ASCAME President shares a message of unity for Christmas

The newly elected President urges strengthened economic, cultural, and human cooperation to address the Mediterranean’s shared challenges

ASCAME President, Mr. Josep Santacreu, shared a warm message with the entire ASCAME community on the Christmas holidays and the upcoming New Year 2026. In his video address, Mr. Santacreu reaffirms ASCAME’s commitment to strengthening economic, cultural, and human cooperation across the Mediterranean.

He highlights the institutions' essential role of supporting businesses, fostering innovation, and creating new opportunities for shared prosperity throughout the region. As he reminds us, “Together, we can overcome obstacles, drive sustainable development, and shape the Mediterranean of tomorrow”.

ASCAME’s Executive Committee & Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly Resolutions

On the 18th of November, ASCAME approved its new President, renewed its governing bodies, welcomed new members, confirmed upcoming events, and approved the composition of the new Bureau

As the Executive Committee & Ordinary General Assembly, the following resolutions were adopted and approved:

✔️ The election of Mr. Josep Santacreu, President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as President of ASCAME for a statutory term of two years.

✔️ The renewal of the Executive Committee as it is currently composed. These are the countries represented: Spain, Egypt, Albania, Algeria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Serbia, Syria, and Cyprus.

✔️ On the proposal of the Executive Committee and upon amendment of Article 10 of the statutes by an Extraordinary General Assembly, the Assembly approved the composition of the new ASCAME Bureau.

✔️ In accordance with Article 7 of the Statutes concerning “Honorary Members”, the Ordinary General Assembly unanimously approved the election of President Ahmed M. El Wakil as “Honorary President” of ASCAME and President of ASCAME’s Senate. 

✔️ The new list of ASCAME’s Commissions.

✔️ The admission of 4 members and 1 associated member in ASCAME: CCI Tarragona (Spain), CCI Sabadell (Spain), CCI Marsa Matruh (Egypt), CCI Benghazi (Libya), and Mersin Stock Exchange (Turkey).

✔️ After presenting the financial accounts for the financial years 2023 and 2024, the Ordinary General Assembly approved the 2023 and 2024 accounts.

✔️ The upcoming events for 2026/2027: Medaweek Egypt - “Economic Summit of the Three Continents’ (18-19 April, Cairo, Egypt), MedaWomen 2026 (Egypt), MedaCity 2026 (to be organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari, in Cagliari, Italy), MediTour 2026 (to be organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Souss Massa, in Agadir, Morocco), MedaWomen 2027 (to be organized by the Croatian Chamber of Economy, in Rijeka, Croatia).

As the Extraordinary General Assembly, the following resolution was adopted:

✔️ On the proposal of the Executive Committee, the General Assembly, meeting in the same session, also as “Extraordinary General Assembly”, approved the amendment of article 10 of ASCAME’s Statutes, increasing the number of members of the Bureau from 8 to 10. 

Fostering public-private synergies for a Mediterranean blue economy

ASCAME and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) co‑organise a side event in Cairo to advance effective Public‑Private Partnerships for the blue economy in the region

The ASCAME team recently travelled to Cairo (Egypt) to take part in a side event on the blue economy, co-organised with our partner, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM). Under the theme “The Blue Economy: Ensuring Synergies between the Private Sector and Parliamentarians in the Mediterranean Region”, policymakers, business leaders, and international partners discussed coordinated solutions for sustainable maritime development, highlighting successful models of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs).

Representing ASCAME, the event featured contributions from Professor Suzan Kholeif, Senior Expert and Reviewer on Climate and Environmental Change, and Mr. Ayman Shalaby, Executive Director at MedBulk Shipping Solutions. Their interventions underscored the importance of legislative tools, investment frameworks, and innovative PPPs to foster sustainable sectors such as ports, fisheries, tourism, green shipping, and AI applications, while advancing progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Additionally, Mr Vassilis Korkidis, Vice President of ASCAME and President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, addressed participants via a video message. He emphasised that “cooperation between the private sector, parliamentarians, regional organisations, and all ASCAME’s partners is key to building a more prosperous and resilient Mediterranean”. Mr. Korkidis further stressed that “the involvement of parliamentarians is essential, as they are responsible for designing the legislative frameworks that enable blue economy development at the regional level”. He also highlighted the role of businesses in driving clean technologies, sustainable infrastructure, and innovative economic models adapted to the maritime environment. Finally, he noted that “the partnership with PAM demonstrates the importance of joining forces to address common challenges and seize the opportunities of our region”.

📍 MEMBERS CORNER

Interview with Mr. Yusuf Hacisüleyman, President of Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO): “Mediterranean Chambers play a vital role in fostering cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development”

The Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also known as ATSO, is one of Turkey’s largest and oldest business organizations. Founded in 1882, it represents around 70,000 members across key sectors, including tourism, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, yacht building, transportation, and education. The Chamber plays a pivotal role in driving Antalya’s economy, supporting entrepreneurs, and fostering international cooperation.

In this interview with its President, Mr. Yusuf Hacisüleyman, we explore the institution’s mission: strengthening local businesses, advising on economic and trade policies, promoting Antalya on the global stage, and encouraging sustainable growth and digital transformation among SMEs. The conversation also highlights Antalya’s dynamic economic development and its outstanding investment opportunities. Today, Antalya stands as Türkiye’s second most attractive destination for foreign investment, after Istanbul.

Interview with Mr. Yiannis Koufidis, President of the Halkidiki Chamber of Commerce: “Collaboration fosters innovation and strengthens Mediterranean competitiveness globally”

Halkidiki, located in Northern Greece, in the region of Central Macedonia, is renowned for its unique combination of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and dynamic economic potential. Beyond its world-class tourism, the area offers strong opportunities in agri-food production, gastronomy, real estate investment, and international trade. At the heart of this growth stands the Halkidiki Chamber of Commerce, representing more than 12,000 businesses and driving initiatives that connect local entrepreneurship with global markets.

We interviewed President Mr. Yiannis Koufidis, who also serves as First Vice President of the Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce. He shared his vision for the future of the region, emphasizing the Chamber’s commitment to supporting local businesses, promoting agri-food excellence, and strengthening the connection between entrepreneurship, tourism, and culture. The Chamber’s President highlighted the importance of synergies and intraregional cooperation as key drivers for advancing Mediterranean economic development and tackling common challenges faced across the region.

ASCAME Insights                                                               

Mr. Anwar Zibaoui reflects on the competition among China, the USA, and the EU to expand their presence in Africa

“This competition is expressed not only through investments, but also through narratives that demand a new discourse and new instruments of action”,   affirms the General Coordinator of ASCAME in

an article published by 'On Economía'.

In this new opinion article, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui analyses the opportunities that Africa holds in the current context of global rivalry between China and the United States: “Washington seeks to reinforce its presence on the continent, while Beijing advances its ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) initiative, which connects Africa through the port of Nairobi on the Indian Ocean”. At the same time, Russia has also entered this dynamic, promoting its influence across several African countries. Added to this is the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, conceived as an essential instrument to strengthen ties with Africa, deepen cooperation, and enhance Europe’s competitiveness in relation to China.

Zibaoui warns: “Despite the relevance of the new European initiative for Africa, the EU still lacks a comprehensive and coherent geoeconomic plan for the continent”. He adds: “In this scenario, the United States seeks to regain influence, while China advances through its four Silk Roads: one across Central Asia, another via the Indian Ocean, a third through the Arctic, and a fourth stretching from the Iberian Peninsula toward Atlantic Africa and the Gulf of Guinea”.

To him, “the EU must define a clear strategy and a firm response to avoid geoeconomic encirclement and the risk that the Mediterranean and its connections fall under the control of Chinese state-owned enterprises. Otherwise, Europe risks becoming entangled in the web of the new Silk Roads”. For Zibaoui, “building a stronger and more strategic partnership with Africa requires the EU to move beyond its migration-centered vision and to recognize the continent’s geopolitical and economic importance”.

EU – Algeria: Towards

a new Euro-Mediterranean partnership

In an opinion article published on ASCAME’s institutional blog, Mr. Abderrahmane Hadef, International Consultant & Senior Advisor in Economic Development, Digital Transformation, and Sustainable Investment Promotion, reflects on Algeria’s growing momentum. 

Within the article, Mr. Abderrahmane Hadef outlines Algeria’s growing role as a strategic partner for Europe: “Algeria offers competitive energy costs, a strategic location, and skilled human capital, making it a natural hub for nearshoring and industrial co-production”. 

The expert further highlights that “the convergence between Algeria’s industrial ambitions and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative can foster green energy, innovation, and sustainable investment, positioning Algeria as a catalyst for shared prosperity across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East”.

Mr. Hadef shares the following reflection: “Leveraging its geographic position, energy advantage, and industrial base, Algeria is poised to act as a catalyst for a new generation of Euro-Mediterranean projects that connect value chains, accelerate decarbonization, and foster inclusive growth”. To translate this vision into action, he stresses that three strategic priorities stand out:

✅Develop Euro-Mediterranean Special Economic Zones (ZES): Purpose-built areas designed to host joint industrial, digital, and cleantech ventures between European and North African partners.

✅    Establish a Dedicated Euro Med Investment Fund: Mobilising public and private capital to finance green infrastructure, technology transfer, and industrial co-production.

✅  Leverage the global gateway framework: Scaling renewable energy corridors, digital interconnectivity, and resilient transport systems across the region.

ASCAME Projects

The Chamber of Commerce of Serbia participates in a workshop organised by the RECIRCLE MED Project in North Macedonia

On 4 December, the partners of the RECIRCLE MED Project participated in the “Local Mobilisation Workshop and Western Balkans Forum”, held in Ohrid, North Macedonia. This event, co-organised by the RECIRCLE MED Project, gathered many key stakeholders from local authorities, academia, industry, and regional structures across the Western Balkans. The forum provided a space for reflection on shared challenges, the exchange of best practices, and the collective advancement of innovative approaches to blue and circular tourism.

One of the central panels was “Western Balkans Challenges and Barriers toward Blue and Circular Tourism”, which featured the participation of ASCAME’s member, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. Mr. Nebojsa Vraneš, Advisor at the Chamber’s Centre for Circular Economy, addressed this issue from a global circular perspective. From his perspective as an expert in circularity, he mentioned that the problem of circularity is the same as in any industry and provided many interesting tips:

🔸 Circular tourism is only possible on a small scale. Only small locations can be circular.
🔸 Projects cannot solve a single big circular problem. Instead, you need to have a strategic plan and tackle problems one by one.
🔸 Circularity is more feasible when you connect small and concrete solutions with big solutions.

For all of this, Mr. Vraneš recommended that circularity must begin from the first moment when designing the strategic planning: "We should prepare our cities, hotels, and people from the beginning because once mass tourism arrives, it is too late. And of course, this means also funding and innovation".

ASCAME participates in two strategic Euro-MED events on Sustainable Tourism Governance

ASCAME, as a partner of the D4T Project, took part this month in two online events dedicated to sustainable tourism. 

The first was the workshop “Digital Awareness Day: Strengthening Governance in Sustainable Tourism”, an initiative framed within the Sustainable Tourism Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. The session was organised by the D4T Project and coordinated by El Legado Andalusí (lead partner of D4T) together with the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism of Poreč (IPTPO).

With the active participation of several project partners, the workshop served as an opportunity to present key tools and good practices developed by D4T, including the best practices from the Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (NSTO), the White Paper on Sustainable Tourism, and the White Paper on Small Islands. During the session, Mr. Luis Miranda, ASCAME’s Project Manager, introduced the Sustainable Tourism Policy Labs (STPLs), designed to reinforce the skills, knowledge, and capacities of local and regional institutions and stakeholders.

The second event was the MED Talks session “Fostering Dialogue Between Northern and Southern Shores”, jointly organised by the Union for the Mediterranean and the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. The session featured the participation of El Legado Andalusí, represented by Ms. Julia Saiz-Pardo, who, together with Ms. Georgina Calvo (Community4Tourism partner), presented the main achievements of the Sustainable Tourism Mission.

On behalf of ASCAME, Mr. Luis Miranda shared the main conclusions of the session and commented on the results of the internal SLIDO poll, which highlighted the need for expanded capacity-building programmes to strengthen the skills of Southern Mediterranean stakeholders in sustainable tourism, as well as improved coordination among institutions and stakeholders.

ASCAME News & Events

ASCAME and KARDEV join forces for a landmark edition of the AfricaMed Business Forum

ASCAME and its partner KARDEV will co-organise the 3rd edition of AfricaMed Business Forum titled "The African Sports Industry - Beyond the Game, Build the Economy". This summit will take place in Casablanca (Morocco) on 16 and 17 January, in the framework of the African Cup of Nations (CAN26). This is a landmark event for the sports industry, addressing essential themes including infrastructure, finance, talent, sponsorship, and the role of women in sports. The forum is part of an exclusive series of events leading up to the 2030 World Cup, which will take place across three Mediterranean countries: Morocco, Portugal & Spain.

▶️ If you are interested in participating, whether as a speaker, sponsor, or attendee, we invite you to get in touch at:: 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁@𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲.𝗼𝗿𝗴

MedaWomen 2025 explored sustainability and resilience in NGOs

This year, MedaWomen, the Mediterranean Women Entrepreneurs Forum, was held in Izmir (Turkey) on 3 December, as part of the MEDSPARC International Business Summit. This new edition of the flagship forum was once again co‑organised by ASCAME, the Association of Business Women in Izmir - IZIKAD, and ASCAME’s partner, the Federation of Mediterranean Businesswomen Organisations - AFAEMME, with the collaboration of ASCAME’s member, the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, and BASİFED.

Held under the theme “Sustainability and Resilience in NGOs”, this year’s summit brought together leading women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and changemakers from across the Mediterranean to explore the role of technology in advancing sustainability. Experts analysed how digital innovation can enhance eco-friendly practices and drive social transformation, with a strong emphasis on community-driven initiatives and inclusive growth within NGOs.

Ms. Maria Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME, reflected on the Mediterranean’s renewed momentum 30 years after the launch of the Barcelona Process, which reshaped Euro-Mediterranean cooperation by fostering political dialogue, economic integration, and cultural exchange. She pointed out: “In times of geopolitical uncertainty, the Mediterranean is more than ever at the center of EU action. This is a new historical moment to relaunch and intensify cooperation between the EU and Mediterranean countries”.

Key partners of GISEC GLOBAL 2026

ASCAME is proud to be a strategic partner of GISEC GLOBAL 2026, the Middle East & Africa’s largest and most influential cybersecurity event, taking place from 5–7 May at the Dubai Exhibition Center (Expo City), Dubai, UAE. 

For three dynamic days, global CISOs, government leaders, technology buyers, and ethical hackers will convene to explore innovation, exchange strategies, and engage in live cyber drills. The event will welcome over 25,000 cybersecurity professionals from more than 180 countries, offering a world-class platform to:

✅ Discover the latest cutting-edge technologies.
✅ Forge high-value partnerships.
✅ Gain insights from visionary leaders shaping the future of cybersecurity.

▶️ If you are interested in attending GISEC GLOBAL 2026, contact us today and benefit from an exclusive 20% discount code!

👉 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁@𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲.𝗼𝗿𝗴 

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