The OceanoScientific Expedition, headed by explorer navigator Yvan Griboval, has gained another supporter, this time the KSB group.
The OceanoScientific Expedition will see Yvan Griboval embark on a 10,200km journey from Toulon, France, to Antwerp, Belgium, via Monaco on the zero-emission catamaran ‘Love The Ocean’. He will be collecting physico-chemical data at the air-sea interface to assist scientists in studying the components of climate change and chemical and noise pollution.
Is also designed to raise young people’s awareness of sea trades by encouraging them to respect and love the ocean.
In signing the partnership, the KSB group was represented by Bruno Monjoint, Regional Executive Officer KSB Western Europe, and Boris Lombard, President of KSB SAS.
Founded in 1871, KSB is a German group established throughout the world that produces and markets pumps, industrial valves, fluid management systems and offers associated services. For 150 years, KSB has transported all types of fluids in the building, industry, water and energy sectors, on land and at sea.
“We are proud to embark on this ambitious expedition,” said Boris Lombard. “It involves combining oceanographic research and collective intelligence to raise our level of knowledge of the ocean today, in order to act more responsibly tomorrow.”
Dr. Stephan Timmermann, Chief Executive Officer of the KSB Group, added: “Combining ecology, economy and corporate culture is a central and essential subject for us in charting our path towards ecological transition. Investing in research and the acquisition of accessible data makes it possible to share the encouraging prospects of sustainable development with as many people as possible. This is also the responsibility of a major industrial brand like KSB.”
Director of OceanoScientific Expeditions Yvan Griboval thanked the KSB managers for their commitment, saying, “It is important to wear the colours of companies that put industrial technology at the service of the sustainable preservation of Nature’s resources.”
Photo from left to right: Boris Lombard, Yvan Griboval, Dr. Stephan Timmermann and Bruno Monjoint.
Chinese president speaks of Olympic, economic bond with Prince Albert
Prince Albert II met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday in Beijing, where the president praised Prince Albert’s Olympic achievements while encouraging more enterprises in Monaco to invest in China.
In a video captured by state media CGTN, Prince Albert II of Monaco is gifted a dough figurine of Bing Dwen Dwen, the Beijing Winter Olympics mascot, at the Great Hall of the People. The head of state then says politely, “Can I ask you a big favour, can I have a second one, because I have twins, so if I only bring back one…”
It is a moment that clearly delighted Chinese President Xi Jinping when the pair met a short time later.
“You chose a pair of lovely Bing Dwen Dwens as souvenirs for your children,” said the president affectionately. “We hope your children will grow up to be as talented and passionate as you about winter sports in the future.”
Prince of Monaco Albert II meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on 6th February 2022. Source: Xinhua
The relationship between the Chinese President and Prince Albert was strengthened during a state visit to the Principality in 2019. On Sunday, the president reportedly pointed out that since that visit, bilateral ties have moved forward with fruitful results including environmental protection, sports, arts and telecommunication, primarily the joint establishment of a 5G telecom network that covers the whole of Monaco, the first of its kind in the world.
The Chinese president also reportedly stressed that the two countries should consolidate the traditional friendship and political trust, strengthen communication and coordination in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions and international affairs, and jointly safeguard multilateralism.
Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping encouraged more enterprises from Monaco to attend the China International Import Expo in November, to increase investment in China, to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and explore cooperation in third-party markets.
He also welcomed Monaco’s participation in the second phase of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will take place in Kunming from 25th April to 8th May.
Prince Albert II said that China’s successful Winter Olympics opening ceremony has sent a strong message of peace and solidarity, which is exactly what the world urgently needs.
Saturday night’s fixture against Lyon will not only be a meeting of two Ligue 1 giants, but recognition of the incredible work done by the Monaco Scientific Centre (CSM) and the Flavien Foundation.
To commemorate World Cancer Day, which takes place on 4th February, AS Monaco will highlight the CSM and the Flavien Foundation’s commitment in the fight against paediatric cancer on the 5th through auctions, jersey presentations and exclusive experiences.
Pre-match, AS Monaco Vice-President Oleg Petrov will offer a jersey to the organisations as a symbol of the club’s support.
The club will also stage a ‘My Wish’ experience, whereby two children, supported by the Flavien Foundation, will have the unique experience of watching the match from backstage. Their families, as well as other members of the Flavien Foundation, will be invited to attend the game.
Completing the club’s tribute is an auction of the jerseys worn by Monaco players on the night. The auction will begin on Sunday 6th on the MatchWornShirt platform and continue until 13th February, with the profits being shared 50/50 between the two organisations.
The CSM and the Flavien Foundation have been collaborating since 2015 in order to improve knowledge and develop potential therapies for paediatric cancer.
The announcement comes just days after the Principality hosted the Biennial Cancer Conference at the Grimaldi Forum, which was organised by the CSM and took place under the patronage of Prince Albert II.
AS Monaco’s fixture against Lorient next weekend will also commemorate the work done by local associations who work with children with cancer. World Child Cancer Day is on 15th February, with Monaco playing just two days before. The club will therefore invite fans and volunteers from local associations to enjoy the match at the Stade Louis II.
Monaco businesses strengthen ties with Dubai through MEB
Local businessman Chris Clavel was among a 30-strong delegation to Dubai for a trade mission to strengthen ties between the regions, that also included the signing of a MOU with world trade hub DMCC.
It has been a good start to the year for the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), which just returned from a multi-day trade mission to Dubai that ran from 25th to 29th January.
Dubai has long been associated with growth, ambition and innovation, and is widely known to be the Middle East’s premiere trading hub. The MEB has leapt at the opportunity to explore this vast and fast-growing market via this recent trip.
Previous visits to the city, which included a Monaco National Day trip on 13th November 2021 and meetings at the Dubai World Expo, were followed up by the 30-plus member delegation that included figures from the worlds of technology, real estate, finance and industry.
A highlight was the formalisation of ties between the MEB and the Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre (DMCC) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, designed to create more business opportunities between the two regions.
Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC Ahmed Bin Sulayem and MEB Chairman Michel Dotta sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Dubai, source MEB
The DMCC was established in 2002 to promote commerce in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is now one of the biggest free trade zones in the world. It boasts a membership exceeding 20,000 companies and a business community of 100,000 people.
“The UAE offers great opportunities to Monaco’s business community, with DMCC being a key strategic partner for their international expansion,” said MEB Chairman Michel Dotta in a speech during the meeting. “The agreement will consolidate our efforts and will stimulate growth, providing our respective business communities with access to new and fast-growing markets. We look forward to working closely with DMCC to facilitate trade, increase economic activity, and support the businesses of Monaco in navigating Dubai’s vibrant business environment.”
It was Chris Clavel’s (left) 16th trade mission with the MEB
One of the Monegasque entrepreneurs to benefit from this relationship is Chris Clavel, Director of the digital technology company Baccana Group.
“Between the B2B meetings organised by the MEB at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and the networking sessions at the Monaco Pavilion at the Dubai Expo, I managed to make 20 valuable contacts,” Chris Clavel told Monaco Life. “One is gently leading to a contract soon with a Dubai-based tourism marketplace needing our online marketing and SEO expertise for the European market. I have some follow up to do with the chambers of commerce of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman and Kuwait. I am also in discussion with the Tourism and Investment board of the Emirate of Sharjah, as well as with the Abu Dhabi University of Artificial Intelligence.
“All of this within three days. So, one can say that the MEB’s trade mission in Dubai was a success for my part, but I know that it was also the case for many other members of the delegation.”
Clavel says he will join the MEB delegation when they return to Dubai from 5th to 10th March for the Dubai International Boat Show.
Other MEB missions are being planned to St. Petersburg in June and Madrid in October.
By Cassandra Tanti and Stephanie Horsman. Photos by Chris Clavel unless otherwise specified
Monaco strengthens legislative arsenal against financial crime
The National Council has passed two bills aimed at combating financial crime in Monaco. Among them, a widening of the scope of justice to confiscate capital and sanction fraudulent virtual currency transfers.
The National Council voted unanimously on Monday 31st January on two bills submitted by the Government relating to the prevention and the fight against financial crime.
“These legislative developments testify to the Principality’s desire to continue to adapt its legislation to the best standards and international commitments in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and corruption,” said the government in a statement on Wednesday. “Under the impetus of the Sovereign Prince, the objective pursued by the Principality is, in particular, to maintain the Monegasque banking and financial centre at a high level of standards.”
The government says the bills were produced after discussions between itself and professionals, on the one hand, and between the government and the National Council, on the other.
“In line with the objective pursued by the Principality to strengthen its system in a complex and constantly changing field, exchanges, both at the institutional level and between the public and private sectors, are continuing, in particular within the framework of meetings of the Committee for the Coordination and Monitoring of the National Strategy to Combat Money Laundering, the Financing of Terrorism, the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Corruption, which will meet for the first time on 3rd February under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, Pierre Dartout,” said the government.
The new mechanism voted Monday evening reinforces the capacity of justice to confiscate capital that it finds to be fraudulent in origin. It also widens the scope of application of offences relating to payment instruments, insofar as it can sanction a fraudulent transfer, not only money or monetary in value, but also virtual currency.
The legislation also specifies some of the obligations that are incumbent on professionals subject to the fight against money laundering, particularly in the presence of atypical transactions.
Meanwhile, “the list of subject professionals has been supplemented following the conclusions of the National Risk Assessment (ENR2), with the aim of finding the right balance between the efficient apprehension of risks and the preservation of the attractiveness of Monaco,” added the government.
Before heading out to Beijing as the Monegasque flag-bearer at the Winter Olympics, skier Arnaud Alessandria spoke to Monaco Life about the highs and lows of his journey.
On 4th February in the Beijing National Stadium, Arnaud Alessandria will add his name to the miniscule list of athletes who have had the honour of bearing the Monaco flag in an Olympic ceremony.
The unveiling of Monaco’s latest flag-bearer in the ballroom of the Monaco Yacht Club on 18th January carried a greater symbolism than the regular pre-Olympic formality, the Monegasque flag representing a baton as it was passed from one flag-bearer to the next. Prince Albert II, who has carried the flag three times for Monaco at the Winter Olympics, now bestows the responsibility upon Alessandria, who will fulfil the role for the first time in two weeks.
As Alessandria prepares to wave the Monaco flag aloft in the National Stadium in Beijing, he doesn’t feel the burden of expectation that the role implies. “To be the flag-bearer is an honour,” he tells Monaco Life. “I think it can only be a bonus, and it will further boost me for these Olympics.”
His journey to becoming flag-bearer of his nation has been far from linear and riddled with setbacks. Only a few weeks ago, the skier was involved in a crash in Tarvisio, but his reaction to this is indicative of a determination that has brought him to this point. “I’m doing well. Just a little sprain, so I passed through the hands of the physical therapists, who have put everything back in place and today it’s all good,” he says light-heartedly.
But tantamount to his physical capacity to bounce back is this unwavering self-confidence, leaving him undeterred even in the face of this pre-competition crash. “We’re in a sport where we fall often, so that doesn’t dent my confidence. Just until the departure (to China), I need to get back on the skis to get back into the swing of things.”
Photo of Arnaud Alessandria by Jo Jo Harper
Supplementing the confidence he has in his own ability is the experience of having already competed at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. A 39th place finish in the Men’s Downhill and a 36th in the Men’s Super Combined Downhill on the Russian slopes provides a basis upon which to build. “I can take my experience, and arrive there knowing what to expect, and be more of a participant in the event rather than being overwhelmed by the event,” adds the 28-year-old Monegasque.
Alessandria had initially been hoping to put this experience to use in Pyeongchang in 2018. Not only would he not improve on his 2014 result, he wouldn’t even board the plane to South Korea. With only a matter of days before his expected departure, a cruel turn of events deprived Alessandria of his place in the Olympic team.
With the Monegasque Olympic quota reduced, it was Alessandria who missed out, the timing of the decision, he says, was particularly devastating: “It was a very last-minute decision, I found out about a week before the departure. It was very hard, very hard, because you prepare a lot for an event like that.”
His omission from the team was undoubtedly a sucker-punch. His reaction was, however, indicative of who he is, both as a person and as an athlete. “It has allowed me to bounce back, to work and train harder, to progress so that it doesn’t happen again.” His work since has not only allowed him to return to the fold, but he will do so in style when he leads out his compatriots in the opening ceremony on Friday 4th February.
Like many, preparation for the competition has been marked by the disruption that the global pandemic precipitated. “It has disturbed our preparation. We are used to going to Argentina or Chile in September, so that wasn’t possible, and it’s been impossible for two years now,” he reveals. “So, it’s a bit complicated. Even in Europe with the lockdowns and the restrictions, we’ve had less opportunity to train.”
As well as the epidemiological situation, the build-up to the event has been dominated by a hostile political backdrop. The noise surrounding China’s human rights abuses has only intensified as the games have drawn closer. Questions have been asked about the country’s treatment of the marginalised Uyghur community, whilst the disappearance of Chinese professional tennis player Peng Shuai in December provided an untimely reminder of China’s record, with the start of the games in sight.
Alessandria though is fully concentrated on the task in hand. “I think we’re there to provide sport, to provide a spectacle, and everything that is political isn’t really up to us to judge.” The Monegasque’s objectives are clear, telling Monaco Life, “I want to improve (on my 2014 performance). My ambition is to be in the top 30 in the downhill, so I will just give it my all.”
Alessandria’s flight out to China on 28th January has brought an end to the eight-year wait to compete in his second Winter Olympics. The disappointment of 2018 hasn’t been consigned to the history books. Instead, it is a source of inspiration for Alessandria, who will call on a wealth of experience, both positive and negative, in the search for Olympic glory on the slopes of the Chinese capital this month.
