The Monaco Economic Board met with the Quebec, Canada General Delegation in France and Monaco for a conference highlighting the latest responsible construction trends being employed in the Principality.
The Monaco Economic Board (MEB) met on Monday 19th July with Monaco and France’s Quebec Delegation for a conference on innovative, responsible construction technology methods. These approaches are already in use in the Principality and can been seen in action at the Carmelha Tower site.
Developed by Quebec company Upbrella, the technology means that buildings can be constructed without cranes, using less overall space, building with sustainably sourced wood and creating less pollution on the site, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint.
MEB Executive Director General Guillaume Rose welcomed the participants saying, “Application of this innovative technology in the Principality is an excellent starting point for closer cooperation between entrepreneurs in Monaco with those in Québec in all possible sectors.”
Michèle Boisvert, Delegate General of Quebec then opened the conference, drawing attention to similarities between two territories “who share the same visions and pay particular attention to environmental and marine issues as well as northern issues”. Photo provided by the MEB
A presentation on the technology was then given, followed by a cocktail and networking event allowing all the players to meet and mingle.
Prior to the conference, there was a visit to the Carmelha Tower site which saw Annabelle Jaeger Seydoux, Director of the Monaco Energy Transition Mission, and Jean-Luc Nguyen, Director of Public Works in attendance.
This is the second meeting of the two entities, the first having taken place in January via a webinar. Both sides are looking to expand and strengthen exchanges, and other collaborations are said to be in the pipeline.
Ms Boisvert ended by making her city’s unique position geographically and philosophically known, declaring, “We share the same values and language but we Québécois do business the American way. Our territory is therefore an ideal gateway for developing business in North America.”
A gateway that the MEB is determined to pass through.
Photo provided by the MEB
Gently-used luxury handbag seller arriving in Monaco
Sellier Knightsbridge has announced the upcoming opening of a Monaco location, a first for the luxe pre-loved retailer outside of the UK.
The UK-based high-end consignment shop, Sellier Knightsbridge, has revealed it is opening an outlet to sell its to-die-for designer pieces in the Principality.
Founded by mother-daughter team Hanushka Toni and Dina Ibrahimova, the company has made a reputation selling top-notch luxury pieces from around the world. Though known for their Hermes bags, Sellier also has a vast selection of designer pieces, such as Yves Saint Laurent dresses, Stella McCartney suits, Alexander McQueen sunglasses and everything in between.
Having started out as a brick-and-mortar shop, the company has since expanded, largely due to the health crisis, to more online and social media-based selling, which now accounts for 85% of their sales.
In spite of the focus going online, Monaco-based Hanushka and London-based Dina thought a shop in the Principality was a sound idea for both buyers and sellers, as clients are buying pre-loved more and more on principle. Sustainability is all part of the ethos of the company, along with selling quality authentic pieces at prices people can relate to.
Hermes bag for sale by Sellier Knightsbridge
Their connection to Monaco has existed for many years, as Dina was formerly owner of a fashion re-sale business catering to clients looking for rare or coveted clothes, handbags and accessories, many of whom lived in the Principality. This evolved into Sellier Knightsbridge, so for them, opening in Monaco brings the company full circle.
As for Hanushka, her husband works in Monaco, so she splits her time between here and London and is well familiarised with the country and its sensibilities.
Sellier says it is the number one reseller of Hermes in the United Kingdom, selling an astounding eight to 15 bags every week via Instagram, with additional pieces found in store and online. A Kelly bag went for £15,000, making it the most expensive item ever sold by Sellier.
Top photo of Dinara Ibrahimova and Hanushka Toni, Sellier Knightsbridge Founders
After 20 days locked in a 5m2 life capsule, the intrepid scientists of the Gombessa 6 returned to Monaco on Tuesday with answers and even more questions about the puzzling rings of coral they explored off the coast of Cap Corse.
The mystery of the Cap Corse coral rings is being slowly unravelled after the head of underwater expeditions, biologist and photographer Laurent Ballesta, along with aquanauts Antonin Guilbert, Thibault Rauby and Roberto Rinaldi, spent 20 days on the sea floor observing and categorising findings from this never-before explored area.
The mission was made possible through a collaboration between several partners including the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Swiss watchmaker Blancpain. A reception was held after the return of the team on Tuesday, hosted by the Prince’s Foundation.
There were 35 French and international researchers on the operation. The cooperation of the researchers, who all had their own pet projects in mind, was a testament to the level of willingness to learn and share on all levels.
Photo by Jordi Chias, Gombessa Expéditions
Located 120 metres under the sea, the 4km2 zone encases coral structures that reach up to 30 metres in circumference and are home to an astonishing array of sea life.
“The mission ends with, as with all expeditions, its share of things of which we are proud, but also with frustration,” said Laurent Ballesta. “We have approached new horizons that we had not imagined and that makes us want to go further. But the goals were met and it’s wonderful.
“Scientifically, there was the riddle of these rings first. We have succeeded in carrying out cores, sometimes over a metre, to pierce the rock in the heart of these rings. It was far from a given because we didn’t have the opportunity to test these manoeuvres before.”
These samples were able to be taken through a collaboration with the Sephismer, the French Navy’s human diving division. In the samples, there were some surprising findings. A coral called Callogorgia, which typically lives in far deeper waters, was found, as were small pearly shells thought to exist only in tropical reefs. DNA samples were also obtained, and the divers placed hydrophones and current metres in the rings to be able to observe remotely the comings and goings of sea life as well as the sea conditions.
Photo by Jordi Chias, Expéditions Gombessa
“We hope that the results of our research will help to understand the origin of rings, how they function, their age, etc. And there is still so much to discover,” Ballesta went on to say.
In addition to reaching their scientific goals, the team were also rewarded with some exciting finds, such as a line of underwater caves that have yet to be explored, as well as something that scientists rarely can boast of: the discovery of a new species.
“We found a small nudibranch sea slug that we had seen on a previous dive, and which turns out to be a new species. We are going to have the privilege of giving it a name and that is a great source of pride. It will most certainly be my daughter’s first name,” the team leader said.
Aquanaut Thierry Rauby voiced his early concerns, which soon dissipated as the mission progressed. “Before the start of the expedition, I was worried that spending 20 days around a sandy bottom would quickly end up being boring. But we have discovered an incredible biodiversity. It was a very good surprise. We have the impression that we have only glimpsed something incredible and, of course, it makes you want to go back.”
Along with the good, there was a bit of bad. The team came across plastic waste mixing with thousand-year-old amphorae and stunning sea fauna, a stark reminder of our human impact on the planet.
The team brought back thousands of images, which will be put together in association with Arte to create a film about the voyage. They also plan to make a book and to hold conferences to speak about their discoveries, raise awareness and promote environmental protection.
Photo by Laurent Ballesta, Andromède Océanologie, GOMBESSA 5
Results from the mission will start coming in September, with the DNA results being forecast to arrive by the end of the year and the rest of the test results by the end of 2022.
The team intend to make more journeys to their new, now not-so-hidden treasure where they hope to continue unlocking the mysteries of this fascinating area.
Top photo by Photo by Laurent Ballesta, Gombessa Expéditions
Prince joins prominent list backing Great Barrier Reef protection
Prince Albert of Monaco has joined the likes of Joanna Lumley and Jason Momoa in backing calls for the Great Barrier Reef to be placed on a list of world heritage sites in danger.
The list includes an international line-up of actors, conservationists and scientists including activist Lumley, Aquaman actor Momoa, Australian singer Cody Simpson, former lead UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres, and oceanographer Philippe Cousteau, the grandson of French diving pioneer Jacques Cousteau.
“The scientific evidence is beyond doubt: the Great Barrier Reef is in danger and it is time to act,” the group said in a global statement.
It follows a recent recommendation from the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) that Australia take “accelerated action at all possible levels” on climate change, citing global heating as the cause of mass coral bleaching in 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Later this week, the world heritage committee will be asked to put the world’s biggest reef system on its danger list. If Unesco follows the recommendation, it would be the first time a natural world heritage site has been placed on the “in danger” list mainly because of impacts from the climate crisis.
The statement that Prince Albert co-signed was organised by the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), who says: “The reef belongs to the world and, as its custodian, Australia must show global leadership on climate action to preserve its future.”
Coral reefs are considered one of the world’s most at-risk ecosystems from the climate crisis due to their sensitivity to warming oceans.
A Unesco report said that despite efforts and achievements by the state and federal governments in Australia, key targets on improving water quality had not been met.
“The plan requires stronger and clearer commitments, in particular towards urgently countering the effects of climate change, but also towards accelerating water quality improvement and land management measures,” it said.
Unesco is also asking Australia to link its policy to protect the reef to the Paris climate goals to keep heating to 1.5C.
A consultant to the AMCS, Imogen Zethoven, said Australia’s climate policies were “more consistent with a 2.5-3.0C rise in global average temperature – a level that would destroy the Great Barrier Reef and all the world’s coral reefs.”
The high-profile statement comes amid backlash from Australia’s Scott Morrison government, who is calling the Unesco decision political and lead by China. Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan Ley is also in Europe lobbying countries against the danger listing.
Photo of the Great Barrier Reef by Nico Smit on Unsplash
"Electric motorcycles and high tech wearables – this is lifestyle"
It’s a story that began in 1903, when aristocrat Marquis Ricardo Soriano Scholtz von Hermensdorff II invented a racing engine far ahead of its time. Throttle forward a century and that pioneering spirit continued through the bloodline to Economist Marco Antonio Soriano IV, who is rebooting the Soriano family legacy in Italy with an all-electric motorcycle and a game changing global business model. Monaco Life caught up with Marco Antonio after he spoke at this year’s Energy Boat Challenge at the Yacht Club of Monaco. Monaco Life: Can you tell us about where it all began for the Soriano family?
Marco Antonio Soriano IV: In the early 1900s, the Sorianos started manufacturing the first racing cars in France, piloted by the British race car driver Jean Graff in competitions like Le Mans. Then in the mid-30s we decided to move to Spain where we became the first manufacturer of motorcycles.
Soriano motorcycles pioneered the whole industry. We even created a line of scooters towards the end of the 50s. Engines were the primary focus of the family business, then it started merging into hospitality. Where is the family, the company and yourself positioned today?
The Soriano family was everyone – my great grandfather and all his siblings – and I am the fourth generation of the family office. What tends to happen is, when there is second and third generation wealth, family members live the life of a rock star but they don’t want to work or bring any value to the family business. So, I became the black sheep and started cutting people out who were draining what had been built in wealth over time but were not producing. I restructured during the financial crisis in 2009 because we were facing a very hard time, particularly my generation which is 50 family members. This fifth generation now has been narrowed down and structured to what the Soriano family office is today – our brand. Left to right: Sergio Moroni, CEO Soriano Motori Corporation, Francesco and Filippo Micchelaci, 3rd generation brothers in fashion and Lead Directors of Fashion Design and Production in Florence, and Marco Soriano, Founder and Chairman of Soriano Motori Corporation. You’re also a specialist in wealth management, which I am sure has contributed to the success of the company and the family office. So, why electric motorcycles?
Having a motors company history, I saw the opportunity to rebirth the family brand with a new vision, the electric vehicle (EV) global platform. Having a narrative allows you to be heard, and then once you are heard you have to create your own legacy. So, we did. In 2019, I started drafting on a napkin the first lines of the kind of motorcycle I would like to create. I took that to a designer and engineers in the US, and then I went to Italy – because Italians have a very keen eye for beauty and design. I am also part Italian myself.
We were the first in the world to build an electric vehicle with shift gears, which allows you to conserve energy and boost performance as you ride the hills of Europe.
We patented the technology and we now have a modular system that we can use in any other vehicle in the world. When can we see the first prototype?
This November at EICMA in Milan, the world’s largest motorcycle trade show, we will present two cruisers, one Enduro model, and possibly a couple of our new EV scooters as well. We presented the specs for the first prototype in November, but they were pandemic times so this will be the real worldwide reveal. We will also present the motorcycles at Art Basel in Miami and at the Fashion Week in Tokyo, Japan this December. What sets this EV apart from other electric motorcycles that are currently on the market?
A regular rider wants the traditional sound and motion of a motorcycle, so that’s what we have done. You can’t even tell the difference between an ICE combustion engine and the EV, it is the same feeling. We added the component of shifting gears to conserve energy and to add torque, while the ABS braking system that we created also allows you to conserve energy and recharge the battery during that process. Battery options range from 15kWh to 20kWh, both lithium-polymers. The motorbike’s range is 200km, maximum velocity 260km per hour.
The motorcycles can be customised and we are taking pre-orders now at www.sorianomotori.com. They will be built in limited-edition capacity and I will laser sign each one. We can produce about six per day, but we do have a 10,000 units manufacturing capacity per annum. This can be scaled up very quickly, but I am not interested in creating oversupply and a sub market. Where are they made and what kind of prices are we talking?
The EVs are made in Italy in two state-of-the-art facilities in Oggiono and Intrubio in the Lecco Province of the majestic Lake Como. Costs range from around €25,500 for the V1R to €32,500 for the V1 Gara. We also accept payment in mainstream cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin. You also say that you are reinventing the business model of the motorcycle sector. What do you mean by that?
The automobile industry does not have a true lifestyle around it, so we started to create our own kind of fashion and high-tech wearables using recyclables as well as photovoltaic undergarments. In some of our leather bags, for example, we are incorporating recharge capacities with small solar panels that connect to a battery system that can charge cell phones. We will also present these at EICMA Milan, Art Basel Miami, and Fashion Week Tokyo, Japan.
High-tech wearables, sustainable products, and motorcycles – the real lifestyle.
But I am crazy enough to do more. So, I am opening the Soriano Lounge Club in New York City where all members get full access to our factories, so when you buy a product, you can go to the factory to see the birth of your bike and form a real connection with it. It’s like those apps that pregnant women have, that compare the size of their baby to a walnut or avocado. With us, you are buying something that is customised, so you want to see this “baby” grow.
My slogan or tagline is: Where engineering meets fashion.
There is a reason why a Lamborghini and Ferrari are popular by word of mouth, and a Toyota is not. I want to unite that gap between engineering and fashion, between the US and Europe.
I also want to create the Soriano Foundation for the education of children, because they are the future. I’m intrigued by these high-tech wearables. Can you tell us more?
Smart wearables are, for example, elbow patches that a rider can put on their jacket that have a sensor that will vibrate when a car is coming through on their left or right, like the sensors that are in cars today. It will help to eliminate blind spots and the need for riders to turn their heads, when maintaining straight vision is critical for safety.
Helmets will also be able to connect to a mobile device, allowing the rider to know what is going on within their periphery, exactly the same way that cars today have 360° satellite vision when parking and driving.
We figured that a Ducati rider is not going to switch to buying a Soriano if it doesn’t have the same features or better. In style and design, you can almost compare us to Ducati, but we are a superior product because of the engineering thought behind it, including its unique international lifestyle. Is sustainability purely a business motivator for you, or do you feel a moral responsibility to take the company in this direction?
I am one of almost eight billion people in the world, and I am contributing my little grain of salt. I heard a story once: A father and son were walking on the beach when they came across all these star fish that had washed ashore. The child started throwing them back in the sea, and the father said, “What are you doing? There are thousands of them, that’s not going to make a difference”. The kid replied, “It is going to make a difference to the ones I am putting back in the water”.
So that’s my approach. I can’t take full responsibility for what is happening in the world, but I can add my grain of salt.
MEB resumes economic missions in show of "recovery and optimism"
After a quiet pandemic year, the Monaco Economic Board and its members have hit the road again, this time heading to Florence, Italy for an economic mission.
From 12th to 14th July, the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), with the help of the Embassy of Monaco in Italy, organised an economic mission in collaboration with the Consulate of Monaco in Florence, the Club of Ambassadors of Destination Monaco, the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Cofindustria Firenze and the Promotion Office of the Principality of Monaco in Italy. It is part of a particularly close economic relationship between the Principality and its “other” big neighbour.
“Italy is the leading customer and the leading supplier (excluding France) in terms of trade with Monaco. This economic dynamism can be explained by the close links between the two countries: geographical, historical and cultural proximity,” said the MEB in a statement. Photo provided by the MEB
For many years, the Monaco Economic Board has been organising operations in Italy in order to intensify these exchanges. For this, it naturally relies on the Embassy of Monaco in Italy and the local Chambers of Commerce. But it also has a valuable network: the Club of Monaco Destination Ambassadors, a club of first-rate Italian economic decision-makers with a strong link to the Principality, supported by the Prince’s Government and the MEB. This network, with more than 400 members and present in 13 cities, allows Monaco to shine at the highest level and aims to offer new business opportunities between the two nations.
In this context, the MEB has organised promotional operations or economic missions to Turin, Milan, Naples, Rome and Venice.
July’s delegation, led by Executive Director General of the MEB Guillaume Rose, was made up of around 10 Monegasque leaders operating in the sectors of banking and finance, ICT, e-commerce, business services, energy and insurance.
On Wednesday 13th, two memoranda of understanding were signed by the MEB and its counterparts from the Florence Chamber of Commerce and Cofindustria Firenze at the Florence Stock Exchange.
Other highlights included visits to Villa Bardini which overlooks Florence, the Nana Bianca incubator and the Gucci museum.
“This economic mission was a real breath of fresh air for our members who, like us, have been stranded by the pandemic,” said Guillaume Rose. “It sends a strong signal of recovery and optimism for companies in the Principality who are thirsty to find new development possibilities.”
The MEB has a series of economic missions planned for the second half of the year to destinations including Antwerp, Saint Petersburg, Amsterdam and the Monaco Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Top photo provided by the MEB
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