a-week access to administrative procedures and forms. A total of 70 procedures have gone paperless including residence permit requests, enrolling in college and high school, submitting an application for civil service jobs, helping the Green Fund or the Blue Fund, and even making payments to school canteens.

The government says it aims to make every procedure dematerialised by the end 2022.

 
 
Top photo of Prince Albert II of Monaco by Manuel Vitali/ Government Communication Department
 
 
 

Monaco pays tribute to mayor of Menton

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/10/2021

Prince Albert and other high-ranking members of the Monegasque community have sent messages of condolence to the family and constituency of Jean-Claude Guibal, Menton’s long time mayor who passed away suddenly this week.

Jean-Claude Guibal was elected Mayor of Menton in 1989 and was re-elected in September 2020 for a sixth term, making him the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. His civic duties extended beyond Menton as he was also the President of the France-Monaco Friendship Group of the National Assembly of France, President of the French Riviera Agglomeration Community, and President of the Association of Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco.  

Guibal died from a heart attack suffered in his home in the early hours of Monday morning. He was 80 years of age.

The Palace released a statement on Monday, saying, “The Prince keeps the memory of a committed man, passionate about his city and its inhabitants but also that of the relationship of trust and friendship which has always presided over the relationship between the Principality and Menton.

“The Sovereign salutes the work carried out by Jean-Claude Guibal over six years as president of the Association of Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco. At this moment of grief, the Prince addresses in his personal name and that of the people of Monaco, his prayers and his most sincere condolences to his family, to the Mentonnaises and to the Mentonnais.”

The Monaco Mairie also issued a public announcement reminding people of Guibal’s work, saying, “The Mayor and the Members of the Communal Council salute the public action carried out for several decades by Jean-Claude Guibal, in particular in the service of his city, and send their most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones as well as to the whole of the Menton community.

“A year ago, it was as President of the French Riviera Agglomeration Community (CARF) that Jean-Claude Guibal and the Monaco City Hall worked together to come to the aid of those affected by storm Alex.”

A minute’s silence was held by local officials and residents at the front of the Menton Town Hall on Tuesday before they applauded their mayor of three decades.

 
 

 

Photo source: Ville de Menton