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Month: October 2025

AS Monaco shows support for Pink October during Toulouse victory

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
29/10/2025

AS Monaco’s 1-0 victory on Saturday was more than just the points, as the club transformed their home stadium into a sea of pink, in order to support France’s October Rose breast cancer awareness campaign, with a special tribute to the Ecoute Cancer Réconfort association. 

The Ligue 1 club organised several initiatives around the match at Stade Louis II to raise awareness about breast cancer screening and support fundraising for research.

Valérie Barilaro, president of Ecoute Cancer Réconfort, had the honour of performing the ceremonial kick-off alongside Milène, an active member of the association. For Barilaro and her team, it was recognition of over three decades of vital work supporting cancer patients in the region.

Valérie Barilaro during the ceremonial kick-off, photo credit:@AS Monaco

The Monaco-based association, founded in 1992, provides a true lifeline to those battling cancer through volunteer listeners at the Princess Grace Hospital’s day unit. Additionally, the association also runs a wellbeing space called ‘L’espace Mieux-Etre’ where patients can access various activities and emotional support, designed to help them through their treatment and break the isolation that often accompanies illness.

Meanwhile, Monaco’s players wore special pink shirts during the warm up, featuring the association’s logo before the match, while club director general Thiago Scuro presented a signed shirt to Barilaro. Members of the association were also invited as guests to watch the game.

AS Monaco players wearing pink shirts during warm-up, photo credit: @AS Monaco

The pink theme extended throughout the stadium, with staff, stewards and hostesses all wearing pink ribbons, and prevention messages were also displayed on LED boards during the match.

Lastly, the club’s digital platforms, including their website and social media accounts, were also given a pink makeover for 72 hours over the weekend.

The initiative forms part of Monaco’s AS Monacoeur social responsibility programme, which has supported the Octobre Rose campaign for several years

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Main photo source: AS Monaco

Monaco retains top spot as world’s most expensive property market

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/10/2025

The micro‑state of Monaco has once again claimed the title of the most expensive place in the world to buy residential real estate, with the average cost now exceeding €62,000 per square metre, according to data from Global Property Guide. This level is nearly three times Hong Kong’s average of €20,400 per square metre and almost six times that of Paris, at approximately €10,500.

Monaco’s exceptional pricing is primarily driven by its extreme scarcity of land. With a total area of just around 2.1 km², the Principality cannot expand outward and relies on high‑rise development and land reclamation to add stock. Iconic projects such as Bay House in the upscale Larvotto district — part of the Testimonio II scheme — and the ambitious €2 billion sea‑extension Mareterra, have added ultra‑prime residences, further boosting values.

A market shaped by stability, luxury and long‑term residence

Beyond the limited supply, Monaco’s property market is sustained by strong structural factors: political and economic stability, favourable tax arrangements -notably no personal income tax for most residents – and its reputation as a secure, long‑term home rather than a speculative playground.

Steady upward trend over the past decade

In 2013 the average price per square metre in Monaco was around €35,000; by 2020 it had reached approximately €48,000. The current figure of over €62,000 reflects a sustained upward trend, underpinned by enduring demand and the unique urban‑economic model of the Principality. Analysts see little reason for its top‑ranked status to be challenged in the near future.

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Photo credit: Richard McCreery, Monaco Life

Princess Charlene unveils Monaco’s new police dog unit

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/10/2025

Princess Charlene officially presented the Principality’s newly established K9 Unit on Monday 27th October, during a ceremony held at the recently renovated headquarters of the Public Security Department (Sûreté Publique). 

The Princess was joined by her brother Gareth Wittstock, along with Lionel Beffre, Minister of the Interior, Éric Arella, Director of Public Security, and members of the state’s senior leadership and Monegasque dignitaries.

A unit born from Princess Charlene’s initiative

This new canine brigade was created at the end of 2024 within the Urban Police Division, a project initiated and supported by Princess Charlene herself. According to the Palace, the unit reflects her strong belief in the essential role of specialised police dogs in enhancing public safety.

During her visit, Princess Charlene was given a comprehensive presentation of the unit’s mission, equipment, and working conditions. She then attended a live outdoor demonstration showcasing the operational skills of the brigade’s dog handlers and their highly trained companions.

Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace

“Security is a fundamental pillar of the Principality”

In her address during the official ceremony at the Salon d’Honneur, the Princess praised the dedication and professionalism of Monaco’s public security forces.

“Security is one of the fundamental pillars of the Principality,” she said, adding that the creation of the new K9 unit is a direct response to the evolving methods and technologies required to safeguard Monaco.

Princess Charlene also commended the new partnership between the Public Security Department and the Monaco Society for the Protection of Animals (Société Protectrice des Animaux de Monaco), of which she is president. Thanks to this collaboration, the dogs of the K9 unit will be housed at the Peille shelter whenever their handlers are temporarily unavailable.

Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace

Ceremony concludes with official honours

The ceremony concluded with Princess Charlene personally presenting police ID cards and insignia patches to the unit’s dog handlers — a gesture symbolising the formal recognition of this new and specialised branch of Monaco’s security services.

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Main photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace

Monaco inaugurates new honorary consulate in Warsaw to strengthen ties with Poland

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/10/2025

On 21st October, the Principality of Monaco formally opened its new honorary consulate in Warsaw, broadening diplomatic and economic engagement with Poland. The ceremony marked a milestone in the relationship between the two nations, as Monaco’s Ambassador to Poland and Germany, Lorenzo Ravano, presided over the inauguration and paid tribute to long‑standing bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Lorenzo Ravano of Monaco, accompanied by First Secretary Andrea Colombo‑Pastorelli, represented the Principality at the event, declaring that the consulate will have jurisdiction across the entirety of Poland. The occasion was celebrated with a dinner cocktail organised by the Monaco embassy and the incoming Honorary Consul, Mr Mikołaj Pietrzak, at Warsaw’s prestigious Belvédère restaurant, located within the Orangerie of Łazienki Park.

Around 60 distinguished guests were present, among them former Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, Polish senators, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Polish Chamber of Commerce, key players from the tech sector, and members of diplomatic and consular circles based in Warsaw.

In his address, Ambassador Ravano highlighted the longstanding diplomatic relations between Monaco and Poland, while underlining recent economic activity conducted in collaboration with the Monaco Economic Board and the Polish Chamber of Commerce, pointing to emerging synergies between the two countries. He also paid tribute to Tomasz Wardynski, who served as Honorary Consul of Monaco in Warsaw from 2008 until 2025, and whose dedication laid the groundwork for the new chapter in relations.

The new consulate reflects Monaco’s aspiration to deepen its presence in Central Europe, both diplomatically and economically. With Poland increasingly recognised for its dynamic economy and technological innovation, Monaco appears poised to build on this momentum through its Warsaw representation. The evening’s mix of diplomatic formality and informal networking mirrors that dual focus — bridging state‑level protocol with business opportunities and cultural exchange.

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Photo source: Government Communications Department 

Monaco-backed Ocean Innovators Platform brings sustainable finance momentum to Hong Kong

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/10/2025

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Sustainable Finance Initiative co-hosted the ninth edition of the Ocean Innovators Platform (OIP) in Hong Kong on 22nd October, bringing together more than 100 investors, entrepreneurs and conservation leaders to accelerate innovation and financing for the global blue economy.

Held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the event featured panel discussions, fireside chats, pitch sessions and workshops focused on scaling ocean-based solutions through impact-driven investment. The gathering aimed to foster international collaboration across finance, conservation, and technology — particularly in Asia Pacific, a region central to marine biodiversity and economic potential.

From Monaco to Hong Kong: catalysing blue economy finance

The platform is part of Monaco’s broader commitment to sustainable ocean action. “Our task is to make the ocean measurable, investible, and restorable,” said Olivier Wenden, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “From Monaco’s shores to Victoria Harbour, we can turn ambition into tangible, regenerative growth.”

The discussions examined how innovative financing models and multi-sector partnerships can tackle threats like overfishing, plastic pollution and habitat degradation, while also unlocking new opportunities in ocean energy, sustainable fisheries, and marine conservation technologies.

Katy Yung, CEO of Sustainable Finance Initiative, highlighted Hong Kong’s position as a potential regional hub for blue finance. “With 4.2% of its GDP tied to the maritime industry and home to 25% of China’s marine biodiversity, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to be Asia Pacific’s leading hub for Blue Economy solutions,” she said. “At SFi, we’re acting as a regional bridge for investors seeking credible pathways to scale ocean impact.”

Impact and investment: key takeaways

Speakers and participants agreed that the future of ocean conservation is tightly linked to financial innovation. Key themes emerging from the forum included the alignment of conservation with economic growth, the critical role of transparency and metrics, and the need to build a diverse, collaborative financing ecosystem.

A rapid poll of attendees found strong enthusiasm for action-oriented capital deployment, though many indicated a preference for early-stage investment through grants or private equity/venture capital — pointing to a need for stronger support structures to help ocean-focused projects scale.

Entrepreneurs from ventures such as Plastics for Change, Bound4Blue, Shift4Good and Katapult Ocean Asia pitched their solutions to the audience, sparking active engagement and post-event networking interest.

Interactive workshops tackled challenges like financing ocean innovation in Asia Pacific, decarbonising marine industries, balancing conservation and community livelihoods, and using open data and AI to improve ocean health.

Building the future of the USD 3 trillion ocean economy

The Ocean Innovators Platform was launched by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in 2022 to spotlight scalable solutions and connect innovators with investors. This latest edition underscored the Foundation and SFi’s shared belief that sustainable investment can drive meaningful environmental outcomes while delivering economic value.

With support from AVPN, the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy and Builders Vision, the forum reaffirmed its goal of shaping a future in which the ocean’s resources are protected, measured and harnessed for long-term global prosperity.

The blue economy is forecast to contribute up to USD 3 trillion to global GDP by 2030, according to the OECD — a goal the OIP aims to support by bridging innovation, finance and leadership across borders.

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Waterproofing works begin on Quai Hirondelle rooftop terrace

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/10/2025

The Monaco Government has launched a major refurbishment of the rooftop terrace of the Quai Hirondelle building, located along Port Hercule, in a project set to run until spring 2026.

The works, overseen by Monaco’s Department of Public Works, aim to reinforce the waterproofing of the building’s roof in order to protect the structure and extend its lifespan. Improvements will also enhance protection against water infiltration and increase the comfort of those who use the facilities beneath the terrace.

Several businesses operate within the Quai Hirondelle building, including the restaurant U Luvassu, MYP, and Monaco Riviera Navigation. The premises will remain open and accessible throughout the duration of the project.

Works planned with minimal disruption

All construction activity will be carried out from the rooftop, with the worksite clearly marked and secured. The Government has confirmed that pedestrian access and business operations will not be affected by the works.

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Photo source: Government Communications Department