delano february 2014
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Delano Magazine February 2014TRANSCRIPT
5 453000 010015
Issue 25 - 4€www.delano.lu
Fund regulation
Burden or opportunity?
Film industry
At the coAlfAce
february 2014
understanding LuxembourgCurrent affairs • Business • LifestyLe
InsIde the south AsIAn communIty
Subcontinent synthesis
cover_fev.indd 1 29/01/14 17:11
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EDITORIAL
February 2014 3
Mel
usin
e Pr
oduc
tions
Write to PO Box 728 L-2017 LuxembourgOffices 10 rue des Gaulois, Luxembourg-Bonnevoie ISSN 2220-5535 Web www.maisonmoderne.luCEO Mike KoedingerCOO Rudy LafontaineHR director Thierry van IngelgomAdministrative and financial director Étienne Velasti
PublIShEr Phone (+352) 29 66 18-1 Fax (+352) 29 66 19E-mail [email protected] Publishing director Mike Koedinger Editor in chief Duncan Roberts ([email protected]) Desk editor Aaron Grunwald([email protected]) Contributors Neel Chrillesen, France Clarinval, Cristina Marina, Tonya Stoneman, Stella Parascha, Wendy WinnPhotography Julien Becker, Charles Caratini, Luc Deflorenne, Annabelle Denham, Steve Eastwood, David Laurent, Olivier Minaire, Jessica TheisProofreading Sarah Lambolez, Cynthia Schreiber
DESIgN Phone (+352) 27 62 12 62-1 Fax (+352) 27 62 12 62-84E-mail [email protected] Director Guido KrögerArt director Cassandre BourtembourgStudio manager Stéphanie Poras Layout Sophie Melai (coordination), Tae Eun Kim, Jan Hanrion, Didier Helmstetter, Zoë Mondloch
ADvErtISINg Phone (+352) 27 17 27 27 Fax (+352) 26 29 66 20E-mail [email protected] Director, Maison Moderne Media Sales Francis Gasparotto ([email protected]) Sales director Luciana Restivo ([email protected])
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In accordance with article 66 of the law of 08.06.2004 on the freedom of expression in the media: the company that publishes Delano is indirectly held, by a stake exceeding 25%, by Mike Koedinger, an independent editor registered in Luxembourg. Mike Koedinger is chartered with daily management.Delano™ and Maison Moderne™ are trademarks used under licence by MM Publishing S.A. © MM Publishing S.A. (Luxembourg)
Cover photoJulien Becker shot Selvaraj Alagumalai, Ambreen Khan, Sudhir Kohli, Kavitha Ramachandran and Roy Suhash in Dommeldange. Thanks to Mélange - Inspired by India for its kind assistance.
Note to our readersThe next print edition of Delano will be published on March 19. For daily news updates and our weekly what’s on guide, visit www.delano.lu.
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N ot for the first time, the Luxembourg film industry appears to be facing
something of an identity crisis. This has recently manifested itself on two fronts, both brimming with positives. Firstly the Oscar nomination of Ernest et Célestine, which is a well-deserved recognition for one of the most charming animated feature films to emerge anywhere in the world over the last few years. It is a delightfully crafted story about the friendship of a mouse and bear with beautifully illustrated images that serves as a counterpoint to much of the flash- bang-wallop school of kids films that have taken over the multiplex. The problem is that while Luxembourg, and in particular Studio 352, can be justifiably proud of this achievement--the short list of five nomina-tions includes the likes of Walt Disney’s big budget Frozen--the Grand Duchy’s contribu-tion is hardly recognised in the media. Indeed, Wikipedia describes Ernest et Célestine as a “French-Belgian animated film” and the official site of the Academy Awards lists only French director and producer Benjamin Renner and Didier Brunner. On the other hand, short animated film Mr Hublot, which is in English, suffers no such problems with Luxembourgers Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares (who has dual Spanish nationality) both being recognised.
So what is a “Luxembourgish” film? It is a question that has been raised by blogger Patrick Vedie following the release this month of Heemwéi, a film made by passionate “amateurs” over a matter of years that received no official funding from the Film Fund. Many Luxem-bourgers, such as homegrown director Andy Bausch (whose 1988 cult crime comedy Troublemaker inspired many of today’s local filmmakers), are adamant that a Luxembourg film must have its principal dialogue in the Luxembourg language. But does that make Beryl Koltz’s Hot Hot Hot, the winner of the 2012 Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis for best film any less Luxembourgish because it is in English? In many ways, as Vedie points out, it matters not one jot. A film should be judged purely on its quality and appeal to an audience. On the other hand, the national funding system requires that a film’s identity be firmly established--at next month’s Lëtzbuerger Filmpraïs there are separate categories for best Luxembourg film and best co-production, for example. Meanwhile, come March 2 everyone in Luxembourg will be rooting for the cute mouse and cantankerous bear to win out over the computer animated, Disneyfied heroes and heroines..
Film industry
IdeNtIty crIsIs?Text by Duncan Roberts
ErNESt Et CÉlEStINEHow Luxembourgish is it?
03_Edito.indd 3 31/01/14 12:00
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February 2014 7
CONTENTS
RegulaRs
currentaffairs
Schools equationNew education minister has English plans
10 Student body turnS 20Young luxembourgers in Britain
20 only 1 at 1% luxembourg pips sweden
22 Programming funCode Club luxembourg
24 ViSionS of SugarPlumSa look back at holiday fête
Fund regulationAre thickening rulebooks a burden or opportunity?
28 Schneider talkS bizencouraging entrepreneurship
34 fabric of lifeluxembourg steel ‘round the world
36 Virtual meetingSHailing frequencies open
40 roam, if you want toWill your mobile bill go down?
At the coalfaceLuxembourg film industry talent in demand
50 eyeS wide oPenDiscover this festival
56 a race aPartBrothers breaking records
64 kidSThe real dirt
Think LocaLrebecca humble
The full time mum talks about crémant, volunteering with the luxembourg Red Cross
and running marathons
my oTher Lifefouad rathle
The financial executive talks about the beauty of the smith & Wesson
.357 Magnum and luxembourg’s strict gun laws
Business
lifestyle
coversTorySubcontinent SyntheSiS. Inside the south Asian community.
February 2014
44
66
30
5218
12
07_sommaire.indd 7 29/01/14 18:42
CURRENTAFFAIRS
Gerard LopezThe Luxembourg entrepreneur, chair-
man of Luxembourg-based Genii Capital,
has been appointed director of the
Lotus Formula One team, taking over
from Frenchman Éric Boullier. Lotus
finished fourth in the constructor’s
championships last season.
CLaude radouxThe honorary consul of Ukraine
in Luxembourg has resigned in protest
at the shooting of demonstrators.
Radoux, a Luxembourg City councillor,
was quoted as saying the actions
of the Ukrainian government were
that of a dictatorship.
Jean-CLaude JunCkerThe former prime minister says
he is ready to be a candidate for
the job of European Commission president “in principle”. Current
commission chief José Manuel
Barroso is due to stand down
on October 31.
YanniCk BastosThe talented young midfield
star of Differdange 03 has been
signed as a professional by English
Championship club
Bolton Wanderers. Bastos,
20, has four international
caps for Luxembourg.
Compensation disappointment
More than 11 years after the Luxair crash that killed 20 people, the families
of the victims have been awarded
compensation. But the amounts
awarded by the Luxembourg court
of appeal fell far short of the claims
made by the families’ lawyers.
The four defendants--the co-pilot
who survived and three Luxair
employees--have been ordered
to pay a total of 413,000 euro rather
than the 1.5 million euro demanded
by the relatives.
Luxair Flight 9642 crashed in a field
near Roodt-sur-Syre, now the site
of a memorial garden (photo), as it
approached Findel airport in heavy fog.
An enquiry found the pilots and
technical staff were culpable for
accidentally switching the engines
into reverse. Some relatives have
already said they will appeal the
ruling, as it leaves them out
of pocket after they have
paid legal fees.
Luxembourg Lands oscar nominationsThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced
its final nominations for this year’s Oscars on Thursday January
16. Among the final shortlists are two films made in Luxembourg.
Ernest et Célestine, co-produced by Melusine Productions,
a subsidiary of animation specialists Studio 352, is a hopeful
for the best animated feature category. Directed by Stéphane
Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner, the film about the
friendship of a mouse and a bear has charmed young audiences
around Europe. It faces stiff competition from big buck American
productions Despicable Me 2, The Croods and Frozen as well as
Japanese film The Wind Rises.
Laurent Witz’s innovative Mr Hublot (Zeilt Productions) is on
the list of short animated films. Based on an idea by Stéphane
Halleux, it has already picked up more than a dozen awards at film
festivals around the world since being released in June 2013.
Christophe Wagner’s Samsa Film noir thriller Doudege Wénkel
missed out on making the final shortlist in the best foreign
language film category.
The Oscars ceremony is scheduled for March 2, with the Lëtze-
buerger Filmpräis--the bi-annual awards ceremony honouring
locallly made films and Luxembourg co-productions, scheduled
for March 7.
Oliv
ier M
inai
re
Luc
Defl
oren
ne
FLF
Mel
usin
e Pr
oduc
tions
Mai
son
Mod
erne
arc
hive
s
8 February 2014
Zeilt
Pro
duct
ions
08-09_Current affairs opener E.indd 8 29/01/14 18:45
Belval move now set for 2015The University of Luxembourg’s move to Esch-Belval has been delayed
for a second time, DP education minister Claude Meisch told the press
in January. The original 2013 opening date had previously slipped to mid-2014,
then last autumn contractors said €30 million in additional work was required,
or roughly 5% more than planned. The budget shortfall could only be bridged
after October’s snap parliamentary elections and the confirmation of the
new government. Two of the university’s three colleges are now set to
decamp in 2015, ten years after the Grand Duchy’s government first announced
the plan. The institution will then quit its Kirchberg and Walferdange campuses.
Around 7,000 students and 3,000 staff will study and work at the Belval location,
which until the 1990s housed steel blast furnaces. The university’s biomedicine
research labs opened on the site in 2011, which also houses several publicly
funded science facilities, a start-up incubator, the Luxembourg headquarters
of financial firm RBC and culture venue Rockhal.
secretary threatened after “scandals”Police are investigating who left nails in front of Francine Closener’s car while
it was parked at her home. The LSAP secretary of state for defence and econ-
omy had been criticised before the incident for using her official car, complete
with government number plates, to take a personal ski trip over the new year
holiday. While it was legal, she apologised and prime minister Xavier Bettel
mooted tightening the rules. Days later Closener (photo, right) and deputy prime
minister Étienne Schneider were accused of skipping out of a meeting during
December’s trade mission to China and heading to a hotel spa. In an interview
with Le Quotidien Closener, a former journalist, said of the scandals: “I don’t want
to rekindle that; I’ve already admitted making a mistake.”
oLYmpiC BoYCottLuxembourg is divided on a boycott
of the Sochi winter Olympics. Sports
minister Romain Schneider is against
a boycott, but EU commissioner Viviane
Reding will shun the games over Russia’s
treatment of minority groups.
drunk piLotTurkish Airlines has taken disciplinary
action against a pilot who was found
to be under the influence of alcohol
during a routine test before
he was due to fly a plane
from Istanbul to Luxembourg.
more London Luxair has announced it will add a new,
sixth, daily flight between Luxembourg
and London City airport starting
on March 31, leaving at 7:20 a.m.
If demand is sufficient, Luxair will
consider adding a seventh flight.
“The eU will
never be a UniTed sTaTes of eUrope”
Jean-Claude JunCker
on austrian radio orF
same sex marriage on cardsLuxembourg will adopt same sex
marriage before the end of 2014,
according to government plans
unveiled by justice minister Felix Braz
in January. As reported in May last
year, an opinion poll has already indi-
cated that the vast majority of Luxem-
bourgers--83 percent--are in favour,
to some degree, of same sex marriage.
Braz has been reported as saying that
the government now hopes
to present a bill before par-
liament by the summer of
2014 and that the legislation
should be in place
by the end of the
year. The bill will
face little oppo-
sition in parlia-
ment, as the
previous gov-
ernment had
already drafted
legislation to
allow people of
the same sex to
marry with the same
rights as heterosexual
couples. But it could
not find time in the
parliamentary sched-
ule to push through
a bill before the
summer recess,
by which time the
snap election had
been called. Chri
stop
he O
linge
r
February 2014 9
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Julie
n Be
cker
(arc
hive
s)
Cour
gra
nd-d
ucal
e/Ad
rien
Ber
nard
08-09_Current affairs opener E.indd 9 29/01/14 18:45
Language camps + soft-skiLLs camp 2014
Language: French, German and English
age: 7-17 years old (13-19 years old for the Junior Media Camp)
Period: Spring, Summer and Autumn 2014Our language camps teach a language through communication, and various recreational, cultural, sporting and creative activities. It is not just fun and games: learning and practicing a foreign language is at the heart of all activities! We apply our motto „Learning by speaking“ at each moment.
Soft-skills camp: as a global education company, Berlitz has applied all its expertise in adult and teen training to create a highly customized solution for the next generation: the Junior Media Camp. Fun and interesting, it will prepare teenagers for the future challenges linked to globalization.
dates: 06.04.14 – 12.04.14 German camp (Luxembourg City)
13.04.14 – 19.04.14 French camp (Vianden)
13.04.14 – 19.04.14 English camp (Luxembourg City)
20.07.14 – 02.08.14 Junior Media Camp (soft-skills camp in English)
10.08.14 – 16.08.14 French camp (Schengen)
17.08.14 – 23.08.14 German camp (Schengen)
26.10.14 – 01.11.14 French camp (Echternach)
20.07.14 – 26.07.14 French camp (Lultzhausen)
27.07.14 – 02.08.14 French camp (Lultzhausen)
03.08.14 – 09.08.14 French camp (Lultzhausen)
03.08.14 – 09.08.14 English camp (Echternach)
BerLitz LuxemBourg Tel. +352 26 38 32 48, 89–93, Grand-Rue, 1661 Luxembourg, [email protected], www.berlitz.lu
11_PUB_BERLITZ.indd 11 30/01/14 09:25
10 february 2014
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Michèle Spanier and Sven Rinck
Tom Hermes, Julia Jacobs and Bob Feid
Lis Bingen and Christian Thiry
Anne Engels and Caroll Ewen
David Clark and Steve Brabbs
Hervé Hansen and Oxford University Society of Luxembourg chairman Andrew Hallan
British ambassador Alice Walpole and Anne Faber of “Anne’s Kitchen”
EducationStudent body anniverSary
In January British ambassador Alice Walpole hosted a reception to mark
the 20th anniversary of the Society of Luxembourg Students in Britain (SLSB).
Walpole said she has been extremely impressed by the work current students
and alumni of British universities do to share their expertise with those thinking
of a university education. “Once upon a time, a very long time ago, embassies
were well resourced on the cultural side to promote education in the UK. Those
days are long gone and so we are always extremely keen to work with others.”
The ambassador revealed that the embassy was on track to fulfilling her
ambition to double the number of stu-dents from Luxembourg who attend UK universities during her four-year tenure. “I will be very pleased to meet that tar-get, because I wondered whether I was being a little over-ambitious,” she said.
SLSB president Aisha Bové explains that there are currently around 1,000 students from Luxembourg studying in the UK--the majority in London or
the south-east, but also spread out all over the country from Edinburgh, to Aberystwyth and Manchester. dr
More photographs from the event at: www.delano.lu/news/student-body-anniversary
Photographed by Steve Eastwood
Christine Schumacher and SLSB president Aisha Bové
Luxembourg student union ACEL co-chairs Jil Welter and Yves Hoth
10_Snaps_SLSB Brit embassy.indd 10 30/01/14 16:47
12 february 2014
Ambreen KhAnPakistani housewife and henna artist
KAvithA rAmAchAndrAnInstitutional client manager and presenter of “Raagamalika” radio show
Sudhir KohliEntrepreneur and president of the Indian Business Chamber of Luxembourg
roy SuhAShRestaurateur and president of the Bangladesh Business Chamber of Commerce
SelvArAj AlAgumAlAiEntrepreneur and president of the Indian Association Luxembourg
COVERSTORY
12-16_coverstory.indd 12 30/01/14 14:21
february 2014 13
They may be relatively few in number, but the south Asian community is among the most active and entrepreneurial in the Grand Duchy. Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans and Nepalese have all made Luxembourg their home from home, yet remain keen to foster and nurture links, both cultural and economic, with their native countries. Text by Duncan Roberts Photography by Julien Becker
Inside Luxembourg’s south Asian community
Subcontinental synthesis
COVERSTORY
12-16_coverstory.indd 13 30/01/14 14:21
COVERSTORY
14 february 2014
Many of the fields that interest investors on both sides are obvious--IT, R&D, manu-facturing, health and financial--but Kohli also reckons that tourism has potential for growth. He wants to establish Luxembourg as a European hub for Indian tourists. “With a direct charter flight, tourists would spend at least two nights in Luxembourg--the day they arrive and the day they leave. I think one char-ter flight a week would further improve rela-tions between the two countries.” The IBCL president is also convinced that a direct flight could help set up Luxembourg as a Eu-ropean logistics hub for India’s significant pharmaceuticals industry.
On the education side, IBCL is helping Sacred Heart University in Luxembourg to attract students from India. Other students and scientists are already working at the Henri Tudor research centre. “If Luxembourg wants to go at a higher speed in R&D, the first stage could be done here, the second and third stages in India and then the project could be finalised in Luxembourg.”
He says that in the financial sector, both sides can learn lessons from each other. “When the financial crisis came, many banks in Europe had to receive government support. Not a single bank in India faced such problems. On the contrary, the banks have been helping the government. They have so many checks and balances. It would be good if some Indian banks came to Luxembourg, but most of the
ith G-20 member India having the world’s tenth largest economy and Bangladesh
emerging as one of Goldman Sachs’ “Next Eleven”, links with the subcontinent can play an important role for Luxembourg’s contin-ued good fortune. The recent establishment of business chambers representing both India and Bangladesh in Luxembourg is testimony to that potential. Both chambers were found-ed by entrepreneurs with a long-standing reputation in Luxembourg. Sudhir Kohli, president of the Indian Business Chamber of Luxembourg has been in the Grand Duchy for 37 years, while Roy Suhash, president of the Bangladesh Business Chamber of Commerce, arrived in April 1992.
Tourism potentialKohli, founder of an IT consultancy, estab-
lished IBCL in 2009 (it marks its fifth anni-versary at the end of March) after consult-ing with fellow Indian businessmen and honorary consul Jim Penning. Since then the chamber has attracted some 350 members including representatives of the Big Four, major corporations and SMEs as well as in-dividuals from a variety of sectors. Not all have a direct link with India, but the cham-ber’s motto is “learn, share expand ”, which Kohli says accounts for the interest in IBCL of many local players who may be seeking to diversify and enter the Indian market.
W
indiAn buSineSS chAmber
bAnglAdeSh buSineSS chAmber
12-16_coverstory.indd 14 30/01/14 14:21
COVERSTORY
february 2014 15
banks are in the retail business, which does not make it attractive to come here.”
Kohli is not shy to admit that corruption is a problem in India, but acknowledges recent efforts made by the national and regional governments--such as the newly elected chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal--to tackle the problem. “There is corruption in every country, it’s just that in India the media is so open about it that everyone around the world hears about corruption.”
Facilitating contactIndia is facing elections in May, which could
affect plans by the Luxembourg government to take a trade mission to India in November. But Kohli has made an appeal to the Luxem-bourg delegation to focus on sector specific events. “Even if there are fewer people attend-ing, I am sure it would be more fruitful.” He is also pleased that Étienne Schneider is still at the economy and foreign trade ministry after last October’s Luxembourg elections. “He brings continuity, and the government is
keen to grow business with India,” says Kohli. However, the Indian elections have also put temporary on hold negotiations between the EU and India over a free trade agreement. “Once the FTA is signed, trade will really grow between India and Luxembourg.”
Suhash’s Bangladeshi chamber is more modest than IBCL. Founded in 2011 it seeks to promote and facilitate Luxembourg invest-ments in Bangladesh and strengthen the ex-isting economic cooperation between the two countries. One of the most important efforts Suhash has made in this regard is the immi-nent signing of an agreement that will allow freight carrier Cargolux to establish a regu-lar flight to Dhaka. It is a project that he had been working on since August 2011 and has required frequent visits to his native country, a flurry of letter writing with the Bangladesh government and meetings with representa-tives of the Luxembourg ministry of the econo-my and Cargolux. “It took a long time, but we are close to seeing the deal done,” he says. “Cargolux will benefit; and when Cargolux benefits, Luxem-bourg benefits.”Suhash is keen to facilitate Lux-embourg contacts with the Bangladesh Board of Investment, which oversees all foreign in-vestment initiatives. “The BOI directory is like a bible for investors,” he explains. Once the Cargolux deal is signed, sealed and delivered, Suhash will focus on a double tax treaty agree-ment between Luxembourg and Bangladesh as his priority.
Like everyone interviewed for this feature, Suhash is an almost insistent host, offering a selection of finger foods from his Orchidée restaurant, which he opened over six years ago with his wife. His is proud to reveal that Orchidée is currently listed third among Luxembourg restaurants, behind Michelin-starred Clairefontaine and popular Rives de Clausen spot Le Sud, on TripAdvisor. “I ap-preciate clients giving honest feedback,” he says. The restaurant not only provides Luxem-bourgers with a chance to sample Bangla-desh cuisine, but also to talk with Suhash and learn more about the country. “A lot of times all they know is that there is a lot of flooding and accidents in the clothing industry. But I want to keep an eye on the good things, also.”
Music traditionBlending business and culture is some-
thing that Kavitha Ramachandran takes in her stride. The institutional client manager at Maitland is also the presenter of a weekly show on Radio ARA. ‘Raagamalika’ is a spin-off from the ‘Desi Vibes’ show, which she co-presented with established broadcaster Ali Sherwani for several years. They were ap-proached by the station to expand the two-hour slot to two-and-a-half hours, with one hour aimed at classical and folk music from the subcontinent. “I am no DJ, but having an interest in music set me off and for me it’s a
"Trade will really grow"
Sudhir kohli
Stev
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Ali
Sher
wan
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Luc
Defl
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indiAn buSineSS chAmber
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12-16_coverstory.indd 15 30/01/14 14:21
COVERSTORY
16 february 2014
wonderful distraction for the weekend,” says Ramachandran. “There is a lot of research in-volved, because I like to get a theme going in each programme.” It has also given her an opportunity to interview artists from both the Carnatic tradition from the south of India and the Hindustani tradition.
A native of Chennai, which can lay claim to being the centre of Carnatic music, Ra-machandran occasionally returns home to take part in an annual festival of music that attracts both prominent and emerging art-ists from India and around the world. She clearly loves music and receiving feedback from listeners. She herself admires the work of some of the great Indian artists such as the doyenne of Indian classical music, MS Subbulakshmi. “Even Jimi Hendrix was in-spired by her. She is remembered for her golden voice but also her simplicity and the humble approach she had to music, despite the great-ness she achieved.”
Cultural heritageRamachandran has been in Luxembourg
since 1996 and immediately got involved with the community, joining the committee of the Indian Association (IAL) and becom-ing an active member of the community and playing cricket with the Optimists Maidens. “I had spent some time abroad and started working straight away, so had a social circle.
So integrating was not difficult and we always find things to do. Travel is one of our passions.”
It was the IAL, launched in 1991, that was the first real effort to bring together the In-dian community in a more organised struc-ture. Founded by Ambi Venkataraman, now the honorary consul of India to Luxembourg, the association also welcomed members of other south Asian communities.
But IAL’s chief focus remains to enhance awareness of India’s rich cultural heritage, which it does by hosting traditional annual celebrations such as Holi (the spring festival of colours), Eid (the breaking of fast) and the biggest of all, Diwali (the festival of light) as well as a memorial service at the statue of Ma-hatma Gandhi in the city park on October 2, the birthday of the civil rights leader. “We want to show our children our traditions. But we also want them to get involved and we give them the opportunity to showcase any talent they have,” says current IAL president Selvaraj Alagu-malai. Like most South Asians, Alagumalai is proud of his children. His twin daughters graduated from Warwick and then did their masters at LSE. They have since returned to Luxembourg to work at Deloitte and KPMG. “The quality of life in Luxembourg is good.”
Alagumalai is another entrepreneur who arrived 22 years ago. He set up his own com-pany in 1997. “The government was very helpful in getting work permits. It is easy to meet peo-ple from the ministry,” he jokes as he sits in his
Forum Royal office, just two doors down from the ministry of the economy.
The association now has close to 200 mem-bers, many of whom are from Sri Lanka, Bang-ladesh and Pakistan as well as India. As well as organising cultural events, it also helps new arrivals to settle in Luxembourg. “But that is not so difficult as it was 20 years ago. Luxem-bourg is much more multicultural now. But most Indians do learn French, if not Luxembourgish.”
Younger generations, such as Ambreen Khan’s three children, are learning Luxem-burgish by attending local school. She ar-rived in Luxembourg some 16 years ago to join her husband Azam when she was just 19. She helped out in the textile boutique Azam owned with his brother and met lots of peo-ple through her work. Together they also started a Pakistani restaurant, which was frequented by many locals and Europeans as well as members of the Pakistani community. “Luxembourg has given us a lot, and we have everything we need.” She gives back by being an active member of the community--her skills in henna hand tattooing are called upon for all sorts of celebrations and not just by the Paki-stani but also by the Indian community and lo-cal organisations such as ASTI and the OGBL union for their events. “It is a natural product with no side effects and lasts for four or five days. We use it especially to celebrate weddings, but here young girls also like to get henna tattoos. Luxembourgers are interested in our culture.”
Stev
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12-16_coverstory.indd 16 30/01/14 14:21
All information about continuing training and training support for individuals and companies
An initiative of the “Institut national pour le développement de la formation professionnelle continue”
NOW AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AT
lifelong-learning.lu
infpc_delano_210x265.indd 1 26/11/13 17:1031_PUB_INFPC.indd 31 04/12/13 11:0317_PUB_INFPC.indd 17 29/01/14 17:02
18 february 2014
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Education
Solving the language equation
dents from failing a subject in which they are in fact competent, part of the answer might be to give them more choices regarding the lan-guage in which they are taught. We would also like our students to start English earlier,” the minister says.
More than 600 new secondary students arrive in Luxembourg each year and integrating these newcomers into the local system is far from easy. Parents who can afford it often opt to send their offspring to an international school instead. “Diversity and multiculturalism is part of our identity and international schools are necessary,” says Meisch. “That’s why Luxem-bourg supports them so much financially. We do however wish to review the way this funding is used. We’d like to see school fees reduced so less fortunate students can gain access too.”
Another initiative backed by the ministry is the opening of classes taught in English with an international curriculum within public schools. A survey was recently initiated via several international chambers of commerce to determine the need for this, with results expected to be released later this year.
laude Meisch took over as Luxembourg’s minister of education the day after the lat-
est PISA survey results were released--not the most encouraging start to his new job. Since the OECD started assessing the literacy and numeracy performances of 15 year-olds world-wide, Luxembourg has ranked poorly and this time was no exception. The study showed stu-dents in the Grand Duchy still perform under average in all areas.
Taking much of the blame for this is the country’s multilingual teaching system. Sur-prisingly, while scientists insist bilingualism boosts brainpower, a school structure where students learn to wield three languages doesn’t seem to have the same positive effect.
“Having a population capable of mastering several languages is part of our country’s wealth,” Meisch tells Delano. “Keeping Luxembourgish, German and French in our schools is important and also ensures we remain a nation where every-one can speak with each other--contrary to Belgium, for example. We are however increasingly aware that our society has changed and adapting our schools to our growing number of students from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds is essential.”
Compared with the other 64 countries and territories in the PISA study, Luxembourg has the highest rate of 15-year old students with an immigrant background (43.2%), with much more than half of them speaking a language other than Luxembourgish at home.
“Our situation is rather unique and we are currently working with researchers to figure out how best to address our specific issues. In the near future we will launch several pilot projects to assess various solutions. To prevent our stu-
" Our situatiOn is rather unique" Claude MeisCh
C
Luxembourg’s multilingual teaching system is hailed for promoting social cohesion, but blamed for the below average performance in secondary education. Change is now underway to accommodate students from the international community better.Text by Neel Chrillesen Photography by Olivier Minaire
18-19_Curr aff 2P_education.indd 18 29/01/14 18:47
february 2014 19
CURRENT AFFAIRS
PlanS for the future Different measures planned by the ministry of education to improve the way needs of foreign students are met in secondary schools:
1. More autonomy and freedom for schools, so they can adapt their educational tools to their specific student body.
2. Opening more classes with an english curriculum leading to international diplomas within public schools, in different regions, not only around the capital.
3. Focusing on students’ capabil-ity to speak the three “school languages”, but giving them a larger choice as to which one is used in certain subjects.
4. introducing english earlier for all students.
5. reviewing the way newcom-ers are included in the system, tailoring solutions better.
6. reducing the number of stu-dents per class or introducing a second teacher within each one to better assist those who need it.
Pascale PetrySees the opportunities
Such classes already exist though and are quite a hit, as Lycée Technique Michel Lucius director Pascale Petry can attest. She was con-tacted in September 2011 by the ministry and asked to open a class for the equivalent of British grade 5EC, for students who are usu-ally around 14 years old. She did--two weeks later. Today, her school has five such classes, with 100 students, all taught in English and preparing for International GCSE, AS and A-level exams. Two more classes will be added next year.
Integrating English speaking classes into a state-run school is clearly a lot of work, but Petry sees it as a great opportunity and is not shy of going the extra mile to assure it’s a suc-cess. “Our goal here is to adapt the system to the student, especially linguistically. Some of the English-speaking students arrive with no knowl-edge in either French or German, so we start ini-tiation courses in these languages every six weeks. Currently, we teach them German and French classes at five different levels so they have the possibility to study one or both at as a high level as they can.”
Michel Lucius has 1,280 students in all, who together speak 46 different languages, but Pétry stresses that “language should never be a factor of exclusion.” The school has recently prepared a questionnaire in order to find out which lan-guages are used by students and in which situa-tions in order to build more efficient bridges between the various linguistic backgrounds.
“It’s important to work with the differences instead of against them. You can’t teach suc-cessfully by asking the same from every student, nobody benefits from that. We opted for the AS and A-level curriculum for our English-speak-ing students as opposed to the International Baccalauréat because the programme is more inclusive, and we’ve learnt a lot from it.”
At the same time the English classes were introduced in her school, so was a service éducatif, meaning five certified educators were added to the staff. “This has made a big difference,” insists Petry. “It makes it possible to work individually with each student and also with the families. And that is very impor-tant, no matter which curriculum is followed and which language is spoken.”.
18-19_Curr aff 2P_education.indd 19 29/01/14 18:47
CURRENT AFFAIRS
20 february 2014
he Grand Duchy has surpassed Sweden as the world’s most benevolent aid donor,
new figures from an intergovernmental think-tank show. In 2012, 1% of Luxembourg’s gross national income went to official devel-opment assistance, up from 0.97% in 2011, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Sweden’s rate dropped from 1.02% to 0.97% in 2012.
The 2012 top five were rounded out by Norway (0.93% of GNI), Denmark (0.83%) and the Netherlands (0.71%).
The UK had the sixth highest proportion (0.56%) dedicated to development aid. Belgium and Switzerland donated 0.47%, while France donated 0.45%, Germany gave 0.37%, the US contributed 0.19% and Japan provided 0.17% of GNI.
However, when looking at total dollar amounts, the US topped the OECD tables, contributing $30.8 billion in 2012, followed by the UK ($13.9 billion). The top five were rounded out by Germany ($12.9 billion), France ($12 billion) and Japan ($10.6 billion). The Neth-erlands and Sweden each donated $5.5 billion, while Norway gave $4.6 billion. EU institutions contributed $17.5 billion, the OECD said.
The Grand Duchy donated $399 million in ODA last year, down from $409 million in 2011. The top recipient countries were Mali, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.
LuxDev, an agency that reports to the Grand Duchy’s international cooperation ministry, has supported projects to improve Burkina Faso’s vocational training, forestry management and blood transfusion systems, for example.
Luxembourg committed to donate 1% of its GNI in 2009..
T
International relations
Luxembourg tops aid ListThe Grand Duchy donates the highest proportion of its national earnings to development assistance, according to new OECD data.
Text by Aaron Grunwald
Burkina FasoA European Commission-backed food security programme in Tapoa
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20_cur aff art F.indd 20 29/01/14 18:50
February 2014 21
CURRENT AFFAIRS
until February 28 to do so and Trindade hopes many will. “It’s not always easy to get everyone interested,” he admits. “Unfortunately European affairs can still seem a little distant and complicated and many tend to be more interested in local politics.”
The Advisory Commission of Integration will therefore set up information stalls in the capital, on the place d’Armes, on February 8 and 22 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. “Not only to show how the European elections are organised and why it’s important to be a part of it but also to explain how the European Parliament works and how it’s possible to have an influence on what goes on there.”
“I think we all want the rights of the European citizens to be respected, just as we know that it’s important to find solutions together,” says Trindade. “Luxembourg is a founding member of the EU and is well respected within it, also because our representatives usually do a very good job. We should keep it that way. That’s why it’s so important to register and vote.”.
he European Parliament is the only European institution that is directly
elected by the citizens of its member states. That fact alone should encourage everyone who can to vote in the upcoming elections, which will take place on May 25 in Luxem-bourg. But there are other reasons why you should make your way to the ballots.
These are the first elections since the Lisbon Treaty gave the European Parliament a number of new powers, including that of being able to refuse the European Commission’s choice of new president. In other words, voters now have a clear say in who will head the EU government. The new political majority in the European Parliament will also shape European legislation over the next five years in areas from the single market to civil liberties, trade to foreign affairs, thus having an equal say with national governments on nearly all EU laws.
Plus, it is also the first time that all EU residents in Luxembourg can vote: the former two-year residence requirement was eliminated last December. So get in on the act--after all, according to the 2013 Eurobarometer survey, Luxembourg is the country where most people (88%) feel they are “citizens of Europe”.
“I’m not sure however, that everyone gets how important it is to seize this opportunity to vote,” says José Trindade, president of Luxembourg City’s Advisory Commission for Integration. “We so often hear people complain about what has been decided on a European level, blaming situations they don’t like on EU directives. Well, to change things, to have your say in the choices that are made, you have to vote! Choosing our representatives well is the only way of ensuring that decisions are made with our best interests in mind, not only here in Luxembourg where we work and live but also in our countries of origin where we have family or where we might go back one day.”
Those who are not yet registered to vote for the European elections in Luxembourg have
EuropEan parliamEntary ElEctions
All EU citizens over the age of 18 residing in Luxembourg can participate in the European parliamentary elections.To vote for a candidate from Luxembourg, you must register on the electoral roll at your local administrative office (in Luxem-bourg City, the Bierger-Center) before February 28. You can also decide to vote for someone from your country of origin. In that case, you should contact the competent authori-ties there (or your embassy) to find out how to register.www.jepeuxvoter.lu
www.elections2014.eu
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European Parliament
makE your votE countEuropean elections take place May 25 in Luxembourg and if you’re a EUcitizen you can vote. There are plenty of reasons why you should do so.To start with, it’s the first time your opinion will count this much.Text by Neel Chrillesen
Your town hallRegister before February 28
21_Cur Aff D European elections AG.indd 21 29/01/14 16:38
22 february 2014
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Children
Young programmers
have fun
to be a part of it. The club’s fourth to sixth graders learn to program by making their own games and animations. “Technology is such a big part of our society today, programming touches every industry,” says Zak Lawrence, ICT specialist at ISL and one of Code Club Luxembourg’s volunteers. “Code literacy is increasingly important, also to stay safe. We need to teach kids a better way of using the interactive world and to give them the tools to create instead of just consume.”
Bringing the concept of after-school cod-ing clubs to the Grand Duchy was Patrick Welfringer’s idea. A programmer himself, but also a father of three, he was initially looking for something to do with his own and some of his friends’ children. “Our kids today are ‘digital natives’ and yet they are
s soon as the bell has rung the end of the school day, they come flooding in, throwing
their bags in a corner and each rushing to one of the screens in the computer room. The Grand Duchy’s first code club has been running at the International School of Luxem-bourg since the school year started and has become so popular that there’s a waiting list
only learning to use computers passively. We should instead show them they can make computers do what they want and not the other way around.” The club is entirely run by volunteers. They teach youngsters the basics of program-ming using Scratch, before going on to the basics of HTML and CSS, Python and so on. For the onlooker, however, it frankly just seems like they’re playing in front of the computer. Proof that programming--especially if you’re making your own game or animation--can be captivating. “We focus on gaming to get them interested,” explains Lawrence. “The goal is that they have fun with technology; that they learn to produce something. Some go crazy. They are blown away by what they can do.”
“It’s really great to see the children’s creativity kick in,” says Steve Clement, an information security analyst and Code Club volunteer. “We also try and challenge them. Very quickly they start asking questions about how things work and get excited about what they can accomplish and how far they can go. Without them even knowing it, coding teaches them problem-solving and logical thinking, how to work with frustration and build discipline. But most of all, like with food, what’s i mportant is creating your own stuff instead of consuming something readymade.”
The pilot club at ISL will be joined by new clubs next school year. “What we’d really like is to see a code club in every single primary school in Luxembourg,” says Welfringer. And getting children to join won’t be a problem. The “Coding goûter” workshops organised by the club each month for children and accompanying adults are immensely successful. “It’s a great place to start but once the kids get really interested, they need a regular code club. The best way that parents can make that happen at their children’s school is to ask around and find us a volunteer with some programming experience. Volunteer time is our scarcest resource! ”.
The Code Club movemenT
The first Code Club was started in the UK in 2012 but the idea rapidly crossed borders, creating an international network of free volunteer-led after-school coding clubs for children aged 9-11. There are currently over 1,820 code clubs worldwide. A pilot club was set up at the International School of Luxem-bourg in 2013 and several more schools will open clubs in 2014. The Luxembourg Code Club also organises free coding workshops for children and their parents once a month. For details and to subscribe to its newsletter:www.codeclub.lu
a
All kids should learn to program instead of using computers and digital devices passively, Code Club Luxembourg says.
Text by Neel Chrillesen Photography by Steve Eastwood
Steve Clement (in baCk)Coding fosters creativity and problem-solving
22_Curr aff Computer code - art C.indd 22 29/01/14 15:59
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annonce_LSF_Delano_210x265_06-02-2014.indd 1 29/01/14 09:5423_PUB_LSF.indd 23 29/01/14 16:53
CommunityVisions of
sugarplums
Just before the holidays, the residence of the British ambassador turned into Santa’s workshop, as children were welcomed at a party organised by the British Ladies Club.
Or maybe that should be Father Christ-mas’s workshop, although we heard from a little elf that the guy in the white beard feels
just at home at the American Chamber of Commerce as he does at the North Pole.
“It’s so nice to be able to have a traditional kind of event in English for the little ones,”
says the BLC’s Kylie Morrison. Ambassador Alice Walpole, the club’s honorary presi-dent, provided cakes and biscuits and--of
course--a proper cup of tea for the grown-ups, while the kids were given “party packs” of goodies by the BLC to enjoy picnic style.
A pat on the antlers goes to the club’s Lynn Frank. This little dear (or is it deer?)
deserves to lead the sleigh team for all her hard work keeping the kids entertained. “All the volunteers did so much to make
this possible, and it was a really welcoming atmosphere”, adds Morrison. And not only did it feel good, it did good. Part of the fun
included making tree decorations from the Red Cross to help support the needy. WW
More photos from the event and Santa’s secret identity revealed at:
www.delano.lu/news/visions-sugarplums
Photographed by Jessica Theis
24 february 2014
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Siân, Seren, Emily and Louis
Max with mum Saskia Podzun and her daugh-
ter Anna (in carrier), Blasit (on right)
The BLC’s Lynn Frank
telling a tale
Rafael with his mum Line Ejlersen
From left: Catherine Bejour (taking photo), Claire with mum Kylie Morrison (next to window),
Haley with mum Andrea Monnat (centre)
Caspar
Grown-ups welcoming Santa, from left: Xeride Parker, Liz Rivero, Kate Ensor (holding door)
The British Ladies Club’s children’s Christmas party was held at the British ambassador’s residence
Father Christmas had an American accent
24_Snaps_BLC Christmas.indd 24 30/01/14 16:19
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SGG_AP_Delanocorpo210x265_Mise en page 1 30/01/14 12:37 Page1
25_PUB_SGG.indd 25 30/01/14 13:00
26 february 2014
Cham
ber o
f Com
mer
ce
B2B BiBleThe 14th edition of business guide
paperJam.Index was published in
January. “paperJam.Index is a B2B
essential and practical tool for finding
suppliers or prospects classified
into more than 150 sub-sectors,” says
Sarah Macri, the publication’s managing
editor. It also features profiles of doz-
ens of leading business newsmakers.
The guide is produced by Delano’s
sister magazine, paperJam, which is
Luxembourg’s largest economic and
financial publication.
www.index.lu
EU financing for SMESThe Kirchberg-based European Investment Bank issued its fifth
round of investment funds for
small and medium sized enterprises
in Belgium, the Netherlands and
Luxembourg. The EIB, which is
backed by EU member states,
makes the funds available through
commercial bank ING, which offers
loans and lease financing to SMEs
at lower than usual interest rates.
The €350 million tranche brought
the total to €1.3 billion over the
past four years. ING says roughly
2,400 companies have already
participated in the programme.
Year of the horseThe Chinese chamber marked its official kick-off with the news
that three more major mainland China banks will ride into town.
Luxembourg deputy prime minister Étienne Schneider
(photo) made the announcement during a conference
organised by the recently relaunched China-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. The group was celebrating its formal
inauguration and the Chinese Year of the Horse. More than
450 people attended the reception, making it one of the larg-
est events held at the Chamber of Commerce building in
Kirchberg over the past decade. Schneider said Agricultural
Bank of China, one of that country’s “big four” state-owned
commercial banks, is due to launch in Luxembourg later this
year, following a meeting last month with the Grand Duchy’s
finance minister, Pierre Gramegna. The other three big four
already operate here. Also setting up shop: Shanghai Pudong
Development Bank, one of China’s top 10 banks, and China
Merchants Bank, the world’s 60th largest, according to The
Banker figures. The moves further enhance the Luxembourg
government’s effort to make the Grand Duchy Europe’s lead-
ing offshore trading centre for China’s currency, the renminbi.
But trade between China and Luxembourg is not limited to big
banks, Chinalux president Dirk Dewitte said in an interview
with Delano’s online edition:
www.delano.lu/news/year-horse
Mai
son
Mod
erne
Stu
dio
Carlo ThelenNamed managing director of the
Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce,
after former chief Pierre Gramegna was
appointed finance minister in December.
Thelen joined the chamber in 1996, and
most recently was its chief economist.
www.carlothelen.lu
roBerT van de WegResigned as senior vice president of
sales and marketing at Europe’s largest
cargo airline, “due to differences with
the board of directors regarding
Cargolux’s strategy for the future,”
the carrier stated. He had been with
the firm for ten years.
lionel BriandThe University of Luxembourg
professor was named “IEEE Reliability
Society Engineer of the Year”. His boss,
professor Björn Ottersten, says:
“This award is the most prestigious
award in the field of software
verification and validation.”
businessLu
c D
eflor
enne
(arc
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s)
Luc
Defl
oren
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Uni
vers
ity o
f Lux
embo
urg
26-27_Business opener C.indd 26 29/01/14 19:02
february 2014 27
business
35% deal signedMore than a third of all-freight airline Cargolux has
officially been sold to a state-owned Chinese invest-
ment group, while the Luxembourg state still holds
just under half of the carrier’s shares. HNCA, based
in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, is paying $120 million
for the stake in Europe’s largest cargo airline,
which operates out of Findel airport. The accord
was signed last month by François Bausch, Luxem-
bourg’s infrastructure minister, and Xie Fuzhan,
governor of Henan Province. Under the deal, HNCA
will invest a further $15 million to establish Zhengzhou
as Cargolux’s second hub. But Luxembourg trade
union OGBL said the agreement was “somewhat
imbalanced”, warning that Cargolux risked becoming
a financial holding company taking advantage
of its “rapidly rising” Chinese cargo facility.
oil and water don’t mixA Luxembourg start-up has landed a deal with a major petroleum
player before marking its first anniversary. Eight-month old Apateq
sold its first oil-water separator to an unnamed major European
petroleum firm, the eco-tech company announced during a visit
by deputy prime minister Étienne Schneider to its headquarters
in Findel. Oil and gas wells generate billions of litres in contaminated
water annually. The company’s “OilPaq” product is mounted in
a mobile container and can automatically treat the water at well
sites, remotely controlled via a desktop or mobile application.
Apateq says its first “unit will treat produced water from oil
production and hydraulic fracturing, requiring virtually no chemicals
for operation using a proprietary technology”. The privately backed
firm was founded in April 2013, and had previously shipped units
that treat wastewater at industrial sites.
FirsT aiFMd deposiToryAlter Domus has become the first
“professional depository” authorised
by Luxembourg financial regulator
CSSF, the company announced in
January. Long required for retail mutual
funds, the EU ordered funds for savvy
investors to also have depositories,
which safeguard clients’ money,
starting this summer. “This is a natural
evolution of our product offering,
allowing us to provide a complete
solution to private equity and real
estate firms globally,” says CEO
Laurent Vanderweyen (photo). Last
year Fabrice Buchheit, the firm’s depos-
itory services chief, explained why Alter
Domus made the move in an article
published on the Delano website:
www.delano.lu/category/keywords/aifmd
ClearsTreaM seTTleMenTKirchberg-based Clearstream will pay
Washington $152 million over the
firm’s breach of American sanctions
against Iran in 2007 and 2008. The
company knowingly held a New York
account with $2.8 billion in securities
on behalf of the Iranian central bank,
and then helped transfer the assets to
a European bank account after an
American inquiry began, to help Teh-
ran avoid the economic embargo, the
US Treasury Department said. But
“Clearstream’s strong remedial
response to subsequently enhance its
sanctions compliance policies and pro-
cedures was a major factor” in reduc-
ing the settlement amount, which
originally was set at $340 million.
"[We] kicked the tyres and
saW that repairs are needed"EuropEan commissionEr ViVianE
rEding, on thE “safE harbour” data protEction pact with thE us
Luxembourg City is the 21st most expensive city
in the world to live, says expat website Expatistan.com.
Regular expenses in the Grand Duchy’s capital were
roughly equal to those in Dublin and Helsinki, while
life was costlier in London, Geneva and Paris. Frankfurt,
Brussels and Berlin were all less dear. Expatistan says
its data comes from more than 782,000 user entries.
MD
DI
coSt of living coMpariSon
Apat
eq
Sour
ce: E
xpat
ista
n.co
m
Lux.
10
20
30
40
50
41%
31%
11%
4%
-11%-14%
-23%
Lond
on
Gen
eva
Paris
The
Hag
ue
Fran
kfur
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Bru
ssel
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lin
-10
-20
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26-27_Business opener C.indd 27 29/01/14 19:02
28 february 2014
BUSINESS
Amcham president Paul Schonenberg
Jean-Paul Olinger and Xavier Kieffer
Deputy prime minister Étienne Schneider and US ambassador Robert Mandell
Labour minister Nicolas Schmit and Jean-Louis Schiltz
Paul Helminger
Patrizia Luchetta
Jane Messenger and Julie Mandell
David Micallef
British ambassador Alice Walpole
BusinessEncouraging
EntrEprEnEurship
In a speech at Amcham’s new year’s celebrations, Étienne Schneider emphasised
the government’s plans to help youngsters start businesses. The simplification
of procedures to starting a new business, including new regulations allowing an sàrl
to be registered with a capital outlay of just one euro, and improving the status
of independent workers to help encourage youngsters to become entrepreneurs were
among the policies he will be seeking to implement.
The deputy prime minister and minister for the economy also revealed plans for the
future merger of the Luxembourg For Finance and Luxembourg for Business agencies and
a strategy to harmonise nation branding.The reception at the residence of US ambas-sador Robert Mandell was attended by some
160 guests. Mandell, Amcham president Paul Schonenberg and Geoff Cook of BBH
representing the ABBL and the Association of American Banks in Luxembourg, also
addressed the gathering. Dr
More photographs from the event at: www.delano.lu/news/encouraging-entrepreneurship
Photographed by Jessica Theis
28_Snaps_Amcham Etienne Schneider.indd 28 27/01/14 10:08
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BUSINESS
Fund regulation
Burden or opportunity?
AIFMD, AML, Dodd-Frank, EMIR, EuVECA, FATCA, FTT, MIFID II, MiFIR, PRIPS, Solvency II, UCITS VI, just to name a few… if you feel obliged to check Google and query your colleagues
every time you hear about a new set of investment fund regulations, you certainly are not alone. There is simply a lot more to keep track of. Since the 2008 collapse of American bank Lehman
Brothers and the global finance crisis that followed--for better or for worse--the rulebooks have been getting increasingly thicker. How much more are asset managers spending to comply
with new requirements and is there an upside to increased standardisation? And what will it mean for the Grand Duchy’s funds sector?
Text by Aaron Grunwald Photography by Olivier Minaire
30 FEBrUary 2014
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Charles Muller Keeping an eye out is good for business
FEBrUary 2014 31
BUSINESS
Regulation ResouRcesMore than 20 official “circulars, laws, consultation papers and other legal texts” can be issued for each set of investment fund rules, says KPMG in Luxembourg. That is why the firm launched its regulapedia, an online library that organises all the documents by regulation--from AIFMD to UCITS VI--and by issuing institution.www.kpmgregulapedia.lu
Trade association ALFI offers more than a dozen best practice guidelines:www.alfi.lu/legal-technical/alfi-guidelines-and-recommendations
The BNY Mellon report cited in this article can be downloaded at:www.bnymellon.com/foresight/regulation
I n the next five years, European investment managers face 12 pieces of new direct govern-
ment rules and 20 sets of indirect regulations, reckons Charles Muller of consultancy KPMG. And naturally, fund firms have to comply with all those rules.
Indeed, new regulatory requirements will cost European fund firms between €220 million and €365 million annually for the next three years, according to a study by BNY Mellon, a bank for investment firms. The report, which was produced using data from consultancies EY and Watson Wyatt, estimates that on present course total expense ratios--a figure that investors commonly use to compare how profitably funds are run--will rise by more than 2%.
While investment managers are naturally keen to find efficiencies to avoid giving clients a case of sticker shock, that will not be easy to achieve. “Most firms initiated a regime of cost reduction programmes in response to the credit crunch,” the BNY Mellon report states.
There are simply few costs left to cut, meaning investment managers will have to take some clear-eyed decisions about exactly what they offer. “Firms should review their product portfolios and develop more sophisticated mechanisms for splitting the middle ground into ‘products to kill’ vs. ‘products to invest in’,” the bank advises.
Indeed BNY Mellon cites several cases of fund managers like BlackRock, Deutsche Wealth and Threadneedle shutting funds and share classes last year, “as cost pressures signal the beginning of the end for oversized product ranges.”
The advantage of trimmed product portfolios is that, in addition to boosting the bottom line, “greater clarity around the business objectives will be welcomed by investors and regulators and enable sales and marketing teams to deliver a more cohesive message to the market,” according to the bank.
The Grand Duchy’s investment management trade group says firms simply have to find the right people to satisfy rulemakers, regardless of budgetary concerns. “In light of the pace and
quantity of regulatory developments since the beginning of the international financial crisis, legal and compliance functions within the fund industry have increased in Luxembourg, as in all other important European fund centres,” says Anouk Agnes of the Association of the Luxem-bourg Fund Industry. “The qualification and the experience of professionals in these two fields needs to be high, as the regulation they have to deal with is truly complex. Consequently, qualifica-tion and experience is more important than cost.”
“Asset management companies, such as Aberdeen, are certainly spending more on compliance,” says Alastair Woodward of Aberdeen Asset Manage-ment in Luxembourg. “The aftermath of the financial crisis and various national and regional initiatives, including UCITS IV, AIFMD and [the UK’s Retail Distribution Review] have all meant increased work for compliance departments.”
“However, rightly compliance is now a central tenet to firms’ cultures with all employees respon-sible for ensuring compliant activities. We welcome this and also believe more rigour and good practice, including always putting clients first, is essential for the future of financial services,” he says.
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32 FEBrUary 2014
BUSINESS
alastair WoodWardCompliance spending is essential
Indeed, rules such as Britain’s RDR may have a transformative impact on the Grand Duchy’s financial sector. The regulations restrict fund firms from paying sales commissions, a common prac-tice today, to financial advisors--who have direct contact with retail investors--and requires advisors to clearly disclose their service fees to their clients.
Dariush Yazdani of consultancy PwC in Luxem-bourg notes similar moves are already being made in the Netherlands and Switzerland and forecasts that “by 2020 all major territories will have introduced some regulation on transparency, to better align interests with the customer.”
The shift in fee models will force the fund “industry to rethink the relationship between distributor and asset manager,” he says. “How are you going to motivate the distributor to [sell] your fund among the other 3,000 funds he has on his platform? Why should he choose you and not the next fund manager? ”
Yazdani says Luxembourg firms “will need to look more and more into the needs of distributors and how to support them in distributing their products. As an example, you could have a support line for their sales people who have questions about the funds. If you look at more successful asset managers, the baseline is performance, but after that you need to start to differentiate yourself
with branding and how you support your dis-tributors with added value services.”
This in turn could be a net gain for the Grand Duchy. “I do believe going forward such value-added services will be an advantage for Luxembourg and will bring more jobs to the industry here.”
BNY Mellon also believes “outsourcing” will increas-ingly become “recognised as the means to improve risk management and regulatory compliance.”
New opportunitiesService providers are adding to their offerings
in response. KPMG launched its “Regulatory Scout” service at the beginning of the year, which provides clients with a quarterly update on new rules on the horizon and helps fund firms pri-oritise each regulation’s relevancy and urgency, Muller says.
Since big asset managers typically have suffi-cient in-house resources, KPMG is marketing the service to medium sized shops and service providers, such as transfer agents and depository banks, “who also have to comply with regulations, for themselves and for their clients.”
But rulebooks have upsides. “Regulations are often seen as a burden, something you just have to comply with,” says Muller. “The question we most
often get [ from clients] is ‘where are the opportuni-ties for us?’ So the element we will focus a lot on is not only provide an update on the ‘burden’, but show clients where the opportunities lie in the regulations.”
“As we come out of the crisis, the fat has already been cut off within the industry,” concurs Yazdani. “The focus will shift towards growing the business; regulations will no longer be seen as a burden,” in his view.
Greater standardisation of rules across the globe could open doors in other markets. Yazdani believes regional investment zones--similar to the European cross-border “passport” that turned Luxembourg into a leading fund centre--will take shape in north Asia, south Asia and Latin America by 2020. “Once these passports are built”, he says it “gives Luxembourg the opportunity of expanding its footprint fur-ther than it currently is.”
While he concedes that could work the other way around too, with Asian and American funds gaining more access to the EU, “UCITS took about 20 years to take off. The infrastructure that you have, the knowledge that you have here is something that has been developed. Europe has first mover advantage. Luxembourg in a more competitive [environment] can grow its position.”.
30-32_Bus grande sujet 3P_funds.indd 32 31/01/14 12:30
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33_PUB_CAPITA.indd 33 30/01/14 09:27
BUSINESS
34 february 2014
1
Rail bRidge(Dresden, Germany)Steel beams from Luxembourg are being used in the construc-tion of a new railway bridge in Dresden in eastern Germany. The 1,460-metre long beams weigh a total of 380 tonnes and were made in the Differdange Grey mill and transported to Dresden by rail--an undertaking that may make it into the Guin-ness book of records. Prior to transport, all the beams were inspected three times to ensure there were no defects and that they met Deutsche Bahn’s strict standards. The bridge will open at the end of 2014.
3
Minnesota Vikings new stadiuM(St. Paul, Minnesota)ArcelorMittal’s Differdange plant will supply around 20% of the steel being used to build the American football team’s new multi-purpose stadium in St. Paul, currently under construction. Specifically the unique grade 65 steel from Luxembourg is used to make the beams that span the whole of the pitch and support the stadium’s roof. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new $975 million stadium was in December and the team will move into its new premises for the 2016 season.
1very second car in Europe contains some ArcelorMittal steel, explains Ian Loudon, head of brand, worldwide
at the steel maker. Loudon and his team have come up with the “fabric of life” campaign to illustrate just how much the world relies on steel--much of it made right here in the Grand Duchy.
The steel manufacturer has won innovation awards for its co-engineering effort with Ford in reducing the weight of the 2013 Fusion model in the US. Elsewhere in the automotive industry, ArcelorMittal’s Usibor boron coated steel, and S-in motion developments are also reducing the weight of cars by as much as 19%.
Similar statistics are equally impressive. 85% of the world’s wind turbines are installed on tubular steel struc-tures, and one in three of those use ArcelorMittal steel. The company is also developing steel photovoltaic cells named Phoster, which does away with the glass element of traditional solar panels, thus integrating the cells into the roof construction.
In South Africa, houses and schools built using a full-steel frame can be assembled by four people in just four days. Closer to home, Fonds du Logement housing in Hollerich was constructed using metal frames manufactured in component parts, which reduces the construction period on site.
More playful applications of ArcelorMittal steel includes all the pétanque balls manufactured by leading French brand Obot, and in the kitchen the company’s blued steel is used for baking trays and it also provides the steel for Miele washing machines. Here we pick five examples of steel from Luxembourg being used around the world. DR
Steel in use
FabRic oF liFeDid you know that 90% of all metal used in the world is steel? ArcelorMittal has launched a campaign designed to show how the modern world relies on the innovative use of steel.Text by Duncan Roberts
E
buSINeSS
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BUSINESS
2 3
4
5
luxeMbouRg paVilion(Shanghai, China)Designed by Luxembourg architect François Valentiny, Luxembourg’s pavilion for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai was built from Coreten weathering steel from Luxembourg, which deliberately oxidises. Engineer Pierre Engel was deeply involved in its design. Following the expo the pavilion was destined to be given to Chinese steel company Hunan Valin, but was eventually donated to the Chinese people and houses an art exhibition as part of a centre of exchange between China and Europe.
5
aRceloRMittal oRbit(London, England)The Orbit tower was the land-mark at the London 2012 Olympic Games. It is constructed from some 2,000 tonnes of steel (more than half of which is underground) that came from every country in which Arcelor-Mittal manufactures. But the majority came from western Europe for purely logistical pur-poses, and a significant amount did originate from Luxembourg. Mayor Boris Johnson has said he wants the Orbit to be a symbol for the regeneration of east London.
2
Flood baRRieR(Venice, Italy)ArcelorMittal is the lead company in the $3 billion MOSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) project, which is constructing flood prevention gates for the Venice lagoon at its three entrances from the Adriatic. Interlocking sheet piles made in Esch-Belval are driven into the seabed. They incorporate hollow gates that can be drained of water and filled with air if required to rise to the surface to block the three inlets when there is a danger of flooding.
4
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36 february 2014
BUSINESS
Top tips
Virtual meetings trekHalf a century after featuring in the Star Trek series, the telepresence concept is taking over the business world and promises to change the way we connect virtually.Text by Cristina Marina Photography by Annabelle Denham
he telepresence kits of the present are more advanced than anything dreamed up on cult
TV series Star Trek and they definitely spark one’s imagination in the same way the show did.
“Telepresence is a combination of audio, video and ambient lighting working together,” explains Robert Rosier, CEO of TPEX, a com-pany that supplies public and private telep-resence solutions. “Everything is designed to mirror surroundings and mimic sounds so that users on each side will feel as though the images on the screen are in the same room with them.”
The City of Luxembourg partnered with Tata Communications, Cisco and TPEX to open the first public telepresence facility in the Greater Region in 2012--at the Cercle Cité conference centre, located just off the place d’Armes--and Delano recently engaged the concept first hand.
With Rosier’s colleague Timothy Engels connecting from the World Trade Center in Amsterdam, Rachana Das patched in from the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, and Cercle Cité’s Vanessa Cum on the other side of the table here in the Grand Duchy, the telepresence system made the experience seem like an in-person interview.
Because each room feature is constructed to mirror all the others, it only takes a few minutes to get the feeling that everybody is in the same room.
Forget the long delays or awkward pauses in conversation that come with conventional sys-tems. The facility includes three ultra-high- definition screens (with 1080p resolution), voice-activated microphones and special light-ning that create an intimate sense of presence for all the participants.
“The main difference between telepresence and traditional video or web conferencing is that more senses are involved”, says Cum, who is coordinator of the Cercle’s telepresence facility. “Various stimuli, including life-sized images and spatial sound, give a more ‘real’ feeling and help remove the distance between participants. Everything is a must-try experience.”
Rosier says: “All the rooms are connected to an ecosystem created by Tata Communications. There is a fibre network in-between; it is not going over internet and the big difference is the quality--there is no delay, full HD, the best quality that you can get. Plus everything is very secure.” The system can also be accessed via mobile devices or laptops.
In a business world where budgets are shrink-ing and managers are paying more and more attention to costs, telepresence solutions can make a big difference for travel budgets.
“The companies that are using the system saved up to 80% of their travel costs”, explains Cum, citing clients including government ministries, global companies and even recruit-ers, who organise telepresence interviews.
The pay-per-hour telepresence room in Luxem-bourg can be connected to 80 public locations and 4,500 private rooms from all over the world and is available around-the-clock for €350 per hour..
Video conferencingWhile the telepresence facility at the Cercle Cité is the only one of its kind in Luxembourg, there are other players that facilitate virtual meetings. For example, office space provider Regus (www.regus.lu) offers video conference facilities that can be booked online and are available 24 hours per day. The system has a global reach and can connect to 1,800 facilities worldwide. ACT Proximity (www.proximity.com) video conferencing also enables private virtual meeting in a professional conference room environment, with 4,000 public video conference rooms avail-able worldwide.
T
Vanessa Cum (on left)On the line with Mumbai and Amsterdam
36_Bus art F_conference tips.indd 36 27/01/14 15:14
© 2014. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Deloitte Luxembourg’s app isDeloitte Luxembourg’s app is
Outlook – Brightening, with opportunities for growth
37_PUB_DELOITTE OPTION.indd 37 30/01/14 09:07
38 february 2014
BUSINESS
Corporate governance
Boardroom challenge
The 5 edition of the Female Board Pool Seminar on January 15 was the opportunity to assess gender equality in the boardroom
and move a step closer to narrowing the persisting gap.Text by Neel Chrillesen Photography by Steve Eastwood
th
in 2013. Compared to 2010 where this figure was 11.8%, it’s an increase. Hurray.
However, nearly one in four large listed com-panies still have no female representatives at all at board level and the 2020 target of 40% will, of course, never be reached at this rate. Not to mention that Luxembourg hasn’t even mus-tered up to the 2010 levels: in the Grand Duchy only 10.1% of board members are female.
Luckily though, initiatives are being taken to change the situation. Not only at European level, where quota strategies are developed amid heated discussions, but also locally. In Luxembourg, the Female Board Pool, launched in 2011, helps prepare companies to welcome women on boards by matching and vetting qualified female board of director candidates. The pool has also organised five corporate
ow you read the European Commission’s latest report about women and men in lead-
ership positions depends largely on your nature. The most optimistic amongst us will find it encouraging. The others? Pretty depressing.
The survey states that women accounted for 16.6% of board members of large publicly listed companies in the 27 EU member states
governance seminars for women and runs a successful mentoring programme.
The initiative is organised by the Maison du Coaching, Mentoring et Consulting, in cooper-ation with the University of Luxembourg, the American Chamber of Commerce, Femmes Leaders and Fédération des Femmes Cheffes d’Entreprise.
“My conviction is that an initiative like ours takes three to five years to take off, so we will see more and more results,” says Rita Knott, presi-dent of Maison du Coaching, Mentoring et Consulting. “Last summer I got the first request from a stock exchange quoted company to find a female board candidate and we were able to put forward 22 suitable profiles.”
The Female Board Pool has a confidential database with 320 board-ready women and the matching up is free of charge. As for the cross-mentoring programme, it has benefitted ten women so far. “Mentoring is a powerful tool and all involved profit from it. We are currently looking for more board of director mentors to expand the programme.”
“Regardless if you like quotas or not, it’s a fact that diverse boards give better results. For eco-nomic efficiency, it’s logical to have a fair compo-sition of competences on the board of director.”
Despite the positive results obtained in countries that have adopted legislative quo-tas, Knott is personally not in favour of this solution. “Shareholders should not have to have political considerations when choosing board members. The quotas make everyone emotional and create a female against men situation, which isn’t productive. We should build bridges instead. However, the quota accelerates the dis-cussion and that’s a good thing! ”
Hopefully the talking will lead to some more action, including in the Grand Duchy. “There are three major prejudices we are still confronted with: there are no women who want a board position, women are not competent and it’s too costly to find them. None of this is true.”
The Female Board Pool
The Female Board Pool is a plat-form for connecting experienced and future female board members, and corporations and organisa-tions. Its goal is to help increase the percentage of competent and committed women at the board of director level of private and public organisations in Luxembourg and other European countries. This goal is reached by finding, promoting, connecting and matching female board members. The Female Board Pool also organises training for future female board members.www.female-board-pool.com
h
rita knottBuilding bridges to the board
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40 february 2014
BUSINESS
Mobile phones
Roam, if you want toHow will reduced roaming fees impact Luxembourg telecoms?
Text by Tonya Stoneman Photography by Olivier Minaire
here were seven different phone numbers in my household last time I checked. I’m
a cross-border worker and my family of four travels a lot. We keep a landline in the house to cut down on the cost of international calls, each of us has a mobile phone, I keep a pre-paid phone for my work in Luxembourg (the international plan on my mobile is too pricey), and we have an American cell phone.
But despite all our efforts to keep costs down, we still get burned every time we forget to pack the right phone. On a recent trip to Italy, my husband used his iPhone to look up a few things. We came home to a €250 bill. Unfortunately, this scenario isn’t all that strange in this part of the world. If you’re a cross-border worker or travel frequently, you might be facing a similar situation.
Although European authorities have dramat-ically brought down roaming costs, this is still a huge challenge for people in the Grand Duchy and Greater Region. The European Commission has taken a strong stand on the issue, pressing for the end of roaming fees by mid-year.
Marc Rosenfeld, director at Post Telecom Luxembourg, says there are currently two solu-tions under discussion. “The first decouples the sales of roaming services from normal services so customers would be able to subscribe to roam-ing from a different provider from their normal provider,” he explains in an interview with Delano. “Or operators will have the opportunity to offer roaming services in the EU for the same prices as national services.”
While Rosenfeld is certain that roaming ser-vices for users will be cheaper when regula-tions are enacted, he does not know to what extent prices will go down and if there will be
particular offers for cross-border commuters. “Implementing specific packages is quite an issue for operators. They have to calculate well in advance what the implications will be,” he says, adding that he really does not foresee a big increase in voice traffic, as predicted, since prices have been dropping steadily and are no longer prohibitive.
The increase instead is in data usage, which is going up exponentially. “We invest in lots in fibre optics,” he says. “In Luxembourg, high speed access is available everywhere, and with it peo-ple consume much more data than they would from a classical DSL connection. So far we have not considered raising prices or limiting usage.”
If usage continues to rise, which is likely, this could force the operators and infrastructure providers to upgrade their networks. But Rosenfeld is optimistic that the effect of whole-sale prices dropping as capacities rise will be sufficient to compensate usage. “We think cus-tomers come first and if they want these services, we will offer them,” he says, adding, “as long as we can make enough money to subsist.”
" if tHey want tHese services, we wiLL offer tHem" Marc rosenfeld
T
40-41_Bus 2P_telecom special feature.indd 40 31/01/14 12:34
february 2014 41
BUSINESS
While Orange Luxembourg will fully com-ply with roaming policies from the European Commission, Thierry Iafrate, the firm’s chief marketing officer, says it will be tricky for them in terms of maintaining a balance between giving customers a good deal, pro-ceeding with investments and remaining solvent. “We agree with the roaming policies,” he says. “But they have a clear impact on telco solvability.”
He sees the possibility of fee decreases leading to an array of deals and perks tel-ecoms will provide. “If this happens, we could see companies buying tariffs in blocks to sell at a reduced fee. This actually keeps the price high for end users, as new entrants will have to ensure a profitable business. It could also create an entry door for non-European mar-ket players.”
Good networks cost millions of euro and the new regulations will affect areas cus-tomers rarely think about. For example, competition benefits the consumer, but it could also provide some consolidation in
the market. “If you are small,” says Iafrate, “you can easily lose revenue to the big guys. Companies might begin to build alliances. If the small companies get run out, this could affect investments in new technologies in small countries.”
At the end of the day it all boils down to a wrangle between capacity demand increase and decreasing revenue. Orange networks today must cater to a 10-12% increase in data consumption. Customers are using more data for movies, games, apps, etc., thanks to new generation networks, and telecoms are losing revenue to non-traditional modes of interper-sonal communication.
Luxembourg is a very high broadband coun-try (accessible to 90% of the population) with high rates of 4G, fibre and cable bandwidth compared with the rest of Europe. The equip-ment rate is 75% smartphones. At face value, the regulatory changes are welcome news for customers, but how they will effect telecoms and eventually translate into the end user’s daily life remains to be seen..
what’s on the tableif the european commission has its way, the 28 fragmented euro-pean telecom markets will trade increased market opportunity for reduced roaming fees and begin to streamline their services. if the proposed regulations roll out this summer, Luxembourg telecoms can get out of regula-tions already in place by forming alliances with other companies.
What this means for telecoms:1. more cross-border
consolidation2. access to a broader spectrum
at cheaper prices3. Pan-european operators will
deal with only one regulator
What this means for customers:1. a reduction in termination tariffs
2. changes to roaming fee structures
3. eU wide data bundles including sms and phone calls
For more information on mobile roaming:European Commissionec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/
roaming
Orangewww.orange-live.lu/uk/goeurope
Post Telecomwww.post.lu/en/particuliers/
mobile/forfait-voice-europe
Thierry iafraTeNetworks handling more data than ever
40-41_Bus 2P_telecom special feature.indd 41 31/01/14 12:34
TradeExport powEr
A trio of Luxembourg small and medium sized enterprises have been honoured
for their exporting prowess. The Chamber of Commerce and ODL, the Grand
Duchy’s export credit insurance agency, put the spotlight on the three small and
mid-sized firms during the 2013-2014 “Export Awards”, presented last month. MCM Steel, which sells specialised metal
products, received the €15,000 first prize. The €10,000 second place prize
was awarded to Biorock, which sells ecologically friendly sewage treatment systems, while the €5,000 third place
prize was bestowed upon social media analysis firm Trendiction. Launched
in 2011, the Export Award recognises SMEs that are making a mark with their
international activities. The prize is open to any type of business with less than
250 employees. AG
More photos from this event at:www.delano.lu/news/export-power
Photographed by Luc Deflorenne
Heik Zatterstrom
42 february 2014
BUSINESS
Finance minister Pierre Gramegna
ODL’s Etienne Reuter
Michele Detaille
Nicolas Mackel of awards co-organiser
Luxembourg For Finance
Deputy prime minister Etienne Schneider
Trendiction’s Robert Glaesener (second from left) and Biorock’s Antoine Machado (right)
Carole Tompers of awards co-organiser Luxembourg for Business
Crown Prince Guillaume and MCM Steel’s
Marie-Christine Mariani
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Untitled-1 1 05/11/13 12:2706_PUB_ DO RECRUIT.indd 6 05/11/13 17:1443_PUB_DO RECRUIT.indd 43 30/01/14 13:55
44 february 2014
THINK LOCaL
Rebecca HumbleRunning is a great way to see Luxembourg
Australian
Running (and swimming)Full time mum Rebecca Humble talks about crémant,
volunteering with the Luxembourg Red Cross and running marathons in the 25 instalment of Delano’s “Think Local” interview series.
Interview by Aaron Grunwald Photography by Steve Eastwood
th
AG: What do people in the Grand Duchy not really know about South Australia?
RH: It’s a good wine country; we have fantastic wine. The Sauvignon Blanc is lovely, on par with the crémant in Luxembourg.AG: So you’re a fan of Luxembourg crémant?
RH: Bernard-Massard has become one of my best friends.AG: What brought you to Luxem-bourg?
RH: My husband was offered an assignment when we were living in the States. People were surprised that we wanted to leave the US because it’s such a great lifestyle. But we were excited about a Euro-pean experience and thought that it would be the icing on the cake for us after living in the UK and the US.AG: What was one of your personal challenges when you moved here?
RH: When we found out we were moving to Luxembourg, I asked about the official languages. My husband said one was English. But not everyone speaks English. They might where you work, but not when you go grocery shopping. So my first goal was learning French. I got a tutor and I can get by now.AG: What was one of the pleasant surprises?
RH: Being Australian, we love the winters, the snow. I know everyone complains about the winters and how long it is, but we thought it was picture book stuff !AG: How did you get involved in the Luxembourg Red Cross?
RH: While I was learning French, I was looking [to volunteer with] an English speaking organisation and I discovered the international section, which is English speaking
but very multinational and multicul-tural, so I got in touch. Straightaway the president asked if I would be interested in helping organise After-work Swimming, which is one of its largest corporate fundraising events. We managed to get nine corporate teams, who competed in all types of swimming races, and raised €10,000, which was the largest amount they’ve raised at that event so far. All the money goes to ‘social groceries’, which supplies food to disadvantaged families.AG: What is the best way to find out about joining Red Cross activities?
RH: We have a monthly meet-up [Ed. note: the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Konrad Café in Luxembourg City-Centre] where all the volunteers get together and talk about upcoming events and how we can help.AG: Is Luxembourg a nice place for runners?
RH: I ran the ING night marathon [in 2013]. I’d run the New York marathon but I’d never seen crowds like this. They were just wonderful, the support along the routes. My 76 year old father travelled from Australia and he had a ball. And I’m doing it again this year.AG: Has running helped you settle-in?
RH: Clocking up 400 miles of training, you get to see parts of Luxembourg that you normally never get to see.AG: This spring you’re running the Paris marathon and the ING mara-thon for the second time. What motivates you?
RH: I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2009 and Luxembourg was the first marathon I did after the diagnosis. It was tough to do. But as long as I can, I’ll keep running..
Luxembourg Red Cross info at:www.delano.lu/Croix-RougeIS
Originally from Adelaide, capital of South Australia, Rebecca Humble
moved to the UK in 1999 and then to Washington in 2007, where she was an executive at a major defence contractor.
She came to Luxembourg in 2012 with her husband and daughter,
now two-and-a-half, and today is a full-time mum, Luxembourg Red Cross volunteer and runner.
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New productsNew world
www.alfi.lucentre de conférences kirchberg, luxembourgmarch 18th & 19th, 2014
alfi spring conference
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46 february 2014
AGENDA
ten eventsDelano presents a selection of upcoming business and networking
events for Luxembourg’s international community. Advance registration or fees may be required, so consult the website indicated for full details.
All events are held in English unless otherwise noted.
AmchAmwww.amcham.lu
Tue 11 February
“TmT predictions”During this American chamber evening seminar, consulting firm Deloitte will present findings from its 13th annual forecast of the technology, media and telecommunications sectors.Deloitte, Luxembourg-Neudorf, 17:30
Nobeluxwww.nobelux.se
Wed 12 February
heading northThe guest speaker at the Nordic chamber’s January “Get together” luncheon is Adrien Ney, president and CEO of Luxair, the Grand Duchy’s national passenger airline (which serves Copenhagen).Hotel Parc Belair, Luxembourg-Belair, 12:00
www.media-awards.lu
Wed 12 February
best advertsFor the third year in a row, Maison Moderne and RTL jointly honour the most creative advertising in Luxembourg. Jury and public prizes bestowed across all types of media. In French.Rockhal, Esch-Belval, 18:30
ITAswww.itas-event.com
Tue 25 - fri 28 February
Fund operationsThe International Transfer Agency Summit covers key industry challenges in fund distribution, operations and transfer agency. Speakers include JP Morgan’s Jon Griffin.Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund, all day event
luxembourg For FINANcewww.lff.lu
Wed 26 February
renminbi forumThe promotion agency hosts a conference on the “unique opportunities” for Europe given the internationalisation of China’s currency. Speakers include Luxembourg finance minister Pierre Gramegna.Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 08:30-16:30
The NeTworkwww.the-network.lu
Wed 26 February
Innovative helpThe professional women’s networking group outlines the various state-backed organisations and programmes that support entrepreneurs and innovation projects in the Grand Duchy.Sofitel, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 19:00
brITIsh chAmberwww.bcc.lu
fri 28 February
global schoolingThis luncheon’s guest speaker is Dr. Christian Barkei, principal of St. George’s International School, who will address “International education: across continents”.Meliá Hotel, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 12:00
PolIsh chAmberwww.lpbc.lu
SaT 8 March
equality mixerTo mark International Women’s Day, the Luxembourg-Poland Business Club hosts a female friendly networking soirée, with the chance “to try delicious Polish cuisine”.Restaurant Nova Osada, Luxembourg-Neudorf, 19:00
AmchAmwww.amcham.lu
Wed 13 March
“serial disrupters”At this luncheon Richard M. Brandt of Lehigh University in Pennsylvania argues that “disruptive leaders are good for business” using the examples of Elon Musk (photo) and Steve Jobs.Location to be announced, 12:00
sAcred heArT uNIv.www.shu.lu
Thu 20 March
global concernsThe third of five conferences on “Europe (Luxembourg) in a globalised world” tackles the “social responsibility of firms”. Speakers include the European Investment Bank’s Dr. Hakan Lucius.European Investment Bank, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 18:30-20:00 hAve A suggesTIoN?If your organisation is holding an event of interest to the international community, send details to: [email protected].
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MEDIA AWARDS 2014TV/Cinema |Radio |Internet |Presse | Presse B2B |Cross-Media
MEDIA AWARDS 2014TV/Cinema |Radio |Internet |Presse | Presse B2B |Cross-Media
(in the commercial area Troc / Catclub / Surfin / Dété)
shop & tastings
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EUGÉNIE REBETEZENCOREA DANCE SHOW WITH SINGING & HUMORWITH & BY EUGÉNIE REBETEZ
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22ND & 23RD APRIL 2014 AT 8PM
INFORMATION / WWW.LESTHEATRES.LU BOOKING / T. +352/47 08 95-1WWW.LUXEMBOURGTICKET.LUGRAND THÉÂTRE / 1, ROND-POINT SCHUMANL-2525 LUXEMBOURG
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Rose of TRaleeWho will succeed 2013 Luxembourg
Rose Laura Droog (photo with
Dáithí Ó Sé)? Will Luxembourg
send another winner to Tralee
to follow in the footsteps of 2012
Rose of Tralee Nicola McEvoy?
One thing is sure: the annual
Rose Ball on March 8 to choose
this year’s Luxembourg Rose will
be another great party. The ball
features entertainment, dinner
and dancing as well as the Rose
selection, which involves on stage
interviews and performances
from the young Irish ladies seeking
to represent Luxembourg at the
qualifying stage in Portlaoise at the
end of May, with a view to going
to the finals in Tralee in August..
www.rose.lu
WhiTe CaféWhite Café has opened just across
from White Club. Run by nightlife
legends Jacques and Jonathan Engel,
the café has a first floor built around a
long bar with gold accents while the
second floor is more cosy with a pre-
dominantly red décor. The venue hosts
DJ soirées with regulars such as Pierre
Gameboy and guest slots from the likes
of the Blondies or Luxuriant DJ Crew.
16 rue des Bains, Luxembourg-Centre,
www.white-cafe.lu
BRasseRie heRvé RvThe soup bar serves a choice
of menus featuring a combination
of dish of the day, salads and desserts.
Each day it offers a choice of three
soups. What’s more, Brasserie Hervé
is open from 6 a.m. to midnight
Monday through Saturday and from
6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.
4 rue Joseph Junck,
Luxembourg-Gare,
Brasserie Hervé is on Facebook
Bulle de vinBulle de vin markets itself as Luxem-
bourg’s first champagne bar, but it
does not serve or stock bubbles exclu-
sively. Customers can discover vintages
made by some of the best independent
wine makers in France and Luxembourg.
A tasting of three glasses starts at
€22. Snacks can be enjoyed at lunch-
time, and the beautiful vaulted cellar
can also be hired for private functions.
24 rue de l’Eau, Luxembourg-Centre,
www.labulledevin.com
Seeing off winterBuergbrennen is a tradition to burn off the last of winter, but there are plenty of other reasons to feel warm and cheerful this month--electing Luxembourg’s new Rose of Tralee, enjoying Lebanese mezze or helping choose the winner of a contest to design an iconic Melusina statue.
48 February 2014
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liTTle saigonThere was clearly a gap in the market
for a restaurant serving authentic Vietnamese food in Luxembourg.
Since opening, customers have flocked
to Little Saigon to enjoy pho, a tradi-
tional Vietnamese soup, and other spe-
cialities (bo bun, shrimp salad, banh
cuon ravioli). The venue has already
been getting positive reviews.
15 rue de Bonnevoie, Luxembourg-Gare,
tel: 24 87 33 84
Rose
of T
rale
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As a way of recognition of Luxembourg’s generosity in helping it develop
and grow, the International School of Luxembourg is once again offering
a full academic scholarship to a student in the wider
Luxembourg community. The scholarship is open to a student aged
14 by August 31, 2014 and is set to run for four years (grades 9-12)
leading to the International Baccalaureate diploma.
The school is seeking candidates who will achieve high academic results and
who will also contribute widely to the life of the school. Applicants’ family
financial situations will also be taken into consideration.
Applications forms, available from the Upper School office (tel: 26 04 42 04),
must be submitted by March 3. Applicants will then have to sit 90-minute
examinations in English and mathematics on Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m.
Candidates from a shortlist will then be invited to meet with a panel
of teachers, together with the principal and counsellor on March 18.
The successful student will be expected to maintain a high level
of achievement throughout the four years. “We set high expectations
for students, enabling them to reach their true potential,”
says ISL director Christopher Bowman (photo).
www.islux.lu
February 2014 49
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BueRgsonndegAn annual tradition that represents
the banishing of winter, Buergsonndeg
takes place on the first Sunday in Lent--
which this year falls on March 9--
and involves the lighting of a huge fire
in villages and neighbourhoods.
Local associations such as scout troops
or the volunteer fire brigade organise
the collection of combustible material
for the fire, which is set alight following
a torchlight parade.
voTe foR MelusinaThe three finalists in a contest to design
a statue of legendary water nymph
Melusina are on show at the Musée
d’Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg
until February 23. Visitors can vote for
their favourite at the museum or via a
dedicated website. The final decision
will take into account the result of the
public vote as well as that of the jury.
The statue will be located on the banks
of the Alzette below the Bock rock.
www.votemelusina.lu
BeeR CluBThe recently formed Beer Club aims
to bring different styles and varieties
of beers from around the world to
Luxembourg. “We all know we can get
the great Luxembourg beers… but we
felt there was something missing. So we
have started by importing around 100
different beers, mainly from small brew-
eries,” says club founder John Sternon.
Beers can be ordered online, and
members get access to exclusive offers.
www.beerclub.lu
Mezze sopRanoAn award-winning film editor
by profession, Amine Jaber has taken
his passion for cooking to the next level
and decided to market his services.
His Mezze Soprano catering service
offers delivery and take-away options
as well as on site preparation, cooking
lessons, theme parties and much more.
“Mezze is the perfect meal for sharing
and allows for great creativity”.
www.mezzesoprano.com
#play14The first International Serious Games
gathering held in Luxembourg takes
place over the weekend of March 14
to 16 at the Technoport in Esch-Belval.
The organisers hope the event will
attract participants with backgrounds
as diverse as Agile coaching, education,
service design, improvisation theatre,
psychology, language pathology
services, innovation and creativity, and
HR services.
www.play14.org
JaRdiRêveThe annual gardening show at Luxexpo
takes place over the weekend of March
7 to 9 this year. With spring just around
the corner, this is an unmissable event
for keen gardeners or anyone who
wants to create an oasis in their back
yard. Expert advice is available and a
range of products is on show, from the
latest technologies to plant seeds.
Indeed, the fair is as much about nature
as about neat show gardens.
www.luxexpo.lu
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50 february 2014
LIfeSTyLe
Gladys lazareff and alexis Juncosa Aesthetics and the message
Cinema
EyEs widE opEnDiscovery Zone is the one and only international film festival in Luxembourg. It takes over the city for two weeks and, apart from a catchy name, it also comes with a lot of cosmopolitan charm.
Text by Stella Parascha Photography by Steve Eastwood
O They both agree on the importance
of discovering a brave new world
through cinema.
The festival recorded more than
14,500 visitors in 2013. Two weeks
of filmic bliss await audiences
this year: an international
selection, which varies from
well-crafted fiction to
exciting documentaries;
the “Young Audiences”
programme, screenings
and workshops for three
to 18 year olds; and “Crème
Fraîche”, a video contest
co-organised by the Service
National de la Jeunesse (National
Youth Service). The bill also boasts
a “Made in/with Luxembourg”
section, featuring new local
productions and co-productions.
The line-up equally includes options
for those feeling young and restless
who cannot lock themselves inside
a cinema, and who want to meet
the pros and learn from them. These
include short film screenings, a pop-up
bar in the Ratskeller in the Cercle Cité,
and a master class on script writing
by award-winning Belgian director
Luc Dardenne.
Who knows, you might even get
the chance to meet actress Julie
Gayet (recently linked to French
president François Hollande),
who is scheduled to preside
over the festival’s jury..Programme and ticket information available at:www.discoveryzone.lu
ccasionally described as a “national
event”--it is backed by the ministry
of culture, after all--the Discovery Zone
– Luxembourg City Film Festival
is one of the fastest growing entries
in the film festival scene. It is also a
project with noble goals, as Gladys
Lazareff, in charge of general coordina-
tion, explains. She and Alexis Juncosa,
head of programming, aim to promote
multiculturalism and bring about creative
encounters and collaborations. Alexis
says the roots of the festival date back
to 2007, when Luxembourg was the
European Capital of Culture. With a
different title and a shorter life span,
that early version was more or less
the prequel for today’s Discovery Zone.
Gathering the experts around the table
and encouraging them to share views
and insights is the biggest strength of
the event, Alexis stresses. Professionals
from the Film Fund Luxembourg, the
capital’s Cinémathèque, Centre National
de l’Audiovisuel, Utopolis Group and
from both the directors’ and technicians
guilds--LARS and ULPA, respectively--are
all involved in the film-selection process.
It’s not a light load: each committee
member has to watch every submission
and vote for or against.
What weighs more in their decision?
“Aesthetics always play an important
role; we’re talking about a visual art
par excellence”, Alexis proclaims. “But”,
Gladys adds vigorously, “let’s not forget
the message. I prefer to give the podium
to filmmakers who have something
to say, and to films from countries
that face social change or unrest.”
50_Life art B_Discovery Zone.indd 50 23/01/14 15:56
PANDORA STORE26, Rue des CapucinsLuxembourg
Celebrate yourValentine’s moments
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52 february 2014
Sun Seeker app, a 3D augmented reality
viewer that allows him to use his smart-
phone to see exactly the direction and
angle of sunlight at a given location for
any future date.
The advantage of working in film in
Luxembourg soon became apparent
to Probyn--novices entering the indus-
try get more opportunities to learn and
gain experience than their counterparts
in the UK or France, for example.
“In England you would be a 2nd AD
for ten years. Here I was an AD by the
age of 31. There are fewer people in
the industry and therefore much more
work available--as a 3rd AD I was doing
back-to-back films.” On the other hand,
in some cases technicians are being
asked to jump before they are ready,
says Probyn. “It takes a lifetime to build
a good reputation and five minutes to
destroy it.”
He, like Harper and so many technicians
in the Luxembourg industry, speaks all
the local languages, which is another
advantage with more and more smaller
German and French co-productions
coming to Luxembourg or even local
productions such as Doudege Wénkel,
on which he served as AD to Christophe
Wagner. That is a long way from his first
experience as a trainee on the big
budget historical adventure D’Artagnan.
“We had multi-camera shoots, helicop-
ter shots, 200 horses at night running
across a field with three cranes creating
fake rain…” Big productions like that
are rarer these days, although Probyn
still has fond memories of working on
The Girl With the Pearl Earring and
The Merchant of Venice and Irina Palm
by Sam Garbarski (with whom he has
now worked on three films, including
latest comedy Vijay and I). Probyn was
even called upon to work as 3rd AD on
Tom Cruise historical action drama
Valkyrie and jumped straight into a car
to drive to Berlin when told of the offer.
With two months of preparation
followed by a six- to eight-week shoot,
Probyn only has time to work on two
projects a year as an AD (he also acts as
a schedule consultant for other projects).
But there is enough work to keep him
occupied and he is full of praise for the
institution that is the Film Fund. “I hope
the new government continues to
support the film industry here.”
to see how well prepared and profes-
sional Luxembourg film crews are.”
Indeed, the size of the country and its
film industry mean that many Luxem-
bourg film professionals have seen it
all and done it all. People like Jim Probyn,
now a 1st assistant director (AD) who
has been involved in the local film
industry for the last 14 years.
Probyn got into the film industry
by chance after a good friend asked
whether he would like a holiday job
driving a truck for a local co-produc-
tion. “I fell in love with film-making.
I would go and sit on set; you could
feel there was a special vibe. It was
fun but still required hard work.”
From those humble beginnings, after
Probyn decided to drop university
and carry on working in film, he climbed
his way up the ladder before landing
his current title after about seven
years in the industry.
CreativeThe job is what he describes as half
production and half creative. “We always
joke that AD doesn’t stand for ‘assistant
director’ but for ‘all departments’.
You do have to know something about
how everyone works.”
But Probyn enjoys the more technical
aspect. When planning a shoot he uses
software such as Final Draft to make
adjustments to the script and the
mid the glamour and backslapping
of any film awards, the focus naturally
falls on the directors, actors, screen-
writers and producers whose names
feature at the top of any cast list.
But audiences often are unaware that
a film requires a whole crew of people
whose jobs involve meticulous planning
of shooting schedules, coordinating
teams, finding locations, negotiating
accommodation, applying make-up and
teasing hair into shape. “Technicians in
Luxembourg are of a very high quality,
they work with so many countries [on
co-productions] that they are extremely
flexible,” says independent production
manager Solveig Harper. “Producers
from abroad are always very pleased
Film industry
At thecoAlfAceThe biannual Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis on March 7 will celebrate what has been an impressive two years for the local film industry. Directors, actors and producers will pick up awards, but what about those who work on the front line? Text by Duncan Roberts Photos by Annabelle Denham
A
Solveig HarperTechnicians are high quality
LIFESTYLE
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february 2014 53
Katja reinertDream job
LIFESTYLE
52-54_Lifestyle grande sujet 3P_film.indd 53 30/01/14 15:33
54 february 2014
d’Geheimnis vum Melusina and Adieu
Paris. She was also responsible for hair
and make-up for the last winner of the
best film award at the Filmpräis, Beryl
Koltz’s Hot Hot Hot, and has worked
on Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Twelve.
“Whether it’s a big production or
small, a US or European film, it is pretty
much the same job,” she explains.
“Movie making is like knitting, it is the
same procedure.” Of course, the intro-
duction of high definition cameras has
made Reinert’s job a little more difficult-
-“everything is more visible in HD.”
But Reinert keeps up with the latest
developments--she teaches cinema
make-up workshops at the D-Mai
Paris – École de maquillage--and meets
the challenge head-on. Having been in
the business for over 20 years (the first
film listed on her CV is Pol Cruchten’s
memorable Hochzäitsnuecht) Reinert
also knows just about everybody who’s
anybody in the local industry. And she
is delighted to see enthusiastic young-
sters coming through--some Luxem-
bourgers are even attending the
school at which she teaches in Paris.
“It’s a girl’s dream job,” she says..
Harper also landed in the film industry
in a round about way. A project man-
ager at a German bank in Luxembourg,
she volunteered to help out at the Ciné-
nygma Luxembourg International Film
Festival when it hosted the prestigious
European Méliès d’Or awards in 2003.
That led to a full-time job as the festival
grew, but when it closed down some
four years later Harper looked for work
through the contacts she had made
in the industry. “The closest thing to
a project manager in film would be
a production manager, and I heard Iris
Productions was looking for somebody.
That’s where it all took off.” Harper has
since worked for numerous Iris films,
“learning by doing” as she puts it.
But eventually she wanted to be able
to choose projects, so she took the
step to becoming independent.
Harmonious setHer most enjoyable experience recently
was working on Skill Lab’s short film
22:22 by Julien Becker. “That was so
wonderful, I walked out of there saying
‘ok, I’m going to do this from now on’
even knowing that it doesn’t pay much.
Although Luxembourg is the only
country that does fund short movies.
In Belgium and France they can’t believe
it. Here they really try to help out young
Luxembourg directors.”
She was also lucky enough to go to the
Reunion islands for Iris’s Belle Comme
la femme d’un autre, which has just been
released in Luxembourg cinemas, and
she also worked on recent release Tip
Top directed by Serge Bozon and starring
Isabelle Huppert and Sandrine Kiberlain.
Another new release she has been
involved with--due out around Easter--
is the Luxembourg film Ouni d’Hänn
based on award-winning novel Luxem-
bourg Amok. Looking further ahead,
Harper is also helping Iris develop
Sunset Song, the new film by acclaimed
English director Terence Davies
(Distant Voices, Still Lives).
She explains that while project managing
in a bank is not too dissimilar to working
as a production manager--“you go
through the whole process of what has
to be done to achieve a goal, basically”-
-decisions have to be taken more
quickly. “Perhaps you have to be
a bit more creative. You have to plan
so tightly that you can tackle the things
that go wrong, because there is always
something that doesn’t go according
to plan. The most important thing for
me is that the set has to be harmonious,
so that whatever is thrown at them
they work together.”
With some 100 film industry profes-
sionals nominated for artistic and
technical achievement awards at the
Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis, it is not as
if the local industry is ignoring those
who work behind the scenes. Indeed,
make-up artist Katja Reinert is up for
a best technical contribution prize for
three films--Möbius, D’Schatzritter an
jim probynQuick to gain experience
LIFESTYLE
52-54_Lifestyle grande sujet 3P_film.indd 54 30/01/14 15:33
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56 FEBRUARY 2014
LIFESTYLE
the thrill,” says Gary, “but it’s more about
pushing the limits of the car, and especially
about finding your own limits.”
His older brother David says “a lot of
people think it’s glamorous and that
a weekend’s race is a holiday, but it’s
a lot of work, and racing takes an enor-
mous amount of time. All summer I think
we had two weekends off. But it’s one
of the most important things in my life.”
David dreams of going professional but
says it’s not that easy in Luxembourg.
“It’s a small country and it’s hard to
grab the interest of sponsors. But it’s
still my dream.” He’s studying motor
sports engineering in Paris, “so I can
always be near the track, even if I don’t
get to go on it as a pro.”
Gary is studying too, but economics
in Strasbourg, not necessarily with
any connection to racing, but because
it interests him. He commutes a lot in
his BMW, and doesn’t easily relinquish
the wheel. “I’m a bad co-pilot,” he laughs.
But a great team player, adds David,
who loves sharing experiences and
thoughts about racing with him.
So, is it all car talk around the Hausers’
dinner table? What about the boys’
mother? After decades of seeing her
husband and sons race, Karin surely
deserves a medal of her own--the cross
of bravery. David agrees. “If she didn’t
love racing too, none of this would
be possible,” he says..
he Hauser family was running late
for the ACL Gala du Sport Automo-
bile last month in Mondorf, but no one
suggested putting the pedal to the
metal to get there any quicker. None
of them are speed-demons off the
track, and none have any points
on their drivers’ licenses. “If I got my
license taken away, I couldn’t race,”
says Gary. The Hausers draw attention
when they walk into the well-heeled
crowd at the Casino; they’re known
here. They’ve each stood on the win-
ner’s podium dozens of times, and
their list of records, prizes, trophies
and accomplishments could easily fill this
page--just take a look at www.racing-
experience.lu to see for yourself.
Brothers David and Gary Hauser first
got behind the wheel when they were
just four years old, and now, at the ages
of 24 and 21, they have no intention
of getting out of the driver’s seat. They
grew up watching dad race--their father
Christian was first a bike racer, but
soon gave up two wheels for four and
built himself an illustrious career. And
later, a solid racing team--Racing Expe-
rience--with his talented sons.
“I’m enormously grateful for what
he’s done,” says David. “Our interest
in racing started with him.”
What motivates people to risk their
necks to take impossible curves and
break record speeds? “Of course there’s
Cars & motorbikes
A rAce ApArt: brothers with A reAl drive to winRacecar drivers David and Gary Hauser are building on their father’s legacy, breaking records and taking trophies.
Text by Wendy Winn Photography by Charles Caratini
T
Gary and david HauserOn the right track
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FEBRUARY 2014 57
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Mus
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oën
Sure, the young models get all the ooos and ahhs
in the showroom, but the old gals can still wow ‘em.
If you doubt it, think back to when you last saw
a string of four or five oldtimers drive past.
Chances are you turned your head.
Lots of people have a soft spot for older beauties:
3,500 to 4,000 locals are passionate enough to
belong to one of the nearly 50 clubs that are part
of the Lëtzebuerger Oldtimer Federation, says LOF
president Jean-Marie Schmit.
While young models shine in February, oldtimers dazzle
in March at the annual AutoJumble. “Last year we had
about 5,000 visitors,” says Schmit. “Stands are mostly
clubs and cars, but also garages and restoration firms.”
Featured cars will include classic postal delivery
vehicles from the PostMusée (www.postmusee.lu).
Another big event will be the FIVA World Rally,
hosted here from September 19 to 21. “There will be
cars from all over the world; we’ll drive through the
countryside for a few days and stop for nice meals.”
As you can imagine, spouses happily come along
for the ride. “There’s a great ambience,” says Schmit.
“We enjoy talking--and going out for a drive.” .www.lof.lu
Take a Harley ouT for a spin
It might be the Auto Festival,
but it doesn’t exclude motorcycles-
-just taking a look at the new Harley
Davidsons will make you dream of the
open road and adventure. The “Project
Rushmore” 2014 models include the
883 Roadster, the Iron 883, the 1200
Custom and the Forty-Eight with its
distinctive big front wheel. Even the
names make you want to take one out
for a spin--and you can! Just call ahead
to book the bike of your choice.www.hdl.lu
Buyer’s paradiseVW, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Porsche…
Garage Losch has new and used cars
from leading makes and is highlighting
great offers at their dealerships
throughout the country (such as on
the Audi A5 Sportback, pictured).
While the deals vary depending on
the car, Garage Losch explains that
buyers will find advantageous terms
on loans and leasing too during
the auto fest. If you’re thinking
about getting a car--February is
definitely the right time to do it!www.losch.lu
exclusive Jaguar preview
Get an exclusive preview of the Jaguar
F-Type Coupe model (photo)--which
will only be launched in May--and see
other brand new models too at the
Grand Garage Luxembourg. Also on
show: the latest from Toyota--the Auris
Touring Sports, the Corolla, the RAV4
and the Land Cruiser. Last but not least,
you can catch the latest from Lexus,
which is exclusively showcasing hybrids:
the restyled CT 200h, the new GS
300h and the IS 300h. www.ggl.lu
a TasTy way To TesT drive!
The Étoile network includes 11 Citroën
showrooms throughout the country,
which all will offer an innovative
“Eat & Drive” option during the festival.
Come at midday, test drive the car
of your choice, and enjoy lunch after-
ward, offered by the showroom.
And of course, you can come at other
times too and check out models like
the DS3 Cabrio Racing 2014, which will
undoubtedly be one of the festival’s
leading stars.www.etoilegarage.lu
Looking for a new ride? Delano presents a guide to Luxembourg’s Auto Festival--the event through February 10 where dealers across the Grand Duchy have special promotions at their showrooms--as well as where to find the coolest classic cars.Text by Wendy Winn
hit the roAd
01
02 03 04 05
Oldtimers
BeauTy doesn’T fade!
LIFESTYLE
56-57_Life art B +life news F_cars & motorbikes spec feature.indd 57 29/01/14 18:58
Anna Calvi
MesMerising nuance Brian Eno has called Anna Calvi “the biggest thing since Patti Smith.” That is praise indeed for the
young singer-songwriter who is only two albums into a career that took off in the autumn of 2010
with the release of debut single ‘Jezebel’ after she had supported Interpol, Arctic Monkeys and
Grinderman on tour. She played a gig at den Atelier in March 2011 on the back of an eponymously
titled debut album that had critics swooning--NME called it “perhaps the first great record
of 2011.” Now she has released a follow-up record, One Breath, which has also been lavished
with praise--Jason Schneider in Exclaim! said the album showed that Calvi’s “work reaches a level
of nuance that the majority of contemporary music lacks.”
Her live shows and the band she employs have also been applauded by music journalists
for their sweeping sonic scope, with Calvi herself described as mesmerising.
March 22, den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare,
www.atelier.lu
Jean MullerOne of Luxembourg’s most talented
and internationally acclaimed musicians,
pianist Jean Muller returns to
the Philharmonie for a concert
in the grand auditorium. Muller plays
a programme of works by Franz Liszt
including the Dante Sonata
and the Mephisto Waltz No.1
(The Dance in the Village Inn).
February 24, Philharmonie,
Luxembourg-Kirchberg,
www.philharmonie.lu
skunk anansie The British rock band led by Skin is
approaching its 20th anniversary and tour
with an acoustic show that was first per-
formed in April last year. The resulting
recording--An acoustic Skunk Anansie
– Live in London--received positive reviews
and showcases all of the band’s hits.
This is a chance to catch one of the most
loved bands of the 1990s in a special
performance--the concert is all seated.
March 13, Rockhal, Esch-Belval,
www.rockhal.lu
Zeltik 2014Now moved to an indoor venue, Dudel-
ange’s annual celebration of Celtic music
and dance is a great way to warm up for
St. Patrick’s Day. The 2014 line-up
includes regular guests Red Hot Chili
Peppers and The Luxembourg Pipe Band
as well as Scottish band Skerryvore, Irish
band Cara and local folk rock wave band
Schëppe Siwen. Connemara dance
troupe Celtic Legends will also perform
under choreographer Ger Hayes.
March 15, opderschmelz, Dudelange,
www.opderschmelz.lu
16 live shows As we dive into the depths of winter, solace can be found in a slew of live shows ranging from the exquisitely sweet
and savage sound of Anna Calvi to intimate two-hander drama from Actors Rep and the epic scope of Carl Davis’s live cinema
score for D.W. Griffith’s Orphans of the Storm.
58 FEBRUARY 2014
LIFESTYLE
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60 FEBRUARY 2014
LIFESTYLE
Sand
rine
Mon
teiro
Joan as PolicewomanJoan Wasser returns to Luxembourg
following a show at the Omni festival
in July 2011. New album The Classic
is due out in March, and promises
to be a slightly eclectic mix of genres
showcasing Wasser’s exquisite song-
writing talent. Her live shows have been
described by Caroline Sullivan in
The Guardian as an “emotional
rollercoaster” whether she is singing
“loungey soul” or taking a turn
as a “marvellous torch singer.”
March 23, den Atelier,
Luxembourg-Gare,
www.atelier.lu
The Boxer reBellionFormed by an international quartet
of musicians, The Boxer Rebellion is one
of those groups that have been on the
verge of a breakthrough for decades.
Lead singer, Tennessee-native Nathan
Nicholson, has an engaging voice and
phrasing not dissimilar to The National’s
Matt Berninger. He is backed by a decent
rhythm section in Adam Harrison (bass
guitar) and Piers Hewitt (drums) from
the UK, while Australian guitarist Todd
Howe tops off the memorable melodies
with some fine fretwork that at times
takes the band into post-rock territory.
March 9, den Atelier,
Luxembourg-Gare,
www.atelier.lu
nina PerssonCardigans lead singer Nina Persson
has just released her debut solo album,
some five years after her last public
outing with husband Nathan Larson,
A Camp’s Colonia, and close to ten years
since the last Cardigans album. She did
spend much of 2012 touring with The
Cardigans, but now strides out on her
own with Animal Heart, whose catchy
lead single of the same name, topped by
Persson’s distinctive voice, will sound
familiar to fans of the Swedish band.
February 28, Kulturfabrik, Esch-Alzette,
www.kulturfabrik.lu
iBerian-lux Jazz Laura Simó and Carme Canela are two
great ladies of Catalan jazz--Simó has
performed regularly on stage and even
performed with Ray Charles, while
Canela has over 50 recordings under
her belt. They perform here with pia-
nists Francesc Capellá and Joan Monné,
respectively, and are also joined on the
programme by the great Luxembourg
jazz singer Sascha Ley and her group
Kalima (photo). The concert climaxes
with all seven musicians on stage.
March 8, CAPe, Ettelbrück,
www.cape.lu
Actors Rep
sTraighT from The hearTA. R. Gurney’s Love Letters has attracted a swathe
of star actors to the roles of its two characters--the
likes of William Hurt, Christopher Walken, Jeff Daniels,
Sigourney Weaver, Elaine Stritch and Kate Nelligan have
appeared in versions on and off Broadway. Now it is
the turn of Actors Rep players Timothy Lone (right in
photo with director Erik Abbott) and Louisa Graf to play
Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, who
read through letters that form a correspondence detail-
ing some 50 years of their friendship, triumphs, disap-
pointments and love.
Gurney had his breakthrough with The Dining Room
in 1982 and has since written numerous plays, many
focusing on white middle classes of the east coast of
the USA. In 2007 he was awarded the PEN/Laura Pels
Award as a “Grand Master” American playwright. Love
Letters was a finalist for the 1990 Pulitzer Prize in Drama.
Lone and Graf were last seen on stage together in the
Actors Rep production of Edward Albee’s The Goat
at the TNL last summer, and their on stage chemistry
is sure to fire again in this two-hander, presented
by arrangement with Josef Weinberger, Ltd.
The show takes place in the intimate setting of
the Art Café’s theatre space, in the courtyard
behind the Théâtre des Capucins. Each
performance starts at 8 p.m.
February 10-13, Art Café, Luxembourg-Centre,
www.actorsrep.lu
09080706
05
Oliv
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inai
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60_Life news I_On Stage P2.indd 60 15/01/14 09:10
OPENING HOURS :Monday and Tuesday lunch
(11:30-14:00)Wednesday to Saturday
(11:30-14:00/19:00-23:00) ARGENTINIAN CUISINE
18, rue des capucins L -1313 Luxembourg Tél : 26 20 36 83 [email protected] www.cafetin.lu
Think of us for your company events, banquets and family parties!
WINE TASTING EVENT «ARGENTINIAN WINES»
AT 18:00 ON MARCH 20, 2014.
61_PUB_CAFETIN_ MUDAM.indd 61 30/01/14 15:05
62 FEBRUARY 2014
LIFESTYLE
William FitzsimmonsDescribing himself as “equal parts
songwriter and psychotherapist” multi-
instrumentalist William Fitzsimmons
has made four studio albums filled with
deeply personal and confessional songs.
His fifth album, Lions, is due for release
mid-February, just in time for Fitzsim-
mons to return to den Atelier for
a second show following his acclaimed
performance in December 2011.
March 11, den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare,
www.atelier.lu
Cynthia loemij & mark lorimer
Cynthia Loemij and Mark Lorimer
return to the Grand Théâtre with
a new work titled Dancesmith – Camel,
Weasel, Whale. The pair are long-time
collaborators of the acclaimed Rosas
company out of Belgium, and here
work with graphic designer and dancer
Clinton Stringer, who performs a live
visual installation.
March 1, Grand Théâtre,
www.theatres.lu
the 1975Inexplicably voted the best album
of last year by Guardian readers,
the 1975 hark back to the early jangly
indie guitar sound of the 1980s for
their debut release. Wikipedia claims
they hail from Manchester, but they
are out of the ultra middle England
enclave of Wilmslow--frontman Matt
Healy is the son of C-list British celebs-
-and their music is catchy but derivative.
March 10, Rockhal, Esch-Belval,
www.rockhal.lu
kabaret WarszaWskiThe cabaret troupe from Poland uses
the atmosphere of post-9/11 New York
as their inspiration, then adds influences
from John Van Druten’s play I Am
a Camera (adapted from Christopher
Isherwood’s Weimer novel Goodbye
to Berlin--the source material for
Bob Fosse’s Cabaret) and John Cameron
Mitchell’s hilariously graphic exploration
of NYC sexual mores, Shortbus.
March 6 & 7, Grand Théâtre,
www.theatres.lu
mariam the believerSwedish singer Mariam Wallentin
released her debut solo album as
Mariam The Believer, Blood Donation,
in January. Pre-release single ‘Invisible
Giving’, is an undulating track that says
Michael Cragg in The Guardian, has “raw
emotion bubbling up to the surface
and simmering back down only to be
unleashed again when you least expect it.”
February 15, Exit07 (CarréRotondes ),
Luxembourg-Hollerich,
www.rotondes.lu
james arthurOne of the hippest acts to win the
X Factor--in other words he sports
tattoos and doesn’t do sugary ballads-
-James Arthur has enjoyed a stellar,
though controversial, career since
being crowned king of the talent show
in 2012. His indie rock background
and soulful voice give Arthur crossover
appeal, though he still attracts more
women than men to his shows.
March 1, Rockhal, Esch-Belval,
www.rockhal.lu
Live cinema
Orchestral stOrmBritish composer and conductor Carl Davis returns to Luxembourg for
his annual foray into live cinema with the Orchestre Philharmonique
du Luxembourg at the invitation of the Cinémathèque. The film he has chosen
for the occasion is D.W. Griffiths’ French revolution epic Orphans of the Storm.
Davis has been coming to Luxembourg every year since 1987, when he was invited
to perform at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Cinémathèque. Indeed,
in an interview two years ago he said he was probably the longest serving
conductor who has been coming to work on a regular basis with the OPL
(although back in 1987 it was known as the RTL Symphony Orchestra).
Davis is renowned for his film scores to silent classics--most notably
for Abel Gance’s 1927 epic Napoléon, which was restored and expanded
with Davis’ music for cinematic release.
Orphans of the Storm is, says Martin Hunt of the Edinburgh University Film Society,
“an implausible tale” of sisters Henriette and Louise enduring a series of tribulations
“designed to tug at the heart strings”. The sisters are cruelly separated and while
Louise, who is blind, is raised by thieves, Henriette is a sweet innocent plundered
by lecherous aristocrats. Griffiths’ favourite actress, silent icon Lillian Gish, plays
Henrietta and her sister Dorothy plays Louise.
A family edition matinée featuring short films suitable for all ages takes place
on Saturday afternoon, March 22.
March 21 & 22, Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg,
www.philharmonie.lu
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LIFESTYLE
Meet the new chief of one of Luxembourg’s best known cultural centres, Neumünster Abbey.
Text by France Clarinval Photography by Julien Becker
Ainhoa Achutegui
Taking The reins
inhoa Achutegui, new director of the Centre
Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster,
officially starts on February 15 but that does not
prevent her from already working and thinking
about the centre’s future programming.
Born in Venezuela 35 years ago and raised in Austria,
Achutegui describes herself as “upbeat and positive”.
After her philosophy and theatre studies in Vienna,
she directed various cultural projects in film, dance
and theatre. In 2004, she became assistant to the artistic
director at Werkstätten und Kulturhaus and took his
place six months later at the tender age of 26. “It was
a large organisation with hundreds of artists in residence-
-a real challenge for the young woman that I was”.
Barely two years later, in order to follow her significant
other to Luxembourg, Achutegui applied for the posi-
tion of artistic director at the Centre des Arts Pluriels
in Ettelbruck. Five years on, her contract was extended
due to her commitment, her bold programming and
the new audience she acquired. Now at 35, she finds
herself in charge of a team of 45 people and running
a major cultural centre in the country.
CCRN’s multicultural approach is what attracted
Achutegui, who hopes to bring more contemporary
art to the centre. For now, she is watching and study-
ing the current programming and learning about the
workings of the Abbaye, especially its financial aspects.
“I know that, at first, people will compare me to [out-
going director] Claude Frisoni, but I’m not afraid”..
AinhoA AchuteguiUpbeat about the Abbaye
A
February 2014 63
www.ccrn.lu
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Natural fun
There’s buried Treasure beneaTh your feeT!Discover a treasure that belongs to us all, and is ours
to protect as well--the soil beneath our feet! This
new exhibition at the nature museum offers a whole
new take on buried treasure and explores the richness
of the soil that supports all life--plant, animal, human!
The exhibition runs to March 30, and like all the
exhibitions at the Natur Musée is interactive and
child-friendly. Check out the terrarium, the green-
house, the mushrooms… and walk barefoot along
the dirt path. The hope is that the more we know,
the more we’ll understand why it’s vital to protect
the biodiversity of the soil and prevent its erosion,
especially as the world’s population continues to
grow. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.--so now you know what to do
with the kids on a cold winter’s Sunday between
lunch and dinner! There’s a cafeteria too, a gift shop
and of course the permanent collections--our faves are
the real moon rock and a room where you can see what
happens to a living room when an earthquake hits..www.mnhn.lu
Change your perspeCTive!If you haven’t yet discovered the
Dynamikum Science Center in nearby
Pirmasens, Germany, now’s a good
time, because through March 15 they’ve
got an exhibition on anamorphosis,
or distorted perspective. Leonardo’s
Eye is the earliest known example,
created by da Vinci himself in the 15th
century. Here you can see toys and
objects that explore this phenomenon,
and visit this cool hands-on science
museum’s permanent collection too.
www.dynamikum.de
CreaTive CureIt’s often the youngest ones who get
the worst case of cabin fever. If you’re
looking for activities for kids 3 to 12, get
in the habit of checking out Mudam’s
“Mudamini” events, listed on their
website. On February 20, for example,
kids 6 to 12 years old are invited
to create their own artwork, inspired
by fairy tales and other stories. As well
as offering events for tiny tots,
the museum hosts “Art Freak” events
for older art fans, ages 13 to 21.
www.mudam.lu
go fishSure, summertime is the most popular
time for anglers, and while the Wasser-
billig Aquarium is open daily in high
season, it’s also open throughout
the year on weekends. That means
you can make an outing anytime Friday
to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to
check out exotic fish like Japanese koi
(photo) and neon tetra as well as local
species like eels, bream and zander.
Maybe afterwards, a trip to the sushi
bar, or would that be totally disgusting?
aquarium.wasserbillig.lu
Thrills on iCe Hop on a Honda kart and do speeds
of 50 km/h at the only outdoor rink
in the country to offer ice karting.
It’s only offered evenings from 7 to 9 p.m.,
and you have to book in advance
(except Thursdays). Renting six karts
will set you back €175 per half hour.
It’s a chunk of change, but that’s less
than €30 each for 30 minutes of thrills.
There’s regular ice skating too,
sometimes until late at night! Beaufort
ice rink is open through March 9.
www.patinoire.lu
From under the ground and on the ice to fun fish and nifty optical illusions, there are plenty of activities to keep the kids stimulated through March.
Happy kids:tHe real dirt Text by Wendy Winn
64 FEBRUARY 2014
LIFESTYLELIFESTYLE
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64_Life news F_Kids.indd 64 23/01/14 15:59
Win
concert
tickets!
11 MARCH 2014AtelierConcert
den Atelier presentsWilliAm Fitzsimmons
Send an email mentioning “den Atelier/WilliAM FitzSiMMonS” to [email protected] Deadline for entries is 28 FEBRUARY 2014
Winners will be notified by email
DELANO_denatelier.indd 1 28/01/14 16:05
UNDER THE HIGH PATRONAGE OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS
NY–LUXEDWARD STEICHEN AWARD 2004–2014EXHIBITION 14.02.2014 – 06.06.2014OPENING 13.02.2014, 6PM–8.30PM
ARTISTS: BERTILLE BAK, ÉTIENNE BOULANGER, JEFF DESOM, SOPHIE JUNG, MARIA LOBODA,CLAUDIA PASSERI, SU-MEI TSE
In memory of Henry J. LeirIn collaboration with :
Mudam LuxembourgMusée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean
Étienne Boulanger, Grafts, 2004–2006 (detail) © Photo: Étienne Boulanger
3, Park Dräi EechelenL-1499 Luxembourgt + 352 45 37 85 1www.mudam.lu
65_PUB_ISL_DEN ATELIER.indd 65 30/01/14 15:04
66 FEBRUARY 2014
MY OTHER LIFE
Fouad Rathle
Scope of LIfe
ouad Rathle’s favourite gun is his Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum. It’s not a hard gun to
like if you like guns--Clint Eastwood made the revolver famous when his character Dirty Harry found himself alone in a standoff with an armed gang. “We’re not just gonna let you walk out of here,” he says to the leader. “Who’s we, sukka?” the man retorts, with a menacing chuckle. “Smith and Wesson and me,” answers Eastwood before drawing his pistol and blow-ing the place to pieces.
Apart from the firearm’s notorious reputa-tion, it is genuinely a fabulous machine. Rathle owns 15 guns, and, in his opinion, this one outshines them all. “It handles, well, it fits well into my hand, it’s accurate, aesthetically pleasing and powerful,” he says.
Rathle grew up in Egypt where people were not permitted to have more than one gun, but he’s been handling firearms all his life. To fulfil his national service duty, he served in the Egyptian Army as a corporal 1st class--the experience is something he will never forget. After he left the military, he continued to hone his shooting skills and began collecting guns.
In 1995, he joined a gun club in Luxembourg and applied for a licence. The Grand Duchy has strict gun laws. In clubs, members shoot at specific targets from a prescribed distance according to a security protocol with a fire master present. Gun owners must be fully licensed and keep their guns in a secure room and locked in a certified gun safe. They are only permitted to take the weapons out in order to go to the club. After shooting, they must return directly to their home and stow the guns accordingly.
Despite the commotion that surrounds the sport, shooting is really a harmless pur-suit, Rathle says, if the security restrictions are followed.
In his heyday, Rathle went to the club a couple of times a month to work on his shoot-
ing technique. Like anything, marksmanship requires a great deal of practice. To become an accomplished sniper, for example, you would have to practice two hours a day.
But more than anything, “I am a collector,” he says. “If you like guns and if the legal environment allows, you update your collections.” The oldest gun in his lot is a Webley Scott .32 mm revolver from World War I. He doesn’t buy guns with fancy marble inlay or carvings or gold platings or visual “bling”, per se. There are two reasons Rathle buys a gun: to help him master his technique and to sate his curios-ity. “I’ll buy a special weapon that captures my imagination,” he says. “Like my .357 revol ver that has a seven bullet chamber. That’s unusual for a revolver. The standard is six. Also, if you wish to master a tech nique in a field, you must observe certain thingsa 9 mm not 45 mm. They require different handling.”
“When you shoot, there’s a surge of adrenaline seldom duplicated by anything else,” he says. “It forces you to concentrate. It’s one moment of total concentration. You forget everything completely.”
At this stage in Rathle’s life, as manager of the Turkish bank Garanti’s branch in the Grand Duchy and a member on several Luxembourg boards of directors, what he loves most about shooting is less about bravado and more closely aligned with the present day Eastwood, who said: “Hollywood, as everyone knows, glamorises physical courage. If I had to define courage myself, I wouldn’t say [it’s] about shooting people. I’d say it’s the quality that stimulates people, that enables them to move ahead and look beyond themselves.”.
F
A financial executive brings things into focus by sharp shooting.Text by Tonya Stoneman Photography by Olivier Minaire
Fouad RathlePhotographed at home with his 7 shot Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum
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