Page 65 - Monaco Economy 123

MEB: Small States, Unity is Strength by Milena Radoman

For the first time, the Economic Forum of the Small States of Europe was held in Monaco on 13 June, on
the sidelines of the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of Small European States.

On the occasion of the 15th Conference of their geographical and historical differences, Next Forum in 2023
Presidents of Parliaments of Small States of similar economic, financial and fiscal issues. In 2023, Luxembourg will host the next
Europe, which was held in the Principality on We have an interest in sharing good practices Conference of Presidents of Parliament. An
13 and 14 June 2022, the Monaco Economic and our way of conceiving economic prosperity. Economic Forum will again be attached to it
Board (MEB) organised the Principality’s Bringing together different nationalities, and the MEB is planning an economic mission
first Economic Forum, intended to stimulate religions and communities on their own territory, with entrepreneurs from the Principality –
the dynamics of economic cooperation small states also represent a laboratory for another opportunity for multiple meetings
between states with a population of less living together,” adds Guillaume Rose, happy with economic and institutional interlocutors
than one million (Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, that these debates have enabled everyone to from the nine Small States of Europe and to
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, present their recipes for success and their organise business events with members.
Montenegro and San Marino). “Monaco is business plans. “Thanks to this Economic
the historical inventor of this Conference of Forum, which is intended to be established as
Presidents of Parliament of Small States, an institution, we want to learn from what is
on the initiative of the President of the being done in Monaco and in the other Small Tour of the Small States of Europe
National Council, Stéphane Valeri in 2005. States of Europe,” indicates Miljan Sestovic, Amongst the common points of the
The extension of this synergy, namely inviting Director of the Department of Research and nine Small States of Europe, there is
the chambers of commerce and the Ministries Analysis of the Chamber of Commerce of obviously the importance of tourism
of Tourism, was a no-brainer,” explains MEB Montenegro. to the economy, which represents 12%
CEO, Guillaume Rose. For the first time, representatives of the to 35% of GDP according to the state.
Chambers of Commerce of San Marino, From the historic centre of San Marino
Subjects of Common Interest Andorra, Malta and Montenegro were able to World Hertiage Site, Montenegro’s
As part of the Economic Forum, organised at to meet Monégasque companies that are Kotor Bay and the nature reserve of
the Hôtel Hermitage, representatives of the members of the MEB, wishing to establish Hornstrandir, the northernmost peninsula
chambers of commerce and tourist offices relations to promote their activities in these of Iceland, each country has remarkable
of these countries discussed subjects of territories and to have a privileged contact and very varied centres of touristic
common interest, such as the importance of with the authorities of these countries. The interest. This is why Monaco and San
developing economic and tourist relations, or chambers of commerce are indeed an ideal Marino inaugurated the Mauro Maiani
the question of sustainable destinations in a gateway to develop business: around a hundred Tour of the Small States of Europe in
post-Covid era. “Small states have, despite B2B meetings were organised in the afternoon. Monaco. “This tour, named in tribute
to the unfortunately recently deceased
Director of Tourism and Ambassador
of San Marino, whose idea this was, is
intended to promote the particularities
of the Small States of Europe,” according
to Guillaume Rose. “The difficulties of
our times have taught us that there is
no better way to overcome challenges
than together, which is why it is already a
winning project today,” affirms Federico
Pedini, Tourism Minister of San Marino.
The MEB has entrusted the coordination
of this tour to the Monégasque
companies, Monte-Carlo Travel and
Jet Travel. First symbolic step: the
@ MEB / Carte Blanche tourist offices of each country now have
presentation stands in Monaco, in order
to promote their destinations to residents
Conférence à propos de la diplomatie économique avec Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre des Relations Extérieures and visitors to Monaco.
et de la Coopération et Guillaume Rose, Directeur Général Exécutif du MEB / Lecture on Economic Diplomacy with Isabelle Berro-Amadeï,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and MEB CEO, Guillaume Rose

65