Barcelona hosts the Euro-Mediterranean Economic & Business Forum

The event will be held on November 18 and 19 in the iconic Llotja de Mar building in the framework of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process

As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Barcelona Process —an initiative launched in 1995 to strengthen cooperation between Europe and the Mediterranean—Barcelona will host the Euro-Mediterranean Economic & Business Forum on November 18 and 19. The event, taking place in the emblematic Llotja de Mar building, will be co-organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), in collaboration with ASCAME and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
 
The forum will bring together political and business leaders from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, alongside representatives from business associations, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, SMEs, and multilateral organisations, to shape a renewed vision for economic collaboration in the face of global and regional challenges. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration, the event offers a timely occasion to reflect on three decades of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. With a focus on driving investment, modernization, infrastructure development, and global competitiveness, the forum aims to accelerate the economic and social progress of the Mediterranean region.

Strengthening Euro-African Economic Cooperation in Marseille

The Vice President of ASCAME, Mr. Josep Santacreu, called for a united Euro-African response to climate, digital, and economic challenges in the 'Ateliers de la Coopération Consulaire et Économique', held on October in Marseille

On 20 October, Mr. Josep Santacreu, Vice President of ASCAME and President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, took part in the opening session of the 17th edition of the Ateliers de la Coopération Consulaire et Économique (ACCE). The event was organized by the Permanent Conference of African and Francophone Chambers of Commerce and Intermediary Organizations (CPCCAF), a longstanding partner of ASCAME, with the support of the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry—member of both ASCAME and CPCCAF.

Held over three days, the summit convened more than 400 participants from over 20 African and Francophone countries, including Switzerland, Canada, and Haiti. It brought together consular networks, intermediary organizations, and private sector actors who play a pivotal role in advancing the African and Francophone economic space. During his address, Mr. Santacreu reaffirmed ASCAME’s founding mission: “ASCAME was established in 1982 to unify the private sector across the region, foster Euro-Mediterranean economic cooperation, and strengthen exchanges between Europe, Africa, and Asia”. He also shared key reflections on the strategic importance of the partnership and the shared vision for the region’s future:
 
✅ ASCAME and CPCCAF’s collaboration reflects a joint commitment to deepening Euro-African cooperation and driving sustainable private sector growth. Together, we envision an interconnected Euro-Mediterranean and Francophone economic space where businesses join forces to tackle shared challenges such as the green transition, digital transformation, job creation, and regional integration.

✅  Africa is currently at a decisive moment in its history. The destinies of Europe and Africa are intertwined, with the Mediterranean serving as the natural bridge for this renewed partnership.
✅Chambers of Commerce are essential enablers of business diversification, competitiveness, and internationalization—especially for SMEs.

✅ The green transition is both a moral and economic imperative. The climate crisis is not a peripheral concern; it has direct and profound implications for our economies and societies.

ASCAME, also represented by Ms. Estela Delgado and Ms. Paola Bucero, actively contributed to one of the workshops, presenting the association’s mission, core values, and strategic role in strengthening the Mediterranean private sector. They also highlighted ASCAME’s intraregional cooperation projects, which are driving impactful progress in the region’s economic growth and sustainable development.

ASCAME holds its 26th General Assembly & Executive Committee meeting in Barcelona

Between 17 and 19 November, ASCAME will host a series of high-level institutional meetings and strategic events taking place in the Llotja de Mar

From  17  to  19  November  2025,  ASCAME  will  hold  in  Barcelona  a  series  of  high-level 
institutional  meetings and events of  great significance  for  our  organisation  and  for  the Mediterranean private sector.  On  this  occasion,  and  within  the  framework  of  the  30th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process, the following key events will take place: 
 
✅ Executive Committee, on November 18 at 9.30 am.

✅ General Assembly: Statutory Session of the General Assembly of the ASCAME, to be held on November 18 at Casa Llotja de Mar in Barcelona from 11:30 am to 13:00 pm. Following the postponement of the statutory meetings initially scheduled for June 2025, this General Assembly will be held in November to ensure the legal requirements and the proper renewal of ASCAME’s governing bodies.
✅ Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process with a Mediterranean  Private  Sector  Declaration:  ASCAME,  together with leading organisations from the Mediterranean, Europe, the Arab world,  and Africa, will convene a high-level meeting bringing together the main actors from Europe, Africa, and Asia. The declaration will reflect our shared vision of the role of the private sector and our commitment to a more integrated, sustainable, and prosperous Mediterranean economy. 
 
▶️ If you are a partner or member of ASCAME, you can confirm your participation on the General Assembly via the following link!  👉 https://n9.cl/z00w6

📍 MEMBERS CORNER

Interview with Mr. Hassan SAKHI, President of the CCIS of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region: “Investing in Morocco today means betting on stability, innovation and openness towards Africa”

In a context where Morocco is increasingly asserting its strategic role as an economic bridge between Europe and Africa, territorial development becomes a crucial lever to stimulate investment, innovation, and international cooperation. It is in this perspective that we interviewed Mr. Hassan Sakhi, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region (CCIS-RSK)..

Through this interview, Mr. Hassan Sakhi emphasizes Morocco’s strategic positioning as a gateway to Africa and a stable, innovation-driven economy. He highlights the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region as a dynamic hub for investment, thanks to its infrastructure, skilled workforce, and proximity to key markets. Mr. Sakhi also highlights the Chamber’s commitment to digitalisation, entrepreneurship, and green transition, which have created a favorable climate for both local and international investors. He also points to the region’s role in fostering industrial clusters and supporting SMEs, particularly in sectors like agribusiness, automotive, and renewable energy. 

For Mr. Sakhi, investing in Morocco today means betting on long-term stability, innovation, and a shared vision for sustainable growth in the Mediterranean and African regions. 

ASCAME Insights

Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, ASCAME's General Coordinator, urges stronger Mediterranean-African cooperation to tackle shared challenges

The article in On Economía highlights Mr. Zibaoui’s advocacy for deeper Mediterranean-African cooperation, driven by digital innovation, inclusive governance, and strengthened regional integration. 

“Today’s global challenges require both strengthening economic cooperation and expanding regional and international trade”. In his latest opinion article published in ‘On Economía’, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui calls for enhanced Mediterranean-African collaboration to tackle pressing issues like climate change, trade disruptions, regional conflicts, technological shifts, unemployment, or gender inequality, among others: “We must shift  the center of gravity toward the Southern Mediterranean and foster a unified Europe-Mediterranean-Africa economic space”.

ASCAME’s General Coordinator emphasizes the strategic potential of the Mediterranean region, calling for it to “turn its geography into an asset, transform cooperation into influence, and make diversified alliances drivers of resilience and sustainable growth”. In this context, Mr. Zibaoui urges “the European Union to play a more assertive role in the evolving global landscape by deepening its ties with Mediterranean nations and forging a strategic partnership with Africa”.

In his opinion, “the good news is that the digitalisation of the global economy continues to foster deeper collaboration between nations”, In this sense, he adds, “if MENA economies can sustain their momentum in digital transformation and regional integration —and current trends suggest this is achievable— a major economic crisis could be avoided”. For him,  “this requires stronger commitment from both public and private sector leaders, inclusive governance, and active support from international stakeholders".

Ms. Adriana Salazar, Sustainable Blue Economy Expert at UfM: “The Mediterranean private sector has the potential to lead the green and blue transition across the basin”

The Sustainable Blue Economy expert highlights the importance of innovation, regional cooperation, and inclusive governance to unlock sustainable growth across coastal communities and marine industries.

Strengthening synergies and governance for sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean —aimed at improving policy coordination and maximizing impact— was a central theme at the “Paths That Last – Collaborating for a Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean” event, organised by the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism (MMM) in Split, Croatia, in June. Together with DG MARE, ASCAME’s partner Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) took part in the panel on ‘Mediterranean strategic and sectoral initiatives: How do they deal with Sustainable Tourism?’ aiming to put the spotlight on initiatives, strategies, and approaches that enhance synergies and governance for sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean.

During the session, Ms. Adriana Salazar, Sustainable Blue Economy Expert at the UfM, emphasized the importance of integrating the Mediterranean private sector into broader blue economy strategies. She highlighted the need to better foresee the role of the MED private sector in integrating sustainable tourism into broader blue economy strategies.

In an interview published on ASCAME’s blog, Ms. Salazar shares her insights into the pivotal role of the private sector in leading the region’s green and blue transition. She also underlines successful initiatives led by the UfM and other Mediterranean institutions that are tackling the challenges of sustainable tourism head-on.  

ASCAME Projects

ASCAME takes part in the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Sustainable Tourism Community hosted by the University of Tirana

At the beginning of October, ASCAME participated  in the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Sustainable Tourism Community, held in Tirana (Albania) and organised by the Community4Tourism (C4T) Project on behalf of the Sustainable Tourism Mission. This is an Interreg Euro-MED Programme's mission, which aims at reinforcing the commitment and the implementation of initiatives towards a more sustainable tourism.

Mr. Luis Miranda, ASCAME’s Project Manager, participated in the opening session on behalf of the lead partner Dialogue4Tourism (D4T), an Interreg Euro-MED project dedicated to enhancing coordination and institutional capacity among public authorities, multi-level bodies, programmes, strategies, and initiatives focused on sustainable tourism and governance across the Euro-Mediterranean. Mr. Miranda talked about the Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories, a platform that unites stakeholders, policymakers, and institutions from the Mediterranean. He also shared upcoming initiatives, including white papers exploring the power of partnerships in driving circular tourism in the MED, and the role of small islands as hubs for climate resilience and sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean..

In the framework of this meeting, Ms. Andrea Mullerat, ASCAME’s Corporate Development & Marketing Manager, met with representatives from ASCAME’s member the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry to explore new avenues for collaboration and foster regional partnerships.

The Chamber plays a pivotal role in representing the business community in Tirana. Its mission is to advocate for, support, and protect business interests while promoting economic growth and attracting foreign investment through a global network.

Interreg Euro_MED's 1st Hackathon at the European Week of Regions and Cities held in Brussels

The Interreg Euro-MED Programme's Hackathon titled 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 was a key highlight of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2025, held from 13 to 15 October in Brussels. It was jointly organised with Interact Programme, Interreg Italy-Croatia, Interreg Marittimo-IT FR-Maritime, and the European Culturl Tourism Network (ECTN).

The hackathon addressed the pressing challenges of mass tourism in the Mediterranean, aiming to co-create innovative, sustainable, and culturally respectful tourism strategies. The session brought together regional policymakers, tourism stakeholders, Interreg Programme's  representatives, civil society and innovation actors, who in just 90 minutes  found solutions that could be funded by Interreg programmes and aligned with the post-2027 EU Cohesion Policy. All the proposals were shared with Interreg managing authorities and DG REGIO, and will provide valuable input for the post-2027 programming phase.

The European Week of Regions and Cities 2025 offered a valuable platform to showcase key sustainable solutions and governance initiatives developed through two ASCAME-partnered projects:

🔸 The Dialogue4Tourism (D4T) Project, which aims to strengthen coordination and institutional capacity across the Mediterranean to promote greener, smarter, and more resilient tourism.

🔸 The Community4Tourism (C4T) Project, which promotes transnational cooperation for climate-neutral tourism, with ASCAME’s role anchored in the RECIRCLE MED Project, which fosters sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean coastal areas by integrating blue and circular economy principles through local engagement, cross-border cooperation, and tailored actions that address key environmental challenges. 

ASCAME News & Events

Driving inclusive economic development across the region

On September 29, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, General Coordinator at ASCAME, held a productive meeting with representatives from Moroccan businesses and institutions. The meeting served as a valuable platform to explore future collaboration, particularly around the joint organization of a Social and Solidarity Economy Forum. Discussions also focused on advancing key initiatives within the social economy framework.

The Chamber of Benghazi unlocks new trade opportunities in Libya

AIn recent weeks, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture of Benghazi (BENCCI), a member of ASCAME, has actively engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with fellow Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce. These efforts aimed to strengthen economic cooperation and unlock new opportunities for trade across the region. One meeting took place with the Camera di Commercio di Cagliari-Oristano, also an ASCAME member, to strengthen economic and trade ties between Libya and Italy. BENCCI also met with representatives from the Libyan-Italian Chamber of Commerce to discuss investment prospects and the potential organization of joint exhibitions and economic events.  A third meeting was held in Casablanca with the Moroccan Confederation of Exporters (ASMEX) to boost trade relations between Libya and Morocco.

ASCAME at BNEW 2025

ASCAME participated in the kick-off of the 6th edition of the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW), hosted by our partner the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) on September 29 at DFactory Barcelona. This international reference event of the new economy brought together more than 320 speakers and 120 startups across 66 sessions focused on key sectors including sustainability, talent, aviation, health, digital industry, and mobility. Mr. Anwar Zibaoui (ASCAME) met with Ms. Blanca Sorigué, General Director of CZFB, who highlighted: “BNEW aims to drive, connect, and transform the new economy, while continuing to inspire change through talent, innovation, and industry”.

Registrations now open for MedaWomen 2025

Join us in Izmir (Turkey) on December 2–3 for the 17th edition of the Mediterranean Women Entrepreneurs Forum — the reference forum for women entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean region. This event, to be held in the framework of MEDSPARC Business Summit, will be co-organized by ASCAME, the Association of Business Women in Izmir İZİKAD,, the Federation of Mediterranean Businesswomen Organisations (AFAEMME), and the Federation of Associations of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Western Anatolia, with the support of ASCAME’s member, the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, and BASIFED. The summit has become the main platform for analyzing the most pressing challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean. Register now! 👉 https://n9.cl/tjpf1

CCI of Tunisia leads a business mission to Warsaw (Poland)

From October 20 to 23, 2025, ASCAME’s member, the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized a Tunisian Business Mission to Warsaw, in collaboration with the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with the support of the Tunisian Embassy in Poland. This initiative served as a strategic platform to strengthen bilateral partnerships and advance economic and trade relations between Tunisia and Poland. The mission facilitated over forty high-level business contacts across key sectors —including automotive, cosmetics, packaging, consulting, and agri-food— laying the groundwork for future collaboration. 

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