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Month: February 2023

Monaco streamlines customs service for imports and exports

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/02/2023
monaco import and export

Monaco has changed the way local companies handle imports and exports, making the process easier and allowing an administrative operation that previously forced applicants to go to Nice to take care of business closer to home.  

What a difference a few words make. By simply changing the name of Monaco’s Customs Office from an inspection centre to a main office, the act of import and export business has been simplified in the Principality.  

The Monaco Economic Board organised a conference on 2nd February at the Novotel to explain to interested parties how the new bureau will operate.  

Since October, Monaco’s office was considered a place where businesses needing customs approvals and advice stopped into before being sent to Nice to take care of the actual administrative procedures necessary for imports and exports.  

This was time-consuming and inconvenient, but as Monaco is considered part of France’s customs territory, and thus part of the European Union’s, it was a necessary evil. Now, the Monaco office has been allotted the same status as Nice, giving the region the only one ‘in France’ to have two main offices. 

“We now give access to all services, but also to remote customs clearance procedures which can be entrusted to Monegasque logistics professionals,” said Muriel Deya, Head of the Monaco Office. 

This new set-up also allows the possibility of having storage areas approved locally, which avoids companies being forced to transit goods through specific customs clearance areas. In addition, the Monaco Office’s knowledge of local players will help make checks easier, in particular avoiding certain random checks that have become unnecessary. 

Another feature of the new system allows for the idea of a ‘referent’ customs office, meaning companies can use the Monaco branch for all customs formalities upon leaving France. 

The conference, attended by about a hundred Monegasque professionals, was also an opportunity to present the many changes to come in the field of customs clearance as well as introduce the tools and regulations of which are constantly evolving.  

Roger Combe, the Regional Director of Nice Customs spoke about the changes, explaining that “Monaco is an important economic platform that did not have the appropriate customs structure to provide the best support to the economic actors of import [and] export.”  

With the changing of the name of the Monaco bureau, it now does.

 

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Photo source: Monaco Economic Board

Welcome to the jungle: First look at the Café de Paris’ new rooftop restaurant, the Amazónico

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/02/2023
amazonico monaco

Amazónico, the luxe rainforest-themed restaurant serving up sushi and Latin American cuisine in Madrid, Dubai and London, is finding a new home in Monaco at the newly renovated Café de Paris. Here’s a sneak peak of what it will be like.  

The Amazónico brand, known for its tropical ambiance and inspired menu that mixes Latin American cuisine and sushi, is already making huge waves in London, Dubai and Madrid. Now it is set to open on the Place du Casino in Monaco as part of the much-anticipated reopening of the Café de Paris.

The restaurant, first created in 2010 by Spaniards Sandro Silvo and Marta Seco in Madrid, has been touted as a “sensory journey” that incorporates all the senses. Live jazz music accompanies the visual experience, where diners feel transported to the Amazon basin in a living, breathing environment of live plants, tropical-print décor and opulent velvet seating.  

Amazonico Monte-Carlo - Visuel 3D
Amazónico by night. Photo courtesy of Société des Bains de Mer

A lounge bar will feature a resident DJ pumping out “electro-pical” tunes, and a private speakeasy-style section will offer restaurant patrons an air of exclusivity.  

Though the menu for Monaco’s version has not been released, it can be expected to follow in the same vein as the other locations, offering a mix of signature and locally-inspired dishes.  

The €40 million renovation of the landmark Café de Paris is expected to be complete at the end of June, just in time for the summer season. Owners Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer have been able to walk a fine line between modernising the space and retaining the classic belle-epoque beauty, adding two floors and space for several boutiques as well as Amazónico. 

READ MORE:

Revealed: Café de Paris’ spectacular renovation

 

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Photos courtesy of Société des Bains de Mer

Opération Tranquillité Vacances: French police offer free home surveillance

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/02/2023
Opération Tranquillité Vacances

If you are taking a vacation away from home, or your second home, this school holiday break, why not take advantage of Opération Tranquillité Vacances, a free police service that monitors your property in case of burglary. 

Opération Tranquillité Vacances is the brainchild of the three branches of the French police. This collective effort between the gendarmerie, local and national police was set up to help deter robberies from occurring when people are away on holiday by monitoring the homes of those who sign up for the service.  

Police officers patrol the homes of registered users randomly, day and night, as a deterrent to anyone who may be considering breaking in. If a break-in or theft does occur, the police notify the user either personally or via a trusted person or friend.  

The idea is that the faster one can react in the event of a burglary, the less damage will be incurred, allowing people time to do necessary tasks such as change locks, contact insurance companies or cancel credit cards.   

The service is open to those resident in France and who are planning to be away for a maximum of one year. It is available year-round. As of now, businesses are not included in the list of those who can apply.  

To register for the service, apply at a local police station or sign up online. 

 

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Photo source: Gwedal Cottin for Unsplash 

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic set to compete in Monte-Carlo Masters

by: Luke Entwistle
09/02/2023

The 126th edition of the Monte-Carlo Masters will be an “ode to the Riviera” with big-name stars such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic set to grace the clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

Speaking at the presentation of the event at the Monte-Carlo Bay Resort on Thursday, the competition’s new director, David Massey, revealed that Nadal and Djokovic had already signed up for the event, despite the fact that the former is currently nursing an injury in Mallorca.

Nadal hoping for 13th triumph

Should the Spaniard compete, he will be looking to win a 12th Monte-Carlo Masters title. Nadal, who shares his record for Grand Slam victories (22) win Djokovic, went on an incredible 46-match unbeaten run at the tournament between 2005 and 2013, which was ended by Djokovic, who went on to win his maiden title in 2013. The Serbian registered a further win in 2015 and is therefore looking to win his third title on the Monte-Carlo clay.

The full list of competitors will be released on 14th March, and most of the big names in tennis are expected to compete, including Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is looking to win a third consecutive title at the MCCC.

Following a 2022 event that was described as “a dream” by Massey, the tournament is looking to grow further this year. 80% of tickets for the event have already been sold, although a limited number are available to buy on the day. Last year, just over 76 million people watched the event on television, and that is expected to grow further this year, with matches from three courts to be broadcasted, as opposed to just two during the 2022 edition.

High hopes for the Monaco contingent

Aesthetically, this year’s event is being billed as an “ode to the Riviera” by organisers, with the courts and stands themselves to be inspired by the colours and culture of the Côte d’Azur, whilst all of the VIP lodges will be facing towards the sea and the sun.

Whilst the masses will descend on the MCCC to watch the world’s biggest stars, Massey also expects a solid performance from the Monégasque contingent. The British director referenced the Principality’s recent Davis Cup victory over the Dominican Republic, as well as Hugo Nys’ spectacular route towards the Australian Open final as reasons for optimism amongst Monaco fans. “We can expect them to go far,” he proclaimed.

An event that heralds the start of Monaco’s great sporting summer, represents the beginning of the European clay court season, and gathers the world’s greatest tennis stars, returns to the iconic Monte Carlo clay on 8th April.

 

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Photo of David Massey by Monaco Life

 

Podcast: This Week in Monaco 9th February

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/02/2023

Listen to ‘This Week in Monaco’, our new Podcast where we talk to the journalists behind the biggest headlines of the week.

This week, we talk about the new-look Café de Paris and its Amazonico restaurant, the world’s safest airlines, how to become a member of the Monaco Ambassadors Club, earthquake relief, National Council elections, tennis and Formula One fever.

 

 

Monaco’s premiere anime conference, MAGIC, returns to the Grimaldi Forum

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/02/2023

MAGIC, organised by Monaco-based Shibuya Productions, returns this year with loads of conferences, workshops and events for lovers of the worlds of anime, comic books, games and animation. 

The last time fans were able to come to the Monaco Anime Game International Conferences (MAGIC), organised by Shibuya Productions at the Grimaldi Forum, was back in March 2019.

This long break was not intentional, but it gave them time to regroup and put together a fantastic line-up of round-tables, conferences and debates featuring famous international game designers, producers, screenwriters and illustrators interacting with the audience.

At a press conference on Tuesday 7th February, Shibuya Productions President and CEO Cédric Biscay revealed that this year’s event will feature 150 prestigious invitees, over 100 international cosplayers from 40 countries, and more than 500 participants in the manga contest.

Speakers  include Hironobu Sakaguchi, founder of Final Fantasy, Koji Igarashi and Ayami Kojima, both from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Nick Dudman, make-up artist for films such as Batman where he created the Joker’s look for Jack Nicholson, and Stefanie Joosten, the main female character of the video game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, to name a few.

MAGIC press conference, photo credit: Fabbio Galatioto

In addition to bringing together the interests of those into manga, comics, animation, tech, video games and pop culture, the ‘cosplay’ contest will see hundreds of participants dress up and act as their favourite characters for judges made up of the Magic International Cosplay Masters from Brazil, Germany, Vietnam, the United States, Mexico, Chile, Turkey, and Italy.

Additionally, there will be a special manga contest, organised by Shueisha in collaboration with Shibuya International, in which over 60 candidates present their projects and the top five finalists will have the chance to pitch their ideas to a jury of experts from Japan. The winner will see their work publishedon Shonen Jump+, alongside legendary works such as Dragon Ball, One Piece and Naruto.

Fans can also delight in meeting their favourite artists, who will be available for autographs.

This fun event will take place 25th and 26th February and is completely free. Only 3,000 places are available each day, to prevent overcrowding, so sign-ups are required.

For visitors who are audially impaired, Saturday’s lectures will be translated into sign language, so no one needs to miss a minute.

 To register for the event and for the contests, click here. https://www.magic-ip.com/en/

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Photo above credit: Newday Photo Agency