ASCAME's New Horizon initiative: Expanding Mediterranean opportunities in Canada and the global markets

From the 23rd to the 31st of May, ASCAME will meet with Canadian companies in Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto to explore synergies and ways of collaboration

In the framework of the Mediterranean Pavilion at the World of Travel, Trade & Taste Expo 2025, to be held on the 30th and 31st of May at the Metro Toronto Centre (Toronto, Canada), ASCAME has organised a trade mission in this country to explore business and institutional synergies between the two regions. This trade mission includes several meetings between ASCAME and Canadian companies and institutions interested in exploring partnerships and ways of collaboration with organisations from the Mediterranean region. Canadian CEOs and entrepreneurs from various sectors, from tourism to the most innovative industries, have confirmed their participation in these meetings. We will also count on representatives from chambers of commerce from North America, Europe, and Africa. This initiative, launched by ASCAME in collaboration with Euromed Group and the Canadian Chamber in Italy, represents a unique opportunity to promote economic, cultural, and commercial exchanges with the Canadian market.

These meetings between ASCAME and Canadian companies and institutions will take place in three Canadian cities: Montréal from the 23rd to the 25th of May, Ottawa from the 27th to the 28th of May, and Toronto from the 29th to the 31st of May. There will also be meetings with investment and economic promotion agencies, such as Invest in Quebec (Montréal) and Invest in Ottawa.

The Mediterranean Pavilion and the trade mission organised in Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto are part of the new strategy of ASCAME to promote the Mediterranean worldwide and look for new horizons. According to Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, ASCAME’s General Coordinator, “it is crucial to improve the Mediterranean emerging sectors’ capacities to present themselves to international investors, especially the sectors that must become an element of competitiveness for the economies of the Mediterranean countries”. In his opinion, “It is important to encourage strategic alliances on the industrial level so that the region can be able to compete with other world powers and attract investments”.

Exploring synergies and joint initiatives with institutions in Tarragona

ASCAME's General Coordinator, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, met with institutional representatives from Tarragona to explore new ways of collaboration

Tarragona, located on Spain's Mediterranean coast, has become a key logistics hub for national and international trade by connecting Europe and Africa with the Mediterranean. Aware of this Catalan province's impact on the Mediterranean's economic development, ASCAME has held several institutional meetings with the most important organizations and entities in Tarragona to explore synergies and new ways of collaboration. The last meetings were held in May. ASCAME's General Coordinator, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, talked to the representatives from the main institutions in Tarragona. One was the Port of Tarragona, one of the Mediterranean's most important ports, specializing in bulk goods, chemicals, and hydrocarbons. Mr. Zibaoui met with the President, Mr. Santiago Castellà, and the Director of Corporate Development & Sustainability, Mr. Joan Basora.

This meeting was an excellent opportunity to talk about joint initiatives and events to promote the Port of Tarragona as a leading operator in the Mediterranean, attracting international investment and making it a benchmark for sustainable tourism. Mr. Zibaoui referred to the strategic position of this infrastructure by connecting Europe and Africa. In his opinion, "the Port of Tarragona can decongest the cruise ship traffic that the Port of Barcelona registers annually and welcome companies from different sectors around the world, especially from the chemical sector, in which Tarragona is a benchmark".

In addition, Mr. Zibaoui held an institutional meeting with the representatives from the Chamber of Commerce of Reus: the President, Mr. Mario Basora, and the Managing Director and General Secretary, Mr. Jaume Llosas. This gathering aimed to identify the most promising sectors for joint activities, promoting economic development and enhancing Tarragona's presence on the Mediterranean and international stages.

Finally, Mr. Zibaoui was interviewed by 'Diari Més' and reflected on the current good moment to invest in Tarragona due to its excellent infrastructures, the diversification of its economy, and its exemplary sustainable transition. In his opinion, “through events, projects and intra-regional cooperation, ASCAME is committed to promoting new metropolitan areas such as Tarragona to move towards a more prosperous and sustainable Mediterranean”.

📍 MEMBERS CORNER

Interview with Mr. Maurizio De Pascale, President

of the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano: “Mediterranean cities can promote peace, justice, and cooperation”

The city of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) will host on the 18th of September the MedaCity Forum 2025, co-organized by ASCAME and its member, the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano. This upcoming forum will address the shared challenges of Mediterranean cities and create opportunities for economic cooperation. In the following interview, Mr. Maurizio de Pascale, President of this institution, talks about the Mediterranean cities as key drivers of sustainable, economic, and social development by serving as hubs of innovation, commerce, and community engagement.

Mr. De Pascale also insists on the crucial role of the cities in building peaceful relations in the Mediterranean. In addition, the interview sheds light on other insightful topics such as the Chamber’s contribution to Sardinia’s economic growth -by promoting sustainable development, supporting local businesses, and fostering innovation-, the challenge of the blue economy and the digital transition, and the Chamber’s involvement in new infrastructures, such as the creation of a conference center for hosting international events.

ASCAME Insights

Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, ASCAME's General Coordinator, analyzes the impact of US protectionist measures and the geopolitical context on the tourism sector

In an opinion article published in 'Expansión', Mr. Zibaoui calls for the reinvention of the tourism industry based on cooperation, sustainable transition, innovation, and new ways of commercialization

According to Mr. Anwar Zibaoui the current context poses new challenges, such as the imperative to implement more sustainable practices to benefit local communities and preserve the environment, accelerate digital transformation, foster long-term strategies that promote competitive advantage, and move towards a more inclusive and resilient model.

To Mr. Zibaoui, "the current multi-crisis and geopolitical conflicts, along with generalized insecurity and international competition, force us to rethink the tourism model from innovation and the search for new forms of commercialization". In his opinion, "this industry must reinvent itself based on cooperation between all territories, the revision of social tourism, the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and a sustainable vision".

In the article, ASCAME's General Coordinator insists on the fact that this industry remains a key driver for the global economy: "The sector has returned to its best moment after a few difficult years, providing a significant economic boost to countries around the world and supporting millions of jobs".

The 'Med2050 Report' from Plan Bleu marks a milestone in understanding the sustainable development issues in the Mediterranean and future perspectives

The Report 'The Mediterranean by 2050: A Foresight by Pan Bleu' serves as a foundation for coordinated action and provides valuable insights for shaping the future of the region

Plan Bleu, one of the Regional Activity Centres of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has recently published the report The Mediterranean by 2050: A Foresight by Plan Bleu. These are some of the main takeaways:

✔️ Climate Change Impact: The Mediterranean region is highly vulnerable to climate change, with significant risks including rising temperatures, sea level rise, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. For instance, sea levels are projected to rise by up to 1 meter by 2100, threatening coastal areas and ecosystems.

✔️ Biodiversity and Ecosystems: The report highlights the urgent need to protect biodiversity and ecosystems, which are threatened by pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. Marine biodiversity is under severe threat, with 80% of fish stocks overexploited.

✔️ Socio-Economic Challenges: The region faces significant socio-economic challenges, with unemployment rates exceeding 20% in some areas. There is a growing disparity between northern and southern Mediterranean countries in terms of economic development and access to resources.

✔️ Policy and Governance Recommendations: The report emphasizes the need for enhanced regional cooperation and integrated policies to address environmental and socio-economic challenges. 

ASCAME Projects

Diving into the Sustainable Tourism Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme in Brussels

On May 14 and 15, ASCAME participated in two key events held in Brussels to debate the Sustainable Tourism Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. Both events gathered the Sustainable Tourism Mission's partners.

On the first day, ASCAME participated in a working group to discuss the role of the Interreg Euro-MED Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) in advancing data-driven policies for sustainable tourism. This meeting aimed to strengthen institutional cooperation, enhance data-sharing strategies, and explore innovative solutions for sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean region. As part of the Sustainable Tourism Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, the INSTO brings together policymakers, institutions, and stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and promote the transition towards greener and more resilient tourism models.

Participants talked about intra-regional cooperation, the relationship between academia and research (researchers need to collect all the challenges in terms of governance at national and regional levels), and aligning academia and professional training (all people working in the sector can upscale their skills by learning from academia).

The next day, ASCAME participated in the 5th Steering Committee Meeting of the Dialogue4Tourism Project -an Interreg Euro-Med project. One of the speakers was Mr. Luis Miranda, ASCAME's Project Manager, who presented the methodology and main goals of the 1st testing workshop of the Sustainable Tourism Policy Labs (STPLs) to be held in the upcoming Circle the MED event in Greece. In addition, Mr. Miranda insisted on the need to transfer the sustainable tourism knowledge coming from the Interreg MED projects to policymakers and key stakeholders of the MED region. 

ASCAME Partnerships

Mr. Dirk Saseta, Director of Business & Operations at LEITAT: “We aim to transform  the Mediterranean Chambers into innovation hubs for the region”

A few months ago, ASCAME signed a collaboration agreement with Leitat,  a European reference technological center with expertise in applied chemistry, circular economy, digital industry, and health & biomedicine. The main objective of the agreement was to work together for the digitalisation of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce by improving their efficiency and the relationship with their local businesses.

To have more details about the agreement and the main objectives to achieve, we interviewed Mr.  Dirk Saseta, Director of Business and Operations at Leitat, who shared some insights from the analysis that Leitat has done on the Chambers digitalisation. For instance, Mr. Saseta highlighted a persistent digital gap between Chambers, often influenced by their geographic location and access to resources. In his opinion, "this gap not only affects the efficiency of individual Chambers but also hampers collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the broader network".

In addition, Leitat has identified great opportunities by implementing digital tools and innovative solutions. To Mr. Saseta, "Chambers have a unique chance not only to improve their internal efficiency but also to strengthen their relationship with local businesses, improve service delivery to members, and foster more effective collaboration with other Mediterranean institutions".

ASCAME News & Events

MedaLogistics 2025 will turn Barcelona into the reference for logistics in the Mediterranean

Barcelona will host MedaLogistics 2025 on June 18 and 19 in Fira Barcelona, in the framework of SIL Barcelona. This two-day event will gather top experts and policymakers in logistics, transport, who will address critical topics such as sustainability, digital transformation, and last-mile solutions.  This year’s edition will feature 6 conferences on present and future challenges, new ways of cooperation, and new business opportunities in the sector. There will also be networking sessions and B2B meetings.

Institutional meeting in Barcelona with the CCI Marseille-Provence

This month, ASCAME’s General Coordinator, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, received in Barcelona the representatives from the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Marseille-Provence: The Vice President, Mr. Frédéric Ronal, and the Head of International Relations and General Delegate of Africalink, Mr. Denis Bergé. The meeting had the aim of exploring ways to strengthen ties between the Mediterranean and the African Chambers. During the meeting, both parties agreed on the need to foster new institutional and business synergies to promote regional cooperation and shared economic development.

ASCAME, partner of the 2nd  edition of AfricaMed Business Forum in Rabat

ASCAME will be a key partner for the 2nd edition of the AfricaMed Business Forum, to be held in Rabat (Morocco) on June 17 and 18. This event, organized once again by Kardev -an organization specializing in high-impact event engineering focused on territorial development and transcontinental growth, particularly in Africa-, has become a leading platform that brings together policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to shape Africa’s economic future. The first edition gathered more than 200 leaders, 80 meetings, and 50 investment projects, in addition to forge impactful partnerships.

Through focused discussions on key themes such as sustainability, digital economy, and infrastructure, this year’s edition aims to transform regional challenges into opportunities and open new horizons between Africa and the rest of the world. The interactive workshops and targeted networking sessions create an environment conducive to open dialogue and fruitful partnerships.

Trade Mission in Algeria organised by Círculo de Comercio e Industria Hispano-Argelino

The Círculo de Comercio e Industria Hispano-Argelino (CCIHA), in collaboration with the Alicante Chamber of Commerce, is organizing a new trade mission in Algeria from June 15 to 17. This trade mission, which has the support of ASCAME, represents an excellent opportunity for Spanish companies that wish to expand their international presence in the Algerian market. This initiative is designed to maximize networking and collaboration opportunities between Spanish and Algerian companies. The agenda will combine presentations, business meetings, and technical visits to strengthen commercial relationships, foster cooperation, and explore investment possibilities. Contact email for more information! 👉 info@cciba.ess

Diving into the healthy food at the 'Free From Food & Wine Expo 2025'

ASCAME supports the upcoming Free From Food & Wine Expo 2025 on June 17 and 18 at the Marx Halle in Vienna (Austria). This international trade event, organized by ASCAME’s partner Free From Food & Health Ingredients, is aimed at decision-makers from the retail sector, gastronomy, and manufacturers and distributors of innovative food products. The summit will offer a unique opportunity to meet up with more than 300 exhibitors, more than 60 keynote speakers, and thousands of food products and brands from different countries, presenting the latest product innovations covering a large range of categories.

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