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Day: 11 November 2022

Monaco strengthens ties with the Green Cross

by: Elsa Carpenter
11/11/2022

With the signing of a new agreement, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco is pooling resources with the French branch of the Green Cross to “strengthening the links between science, economy, and civil society”.  

The signing of the new cooperative agreement between the Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM) and the French arm of the Green Cross will begin as a three-year pledge to work together on the cross-border issues of the ocean and human resilience in the face of climate change, but is to be reviewed annually as projects progress.  

Professor Denis Allemand, the Scientific Director of the CSM, says, “Being able to permanently connect the protection of marine life and the coast, the climate emergency and economic issues, helps decision-makers to understand the impact of their actions and inaction, and sheds light on the possible choices. By strengthening the links between science, economy, ecosystems and civil society, we contribute to raising awareness of the importance of acting now, but also to identifying and spreading the most virtuous models of action.”  

According to Nicolas Imbert, Executive Director of Green Cross France and Territories, “Faced with the climate and ecological emergency, we must accelerate and multiply the transition from analysis to action, in particular vis-à-vis the ocean and the human communities that depend on it. An innovative partnership such as this, between a scientific organisation and an NGO, helps to network the most advanced knowledge with innovative resilience projects and feedback from civil society, to accelerate the necessary transformations.”

By working together, the two organisations hope to multiply the impact of their work at a regional and international level as well as launch develop economic models for change in a world that is already feeling the dangerous effects of climate change.  

 

 

Photo source: Will Truettner for Unsplash

COP27: Prince Albert talks ocean innovation with world leaders

by: Stephanie Horsman
11/11/2022

Prince Albert II has once again put Monaco and the Principality’s environmental efforts – as well as its “blue economy” innovation – on the map, with several high-profile appearances at the COP27 in Egypt.

November thus far has been a busy time for Monaco’s Prince, who started off in the US before touring the Calabrian region of Italy on a mission to trace the historic roots of the Grimaldi family. By Wednesday 9th November, Prince Albert had flown out to Egypt to join other statesmen and women from around the world at the headline-hitting COP27 climate conference.  

Ocean Innovators Platform

The Ocean Innovators Platform was a highlight of the Prince’s visit. Organised by the Prince Albert II Foundation (FPA2) for a third time, the event put into sharp focus the necessity for a building a “blue economy” through innovation. Two panels of experts and entrepreneurs were on hand, speaking out on how impact investment and innovative ideas can make a real difference in the mitigation of climate change, as well as how humankind can adapt to the changing world around us, to a select and invite-only audience.  

This edition was hosted by Rawya Mansour of Ramsco and the Ramsco Foundation, the latter of which was created in 2007 as a way to achieve food security and to fight poverty and malnutrition. Mansour’s work has proved to be incredible for climate change adaptation, as she has developed and patented machines that recycle agri-waste that pollutes cities like her native Cairo.  

There followed keynote speeches by Olivier Wenden, the CEO of the FPA2, and Razan Al Mubarak, the president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Andrew Forrest, the founder and chairman of the Mindaroo Foundation, also headed up an intimate chat on the necessary transition towards a sustainable blue economy. 

Later, Prince Albert was able to meet with the Egyptian prime minister, Dr Mostafa Madbouly, as well as the minister of Foreign Affairs and president of COP27, Dr Sameh Shoukry, and other representatives of the Egyptian government at a reception held by Mansour following the Ocean Innovators Platform.  

“Intensifying the Fight Against Climate Change in the Mediterranean: Monaco’s Commitment”

On Thursday 10th November, the Prince gave the opening speech at an event entitled “Intensifying the Fight Against Climate Change in the Mediterranean: Monaco’s Commitment”, which was led by the Centre Scientifique de Monaco’s (CSM) Dr Nathalie Hilmi, the head of the organisation’s Environmental Economics. 

“Climate change is having an increasing negative impact on natural capital, leading to a decline in ecosystem services and in economies,” said a spokesperson for the Ocean Pavilion, the location of the event. “This event will bring together biologists, economists and IPCC authors. and will show to decision-makers, stakeholders and climate change negotiators how nature-based solutions could help reconcile saving the ocean, fighting climate change, and improve the well-being of people.” 

 

 

Photo source: FPA2

Daniela Boutsen wins prestigious women’s business award

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/11/2022

Monaco-based businesswoman Daniela Boutsen has been awarded first prize at the 69th FCEM World Summit in Morocco for her innovative international interior design business.

The founder and director of the Daniela Boutsen brand was named as winner of the prestigious Export Prize at the annual networking event for leading businesswomen on Saturday 5th November.

The Export Prize recognises businesses set up and run by women, which have successfully been exported to international markets. Daniela Boutsen is specialised in interior decoration of VIP business jets, yachts, and residences with clients spanning the globe.

“The year 2022 marks a turning point for my company as it celebratesits 10th anniversary: a decade of working together with my team to continually meet new challenges,” said Daniela Boutsen on receiving the award. “I am proud of this journey and extremely honoured to have received this award tonight.”

Daniela was one of around 400 businesswomen from more than 35 countries to attend the FCEM World Summit in Marrakesh.

FCEM, or Les Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales, is an association which unites women business owners from across the world. Globally, more than five million female entrepreneurs from 120 different countries are connected via the non-profit, non-governmental organisation which was founded in France in 1945.

The aim of the association is to promote women’s businesses through initiatives which facilitate business development, partnerships and trade as well as promote solidarity, friendship, and cultural understanding.

Daniela Boutsen attended the 69th FCEM World Summit as a member of AFCEM, the Association des Femmes Chefs d’Enterprises de Monaco, a group created in 2004 that brings together women involved in business in the Principality.

 

 

Photo provided

Post-Covid economy has regained momentum in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
11/11/2022

Monaco’s 2021 GDP bounced back after the economic slowdown caused by the Covid pandemic, says a new report by the Principality’s statistics agency, IMSEE. 

Economically-speaking, the Covid crisis is over for Monaco, says a new report put out by IMSEE.  

The report showed that gross domestic product (GDP) for the year 2021 not only exceeded the lockdown year of 2020, but also flew past pre-Covid figures from 2019.  

Last year, Monaco’s GDP reached 7.27 billion euros. Looking back, the figures stood at 5.90 billion euros in 2020 and 6.60 billion euros in 2019. The 13% drop in 2020 was blamed on the pandemic, thus making the huge rise by 21.6% in 2021 all the more dramatic. Whilst these figures are encouraging, what is even more positive is the increase over 2019 by 5.8%, adjusted for inflation.  

In real terms, this means that Monaco’s economy has resumed its growth trend with an annual average of rise 4.4% recorded over the decade. 

The major economic sectors in the Principality – scientific and technical activities, administrative and support services, financial and insurance activities, and wholesale trade – together represent 47.3%, almost half, of the wealth produced. 

Record growth per capita and per employee

It should also be noted that per capita GDP rose to a record level of 81,710 euros; an increase of 17.5% in volume compared to 2020, and by 3.9% compared to 2019. Additionally, GDP per employee, an indicator of economic productivity, also shows a never-before-reached figure of 125,121 euros, up 17% in volume compared to 2020 and 5.4% compared to 2019. 

Some new trends were also revealed, including that the gross operating surplus, meaning the productive income of companies, has become the leading contributor to Monaco’s GDP at 44.1%, excluding subsidies. It has narrowly beat out payroll for the first time since 2007. 

The amount of taxes paid on products increased in 2021, due in particular to the growth in VAT, contributing 13.8% to total wealth created, excluding subsidies. 

Finally, subsidies paid by the government to support the economy during the health crisis in 2020 doubled. These nearly halved in 2021 by 44.6% but still remain higher than in 2019. 

 

 

Photo by Monaco Life 

 

 

Monaco schools unite against bullying

by: Stephanie Horsman
11/11/2022

Each of Monaco’s public and private schools have participated in a ‘No to Harassment Day’ designed to teach children and adults about bullying in both the overt as well as more insidious forms. 

There is a term for a form of bullying that many don’t even consider. It is called “micro-violence” and it almost seems like background noise to the more obvious forms, but can be just as dangerous.

Micro-violence includes actions such as insulting people, making undue noise in inappropriate places and disruptive behaviour that affects others in group settings. Finding ways to deal with these smaller acts of aggression was the goal of Monaco schools’ No to Harassment Day on Thursday 10th November.

Throughout the day, classes of all age groups participated in awareness sessions that encouraged the expression of feelings and developed empathy through poster-making, drawing, public speaking workshops and role-playing games. This was coupled with talks on Monaco’s new anti-bullying laws, giving students the right to a safe school environment with a dedicated person appointed to every establishment who can be contacted in case of bullying or suspected bullying.

The day coincided with the finalisation of an official plan for preventing and combating harassment and violence.

“This plan will specify: preventive measures; the procedures for reporting situations of harassment and violence in the school environment; support and supervision measures for victims, perpetrators and witnesses of acts of violence; and the educational and pedagogical measures likely to remedy or put an end to a situation of violence at school,” said the Monegasque government in a statement.

Additionally, staff and instructor training courses have been provided to teach adults the “PIKAS Method”, a way to defuse and deal with violent or inflamed situations without escalation.

These initiatives, alongside No to Harassment Day, are anticipated to help schools in their efforts to combat violence and bullying for the long term, making school a safe and calm place for all.

 

 

Photo: Christine Lanzerini, Director General of the Institution François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré (right) and Franck Fantino, Deputy Head of Establishment of the Institution François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré, Pedagogical Director of the College (left) in a classroom on ‘No to bullying’ day. Credit: Communication Department / Stéphane Danna

Alpes-Maritimes targeted by yet another cyberattack

by: Elsa Carpenter
11/11/2022

The Départment des Alpes-Maritimes was forced to cut all IT networks on Thursday 10th November to “protect sensitive data” as a cyberattack spread.  

The département was first alerted to the threat of a cyberattack in the morning, but it wasn’t confirmed by the Centre Administratif Départemental (CADAM) until the evening.  

According to CADAM, the reactiveness of the Alpes-Maritimes’ Digital Services Department and its crisis team may have prevented any data from being hacked.  

“An overall diagnosis of the attack in underway but the responsiveness of the action taken could well have assured no pirating of community data,” said the department via a communiqué.   

The local authorities will now work with French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems and Orange’s Cyberdefense branch to determine the extent of the damage.  

One of many similar attacks

Somewhat coincidently, the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, was being interviewed by BFM Côte d’Azur about the region’s IT services while this most recent cyberattack took place.

In relation to major computing failures caused by a cyberattack at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU) on the night of 4th to 5th November, Estrosi spoke of a vast financial project to update networks over the next two years in an effort to shore up public and private data protection the Alpes-Maritimes.  

Cybercrime is on a rise around the world, with nearly nine in 10 organisations reporting phishing attempts in 2020, as Monaco Life recently reported. On Wednesday 9th November, the Prefecture for the Alpes-Maritimes published an awareness guide on hacking, detailing how residents can better protect themselves online.  

The attack on Nice’s CHU could have been catastrophic. From x-ray machines to the most basic of IT and communications needs, all technology services were down. Even 15 calls were prevented from reaching the hospital, and extra staff were drafted in to help reroute emergencies to other hospitals in the area while the CHU scrambled to get safely back online.  

Earlier this week, the Seine-et-Marne department near Paris was also the victim of a cyberattack. In October, the same fate befell the department of Seine-Maritime in Normandy.  

 

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Monaco Cyber Security and Thales announce new partnership

Photo source: Christian Wiediger for Unsplash