Plenary session of the Trade Observatory, 19 April 2022

©Direction de la Communication/Stéphane Danna

A new plenary session of the Trade Observatory was held on Tuesday 19 April, under the chairmanship of Mr Jean Castellini, Minister of Finance and Economy. 

The discussions brought together Monegasque traders and representatives from the National Council, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the Strategic Council for Attractiveness, the Monegasque Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (IMSEE), and the Chambre Immobilière Monégasque, to review the current commercial situation and the progress of the Observatory’s key projects.

The meeting was also an opportunity to identify the expectations and prospects for retailers and restaurateurs, both in 2022 and over the longer term.  

Mr Stéphan Bruno, the new Director of the Business Development Agency, spoke at the meeting about his commitment to continuing active discussions with traders. This would involve on-site visits and specific meetings, to examine in detail the characteristics of each district of the Principality, as well as implementing the improvements identified by the Trade Observatory and designed to stimulate the offer of goods and services available in the Principality.

Following an Easter weekend which saw very large numbers of tourists visit Monaco, the Minister emphasised that there were encouraging signs of recovery, in particular with the latest easing of health restrictions, the resumption of international travel, and the return of major events to the Principality, in areas such as sport and business tourism. These signs suggested that there was every reason to be confident for the future.