Mediterranean Pavillion in Toronto

ASCAME’s members will strengthen ties with the Canadian market at the ‘The World of Travel, Trade & Taste Expo 2025’

ASCAME is stepping further to unlock the potential for cooperation between the Mediterranean region and Canada. After the success of the first edition of the ‘Mediterranean – Canada Business Forum’ in the framework of MedaWeek Barcelona 2024, ASCAME gives all its members, partners, and members a new opportunity to expand international alliances and promote their presence in the Canadian market.

The World of Travel, Trade & Taste Expo 2025, which will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (Toronto, Canada) from the 29th to the 31st of May, will host a Mediterranean Pavilion. This initiative, led by ASCAME in collaboration with Euromed Group and the Canadian Chamber in Italy, offers Mediterranean institutions, associations, companies, and professionals a unique opportunity to seek a strategic entry into the Canadian market. 

Early booking is essential to ensure optimal placement and maximum visibility. Contact ASCAME before the 31st of December to secure your spot and have access to special discounts on flights and accommodation! 👉 secretariat@ascame.org

There is a special discount for ASCAME members flying Air Canada to the ‘World of Travel, Trade & Taste Expo 2025’ with the following promotional code 👉T3WREYX1 (This code is eligible from May 22nd – June 7th only flying with Air Canada).

ASCAME, partner of the Fès Meknès Economic Forum

Exploring challenges and opportunities in the Mediterranean emerging sectors

From December 5 to 7, ASCAME was one of the partners of the 4th edition of the Fès Meknès Economic Forum, organized by the CCIS Fès-Meknès. The forum, whose main objective was to promote innovation and sustainable development in the Fès-Meknès region, brought together business leaders, academic experts, political decision-makers and Mediterranean chambers of commerce and industry, such as CCITunis and CCI du Cap Bon (Tunisia), the International Chamber of Commerce of Morocco - ICC Morocco and the Mersin Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Turkey).

Under the theme 'Horizon 2030: Economic Dynamics', the forum included four workshops where current challenges and business opportunities in emerging sectors were analyzed: Digital transformation and economic growth, Energy transition and improved economic performance, Commercial revitalization and the territories of tomorrow, and Performance of the agro-industrial sector: innovation and value enhancement.

In the framework of the forum, Mr. Luis Miranda, ASCAME Project Manager, presented the STAPLES Project, part of the PRIMA Program, in which ASCAME is a partner, and in which several ASCAME members in Spain (Cámara de Comercio de Sevilla ), Morocco (the CCIS Fès Meknès and the Chambre de Commerce, d'Industrie et de Services Casablanca Settat) and Egypt (the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce - FEDCOC) will play an important role in supporting research activities in the field during its implementation. 

📍 MEMBER'S CORNER

Interview with Mr. Gianni Chianetta, Chair of ASCAME’s partner Greening the Islands Foundation

ASCAME recently joined the Mediterranean Dialogue on Sustainable Energy and Climate (MEDSEC) initiative, the first Mediterranean-led platform dedicated to multi-stakeholder cooperation and climate diplomacy for sustainable development through renewable energy in the region. By working with all the MED countries, MEDSEC aims to promote a regional approach to a just energy transition and contribute to the global target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.

This initiative has been launched by ASCAME’s partner Greening The Islands Foundation (GTI), partner in the Interreg EuroMed Programme’s D4T Project, which supports the sustainability and self-sufficiency of islands worldwide by promoting innovative solutions and nexus-smart projects and strengthening multistakeholder cooperation.

Mr. Gianni Chianetta, Chair of GTI and Co-Founder & Head of Secretariat of MEDSEC, gives us more details about this initiative and its contribution to the energy transition in the Mediterranean. Mr. Chianetta also refers to the key role of ASCAME in achieving the sustainable goals in the region in the coming years.

Investing in Greece: The opinion of Mr. Vassilis Korkidis, President of Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On December 9th, Capital Link hosted in New York City the 26th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum entitled  ‘Greece – Speeding Ahead Post Investment Upgrade’ to enhance the business and investment ties between the United States and Greece. Another objective was to raise the profile of Greece as a business and investment destination to a global audience.

This forum was an excellent opportunity to highlight the good moment to invest in Greece and to talk about the opportunities and incentives for international investors. In the following article, Mr. Vassilis Korkidis, President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce & Industry, reflects on the chamber’s commitment to the development of industrial parks, energy transition, youth employment, new business partnerships, and the competitiveness of the Greek economy.

ASCAME Insights

Mr. Anwar Zibaoui,

ASCAME's General Coordinator

"The tourism of the future requires responsibility and an attitude change of the entire value chain: destinations, tourism industry and travelers"

ASCAME's General Coordinator, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, analyzed in Expansión the negative impact of mass tourism on the Mediterranean islands, especially in the Balearic Islands, Sicily and Crete, which are the ones that concentrate the most overnight stays and tourist arrivals.

Mr. Zibaoui warned of the economic and environmental cost of this tourism model, in addition to the high price paid by the residents of the islands. Its solution involves all the actors of the touristic sector, by agreeing on a common strategy, "a solid approach that guarantees resilient, sustainable, inclusive and competitive tourism". According to Mr. Zibaoui, the Mediterranean islands must cooperate and work together to face challenges such as climate change, economic diversification, profitability, seasonality, overcrowding,  and efficiency.

MedaWeek 2024: Shaping a new digital Mediterranean

The 'Digital Economy Forum' held at MedaWeek 2024 dived into the challenges and opportunities of the ascent of the digital economy in the region

Within the ‘Digital Economy Forum’, celebrated last October in the framework of MedaWeek 2024 with the collaboration of Deel, panelists shared insights and recommendations for fostering a new digital Mediterranean, focusing on digital infrastructure, platforms, skills, and entrepreneurship. The following article published on ASCAME’s institutional blog summarizes the main key points of the forum, such as a business cultural change based on the reskilling /upskilling of the teams, public and private cooperation, the digital gap in some Mediterranean companies, and the social and environmental impact of the digital transformation.

Remember that you can take advantage of an exclusive 20% OFF discount on Deel's Platform thanks to the partnership agreement between ASCAME and Deel. To benefit from this promotion, you just have to fill in the following form! 👉  https://n9.cl/iwzwwo

ASCAME Projects

ASCAME participates in the 2nd edition of MEDTalks

The 2nd edition of the MED Talks webinar, jointly organized by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme and the Union for the Mediterranean on the 16th of December 2024, was a great opportunity to review the advances made by the four missions of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme focused on these topics: innovative sustainable economy, natural heritage, green living areas, and sustainable tourism.

The webinar counted on the participation of Mr. Luis Miranda, ASCAME’s Project Manager, who spoke on behalf of the D4T Project. Mr. Miranda emphasized the importance of the Sustainable Tourism Policy Labs (STPLs) aiming at increasing the coordination and institutional capacity of the Public Authorities related to sustainable tourism and enabling mainstreaming. 

Interreg NEXT MED announces

a new Call for Green Transition Projects in January 2025

The Interreg NEXT MED Programme has announced the upcoming launch of Call for Green Transition Projects, aimed at fostering scalable, collaborative solutions for a climate-resilient, low-carbon Mediterranean. This call provides a unique opportunity to address the multifaceted challenges of climate change in the Mediterranean region.

As the region is warming 20% faster than the global average, leading to significant challenges for communities, ecosystems, and economies, the call aims to enable collective action and empower stakeholders to deliver impactful, sustainable projects aligned with the main global climate commitments.

ASCAME News & Events

New partnership with ANBE (Asociación Nacional de Barcos Eléctricos)

ASCAME signed a collaboration agreement with ANBE - Asociación Nacional de Barcos Eléctricos (National Association of Electric Boats) to promote the use of electric boats in the Mediterranean and, at the same time, boost the blue economy in the region. The agreement was formalized at the Olympic Port of Barcelona by Ms. Marilena Estarellas, Manager of ANBE, and Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, ASCAME's General Coordinator. Both expressed their willingness to participate in various intra-regional cooperation activities, promoting business projects and training sessions to establish synergies between their respective members and promote emerging sectors linked to the blue economy.

ASCAME to facilitate Mediterranean-Brazilian business cooperation

ASCAME recently met with Cambra de Comerç Brasil-Catalunya to explore new collaboration opportunities from 2025 onwards. The meeting aimed at fostering joint participation in international events and other initiatives to create innovative economic forums focused on strengthening connections between the Mediterranean, Catalonia, and Brazil. The agreement, formalized by Mr. Anwar Zibaoui (ASCAME) and Mr. Josep Rivera, President of the Brazil-Catalunya Chamber of Commerce, ASCAME boosts entrepreneurial cooperation between Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce which are ASCAME's members and those in Brazil.

ASCAME's institutional visit to Denmark

This month, ASCAME’s President Mr. Ahmed El Wakil traveled to Copenhagen to participate in the Gala Dinner hosted by King Frederic X and Queen Mary of Denmark on the occasion of the state visit of HE The President of The Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. During his visit to Denmark, Mr. Wakil held institutional meetings with the presidents of the country's chambers of commerce to promote economic and commercial relations with the chambers of commerce and industry of the Mediterranean. 

ASCAME, partner of the WORLDEF Dubai

ASCAME was a strategic partner of WORLDEF Dubai, the largest e-commerce show in the Gulf Region, held in the Emirate of Dubai on the 4th and 5th of December. The event gathered e-commerce brands, experts, investors, global marketplaces, and service providers. Dubai, the region’s fastest-growing digital economy, offers numerous advantages thanks to its tech-savvy and online shopping-friendly young customer base, bureaucratic conveniences, and economic and political collaborations between countries.

Happy New Year 2025!

ASCAME wishes you a holiday season filled with joy, love, and special moments with your loved ones. With our best wishes for a peaceful holiday season, and a happy New Year 2025!

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