Monaco is now home to a new Space Affairs Office, created as a single point of contact for all things space related. It is also a hub for companies in the industry looking to base themselves in the Principality.
After extensive talks with players in the industry, the government of Monaco has created the Space Affairs Office (Le Bureau des Affaires Spatiales) to help facilitate the business development of those whose activities include manufacturing telecommunications and earth observation equipment, and ‘astromobiles’, or rover, gear.
The office is intended to be a one-stop-shop for space undertakings, reporting to the Interministerial Delegation for the Digital Transition. This opening is a milestone event for the country, paving the way for the development of space-focused businesses that wish to use the Principality as a home base under a simple administrative framework.
At an international level, the Office of Space Affairs will ensure the Principality is represented with foreign counterparts, thus promoting partnership opportunities for the benefit of the participating specialised Monegasque companies. This will be undertaken in conjunction with the Department of External Relations and Cooperation.
“The development of the space sector in the Principality of Monaco reinforces the attractiveness of our Sovereign State in a new area,” said Frédéric Genta, Interministerial Delegate in Charge of Digital Transition. “With the creation of this entity, we will be called upon to participate in discussions on the subject alongside global and emerging space powers.”
Private aerospace, once the sole domain of public institutions, is increasingly going private. This booming industry is creating a world where there is a better understanding of climatic occurrences and Earth observation as well as closing the digital divide giving once remote places access to internet and WiFi.
The Space Affairs Office is expected to hold a meeting of the stakeholders in mid-October to define an action plan that meets their expectations.
For more information on the office, contact them directly at bas@gouv.mc.
In an unlikely friendship, the Prince of Monaco and an artist from the Torres Strait have united in a captivating new documentary film to help fight climate change and protect the ocean.
The two live on opposite sides of the planet, but ‘Alick and Albert’, as the film is called, are both driven by their ancestor’s legacies and a personal commitment to the ocean.
They met in 2016 at the Taba Naba exhibition of Aboriginal and Oceanic art at the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco, where Alick Tipoti’s work was being featured. “One day, maybe you can come and visit my island,” the acclaimed artist and activist said to Prince Albert at the time.
Alick and his family live on remote Badu Island in the Torres Strait, just off Queensland, Australia, and it was an invitation that the widely-travelled Prince couldn’t refuse. “When I was presented with an oral invitation, I thought it was wonderful,” Prince Albert reveals in the documentary.
That visit, and the power of art to connect individuals, forge friendships and initiate change, has been documented in this new feature for cinema, directed by Douglas Watkin and produced by Trish Lake of Freshwater Pictures. It will have its world premier at the Brisbane International Film Festival on 22nd October.
In a trailer, we see Prince Albert arriving on the island in a small twin engine plane. “I think the main thing is, make him fit in, make him be like one of us,” says one of the women. “He is going to be a local boy, Prince Albert II.”
The film includes the stories of the Badulgal people of Badu and the Monegasque people of Monaco, and it was part of a mission led by Monaco Explorations. It highlights a way of life that is threatened with every tide. “Our water is getting warmer faster than the global warming,” says a man to his community.
“It is hard to see the large sea creatures dead,” says another islander. “It’s not our fault.”
Prince Albert said his friendship with Alick Tipoti “just flowed very naturally”, adding, “this connection between art, science and nature embodied by Alick is simply remarkable.”
The documentary will also be screened at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair on 17th November and has been selected for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, as well as the St. Tropez and Cannes Cinéphiles Cinéma des Antipodes. A Monaco showing of the documentary is yet to be communicated. See the trailer for Alick and Albert below…
A delegation of a dozen entrepreneurs headed by the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) has taken part in a trade mission to Antwerp, Europe’s second largest port and the world capital of diamonds.
The trade mission in September opened with a dinner in the neogothic setting of the old trade exchange, Handelsbeurs, attended by Monaco Ambassador to Belgium Isabelle Berro-Amadeï and Belgium’s Consul in Monaco Nancy Dotta-Van Tendeloo, also from Antwerp. During the evening, various speakers including Michel Dotta and Guillaume Rose for the MEB had a chance to highlight the advantages of doing business in the Principality to an audience of stakeholders and high-ranking figures in the Flemish city, most of whom were invited by Guy Van Doosselaere, Monaco’s Honorary Consul in Antwerp. Before the dinner, a cocktail provided the ideal setting for Monegasque companies to make their first contacts.
The main agenda took place the next day at the port of Antwerp, Europe’s second largest, where the delegation was hosted by the port authorities and toured several sites. They included Euroports, a subsidiary of the Monaco Resources Group which has several terminals and symbolises new trade relations between the two countries.
At the business forum organised on site, the MEB signed a cooperation agreement with the CBL-ACP Chamber of Commerce that will strengthen ties with Belgium and other regions in the world, notably Africa. CEMA (Club des Entrepreneurs Monégasques en Afrique) was also on the trip, represented by its President Fréderic Geerts who also signed an agreement. This was followed by targeted meetings between around 60 Monegasque and Flemish entrepreneurs, mainly but not exclusively on trade and logistics. In the evening, a dinner hosted by Mrs Berro-Amadeï was another chance to exchange business cards in a privileged setting.
On the Thursday there was an opportunity to visit the Antwerp World Diamond Centre through which all diamonds processed or sold in Antwerp pass through, that’s around 86% of the world’s rough diamonds and 50% of its polished stones. Initial analysis of the debriefing lunch which concluded the trip was very positive, highlighting the desire of companies in Monaco to conquer new markets.
The MEB is not resting on its laurels with the upcoming Dubai Expo20 when several sector-specific missions are planned. Another trip is also scheduled to St Petersburg in the first half of 2022.
Prince Albert II has inaugurated the Monaco Pavilion at the Dubai Expo in classic 2021 style – virtually from a mini Pavilion on Port Hercule.
Minister of State Pierre Dartout and Prince Albert, both situated in Monaco, were joined by Minister of State and Managing Director of the Expo Reem Al Hashimi, who was in Dubai, for the ceremony on Friday afternoon.
The real Pavillion, Monaco 360°, opened on 1st October.
Inside the 10sqm miniature pavilion is an interactive booth that allows people in Monaco to talk to visitors in the Dubai Pavilion, as well as a model of the real pavilion.
Via this platform, the Prince was able to praise the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for their success in the opening ceremony and their continued work during the first two weeks of activity, while Al Hashimi stressed that her country is moving toward a common goal of achieving prosperity for their people and those around the globe. She expressed gratitude to Monaco and all the countries who are participating for their commitment to the exposition.
Both agreed that international solidarity was needed to move forward productively to achieve global development goals and enhance sustainability, and that the Expo 2020 was an excellent opportunity to help realise this objective. Prince Albert examines a model of the Monaco 360° pavilion, photo by Eric Mathon/Prince’s Palace
Inspired by a kaleidoscope, the Monaco Pavilion, under the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, has incorporated The Rock and many other facets of the Principality to give visitors a taste of what Monaco has to offer.
It is spread over several levels and consists of an exposition area, a souvenir shop and a ‘Café de Paris’. The two main exhibition “worlds” are the Garden of Opportunities and a 360º immersion show.
The first is a fantasy garden highlighting Monaco’s special attributes. The scents of the region, such as pine and the sea, permeate the space whilst people walk through discovering the nation’s arts, scientific accomplishments, innovative technology, international reach and environmental protection measures.
The second reveals Monaco’s identity through history, culture and values that bind the country and its people together. Both are interactive experiences aimed at giving visitors a taste of the real Monaco.
Outside the Pavilion lies the Chemin de la Porte Nueve, full of typical trees and flowers designed by the urban development of Monaco.
The pavilion cost 52 million dirhams (€12.2 million) to construct and was built to convey an environmental message through the use of solar panels to generate its own electricity needs without harming the environment.
The Expo 2020 in Dubai will run from 1st October 2021 to 31 March 2022. The mini Monaco 360° Pavilion on Port Hercule will remain open to the public throughout this time.
On 13th November, the Principality of Monaco will celebrate its National Day at the Dubai Expo in the UAE.
Top photo by Eric Mathon/Prince’s Palace
Montecarlo Automobiles launches two new prototypes
Two sleek prototypes by Montecarlo Automobiles made their world-premiere during the Monaco Yacht Show marking the rebirth of the brand, with a new president and CEO at the helm.
Founded in 1983 by Fulvio Maria Ballabio, Montecarlo Automobiles has a long history of building exceptional vehicles.
The brand has recently undergone a series of changes, not least of which has been the recruitment of a new president in the form of Bogdan Skutkiewicz, as well as Giorgio Stirano who has been brought in as CEO. The duo has been charged with keeping the values of the company put forth by Ballabio whilst maintaining excellence in design and innovation.
To that end, the company presented two new prototype cars at the Monaco Yacht Show on 23rd September. Called the Ètè and the MIG20, they were created specifically to be debuted at the yacht show alongside some of the company’s other models such as the Jetmig and the ALA50. The ètè had its world-premier at the MYS 2021
The grand unveiling was an event in itself and attracted many personalities including world champion racer Stéphane Richelmi and Alex Caffi, former Formula 1 racing driver, as well as international ballet star, singer and actress Lorena Baricalla.
Also on hand were artist Marcos Marin and Christian Tornatore, Automobile Club de Monaco General Commissioner, and Jacques Pastor, deputy mayor and sport advisor of the City of Monaco.
Montecarlo Automobiles has made a reputation over the years as a company that makes “handmade” sports cars to an incredibly high standard in terms of performance and engineering, making them instant collector’s items by car enthusiasts.
Click on the images below to see more pictures of the prototypes and world premier…
The Metropole Hotel has been awarded a spot in the top 10 hotels in France and Monaco by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the fifth year in a row. The hotel also has the distinction of being the sole hotel in the Principality to receive the honour.
“We are very proud of the renewed recognition of the readers of Condé Nast Traveler,” said the Metropole’s Managing Director Serge Ethuin. “This prestigious award is the result of the daily dedication of our collaborators to offer the highest level of hospitality to our guests who are increasingly looking for a tailor-made experience. They want to find exceptional locations and a genuine customer experience based on real human relationships. At the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, we are keen to offer this type of emotion, we know our guests personally and this explains why we have so many return guests.”
The hotel came in eighth place in the rankings earning an overall score of 98.31 out of 100 and received glowing accolades from the magazine, which declared that the Belle Epoque beauty has “a contemporary edge” with “excellent food” and a spa that is “top-notch”. The awards are the oldest and most prestigious acknowledgement of excellence in the travel industry.
Built in 1889 by Danish architect Hans-Georg Tersling on land that once belonged to Pope Leo XIII, the hotel boasts 125 guest rooms, 64 of them suites. It recently reopened in April 2021 after being closed for the first phase of renovations.
Currently, there are three restaurants available – Yoshi, the only Japanese restaurant on the Côte d’Azur to be awarded a star since 2010, Odyssey – the charming Karl Lagerfeld designed poolside eatery, as well as the Lobby Bar, which serves delicious fare in a welcoming environment.
Since its inception, Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo has attracted an elite, international clientele of aristocrats, celebrities, and captains of industry. It is rumoured the hotel was the inspiration for novelist Edith Wharton’s 1905 tome The House of Mirth.
