Page 68 - INVESTOPIA ENGLISH PR REPORT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2025

Digital Transformation of the Principality of Monaco; on “Europe’s Specialized Economies:
Unlocking Growth Prospects in Small Markets of Strategic Importance”.

The session addressed the role of small European economies such as Cyprus and Monaco in
achieving sustainable growth through specialization in high-value sectors, and investment in
technology and research and development.

H.E. Papanastasiou reviewed Cyprus’s capabilities in supporting the economy and promoting
investment, through its distinguished location between Europe, Africa and the Middle East;
the development of its economic legislation that enhances the flexibility and dynamism of its
economy, its focus on supporting education and talent, and its massive investment in artificial
intelligence, until it became a distinguished destination for talent in Europe. His Excellency
also pointed out the importance of ongoing European efforts to accelerate the transition to a
green economy and clean energy, while maintaining the competitiveness of the industrial
sector.

Meanwhile, His Excellency Frederic Genta reviewed the economic and investment
opportunities in the Principality of Monaco, focusing on education, databases and the
technology sector. He explained that the Principality has invested $10 billion in technology.

Unicorns drive innovation and boost expansion in the new economy

A session titled “Unicorns in the Region: Driving Growth and Innovation in the New
Economy” featured prominent entrepreneurs including Michael Lahyani, Founder and CEO of
Property Finder Group; Toufic Kreidieh, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the BFL
Group; and Dino Varkey, CEO of GEMS Education; moderated by Dr. Jean Fares, CEO of
Investopia.

The panelists discussed the role of unicorns in the UAE and the region in expanding their
businesses globally, as well as their strategies for attracting investments and boosting
innovation in sectors such as retail, education, technology, and digital infrastructure.
Dino Varkey explained that the UAE was chosen as the group’s headquarters for several
reasons, most notably its status as a global trade corridor and a major destination for attracting
ambitious talents from around the world, thanks to the vision of the country’s wise leadership.
Varkey pointed out that the UAE is one of the fastest countries to invest in the private education
sector, explaining that it occupies a global position in this field, which enhances investment
opportunities in educational infrastructure.
“There is a global challenge of 70 million teachers, whether in traditional or digital education,
which makes focusing on the quality of teachers in schools essential to achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals,” Varkey added.

He underlined that traditional education is still the preferred choice for everyone compared
to digital education. In the same context, Michael Lahyani, Founder and CEO of Property
Finder Group, explained that the real estate sector in the UAE is witnessing significant
development thanks to the adoption of modern technology solutions and techniques. He
emphasized the importance of integrating artificial intelligence into real estate buying and
selling processes, considering that those who do not adopt these technologies will find
themselves lagging far behind in this field.