ASCAME will host its 26th General Assembly & Executive Committee in Barcelona
Between 17 and 19 November, ASCAME will hold 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:
âś… Executive Committee at 9.30 am.
✅ General Assembly: Statutory Session of the General Assembly of the ASCAME, to be held on November 18at Casa Llotja de Mar in Barcelona from 11:30 am to 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. ✅ Euro-Mediterranean Economic & Business Forum 2025, to be held on 18-19 November,organised by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce to celebrate three decades of the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Process. This event will be organised by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), in collaboration with ASCAME and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
▶️ 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
Mediterranean cities converged in Cagliari for MedaCity 2025
The flagship ASCAME event boosted economic cooperation, urban innovation, and sustainable development across the Mediterranean region
MedaCity Forum 2025, the Mediterranean Cities Economic Forum, concluded last Friday at the Cagliari Fair Congress Centre with great success, attracting strong participation of Mediterranean institutions and businesses and providing real visibility and practical solutions to the common challenges faced by the region’s cities. This flagship ASCAME event, organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano and the Municipality of Cagliari, with the support of ASCAME and Unioncamere, reaffirmed its position as the leading summit for fostering economic cooperation, driving urban innovation, and promoting sustainable development among Mediterranean cities. On one hand, the summit brought together institutional leaders, representatives of Chambers of Commerce, international experts, academics, and businesses to shape the future of Mediterranean cities. On the other hand, the event underscored the pivotal role of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce as strategic actors in regional cooperation and drivers of the transition toward more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban models.
The forum featured three thematic sessions. The first one was “Housing Strategies in Mediterranean Cities”, where panelists debated on the ongoing transformation of Mediterranean cities driven by continuous urban population growth, rising housing costs, and increasing difficulty, especially for young people and families, in accessing dignified and affordable housing solutions. The next one was “The Mediterranean as a Sustainable Tourism Destination: The Role of Cities”, where experts and representatives from different countries and sectors shared visions, experiences, and best practices for a more equitable and sustainable tourism future. The third session was “Port Development and Urban Mobility in the Mediterranean”, where panelists concurred that ports are not just logistical infrastructures: “They are true urban hubs that influence mobility, the environment, and the quality of urban life”.
The Mediterranean Chamber network emerged as a strategic facilitator of dialogue among institutions, businesses, and civil society, promoting multi-stakeholder platforms and supporting startups and SMEs active in crucial sectors such as clean energy, circular economy, intelligent mobility, and climate adaptation.
After 16 editions, this forum has consolidated its position as the main meeting point for decision-makers, associations, women entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and development players in general. This event has become the main platform for analyzing the most pressing challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean, discussing development alternatives, learning about regional and international experiences, and creating synergies and partnerships with players from a wide range of sectors.
Once again, the opening session will feature the participation of Mr. Ahmed El Wakil, President of ASCAME, who, in previous editions of MedaWomen, emphasized the vital role of women entrepreneurs in driving economic development across the Mediterranean. “Women are key players in the creation of competitive businesses, not least because they propose innovative solutions that improve people’s lives”. It should be noted that one in three start-ups in the Mediterranean region is founded or led by women, which is a higher percentage than in Silicon Valley. In this sense, women are becoming a force to be reckoned with on the start-up scene across the region, and entrepreneurship is key to boosting women’s economic inclusion and to attract future investment in the region.
Interview with Mr. Konstantinos Leventis, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Ilia: “Chambers must connect SMEs to global markets, businesses to research, and entrepreneurs to policymakers”
The Chamber of Commerce of Ilia, located in the region of Western Greece, serves as a pivotal institution for promoting and supporting local entrepreneurship, economic development, and regional connectivity. This institution plays a vital role in representing the interests of businesses across Ilia, including those from the most promising sectors, such as agri-food, trade, tourism, and manufacturing.
Over the years, the Chamber has become a strategic partner for SMEs and local entrepreneurs, supporting them in areas such as innovation, investment attraction, and policy advocacy. In line with its commitment to digital transformation and the green transition, the Chamber actively promotes sustainable practices and technological advancement among its members. It also contributes to the region’s broader development by championing major infrastructure projects and by fostering international trade through strategic partnerships, including with the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Athens.
We interviewed Mr. Konstantinos Leventis, President of the Ilia Chamber of Commerce, to talk about all these initiatives and the current and future challenges facing Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce.
Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, ASCAME's General Coordinator, shares insights in 'ExpansiĂłn' on the first Spain-Egypt Development Partnership Agreement
Within the article, Mr. Zibaoui highlights the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, describing the agreement as a historic milestone.
In this opinion article, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui gives a highly positive assessment of the recent agreement signed between Spain and Egypt, emphasizing its potential not only to strengthen bilateral relations but also to generate meaningful economic, social, and sustainable impact in both countries: “This agreement marks a historic milestone, as it establishes a clear roadmap for driving growth through the transition to more productive sectors, the promotion of value-added industries, and decisive progress toward a green and sustainable economy”.
In his opinion, “Spain, with its solid track record in sustainable development, technology, and innovation, is consolidating its position as a strategic partner for Egypt in advancing joint projects with regional and global impact". He adds: "At the same time, Egypt stands out as a key geopolitical hub, connecting Europe with the Middle East and Africa”.
According to Mr. Zibaoui, “this agreement is a unique opportunity for the business communities of both countries to promote joint investments, launch innovative projects in the blue economy, renewable energies, and digital transition, create new sustainable companies that empower women, and promote a new chapter in economic cooperation”. To him, “the expansion of multilateral cooperation between Egypt and Spain in relation to Africa and Europe facilitates the launch of projects of common interest, especially for the benefit of the African continent”.
ASCAME's member, the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, calls for smarter EU spending to support SMEs
Chamber's President, Mr. Vassilis Korkidis, advocates for more transparent and impactful EU funding that effectively supports SMEs and addresses real-world challenges. He shares his insights on this topic in an article published on ASCAME's blog.
Within his article, Mr. Vassilis Korkidis presents a critical perspective on the European Commission’s proposed €2 trillion budget for 2028–2034, highlighting the disparity between ambitious EU-level planning and the practical needs of SMEs. He highlights how the proposed increase —64% above the previous framework—has sparked resistance from several member states, particularly due to new taxation schemes and the reallocation of funds that could disadvantage local economies and SMEs.
Mr. Korkidis stresses the importance of maintaining dedicated funding streams for agriculture and regional cohesion, warning against the centralization of resources into national plans that risk sidelining municipalities and local governance. He argues that SMEs must be protected from being overshadowed by larger corporations in the distribution of digital and green transition funds, and calls for greater transparency and fairness in how these resources are managed..
Greece’s position, as outlined by Mr. Korkidis, aligns with other southern European countries in opposing the merger of cohesion and agricultural policies. The country advocates for the abolition of regressive taxes and insists on preserving the autonomy of local and regional actors in shaping development strategies. Ultimately, Mr. Korkidis identifies four major tensions within the EU’s budget debate: economic strain on contributing states, strategic priorities such as defense and digital competitiveness, democratic accountability, and ideological divides over centralization versus subsidiarity.
ASCAME joins the Recircle MED Project to promote the implementation of blue and circular tourism in the region
ASCAME is one of the 8 partners of the RECIRCLE MED Project, an Interreg EuroMED Programme’s project which aims to promote sustainable tourism in Mediterranean coastal areas by integrating blue and circular economy principles through local engagement, cross-border cooperation, and tailored actions that address key environmental challenges. The RECIRCLE MED Project is a new project born from the idea to transfer the main results of the REBOOT MED (EMFAF) and INCIRCLE (Interreg MED 14/20) projects to foster the transition to a more circular and efficient economy, including solutions towards a blue and circular tourism model related, among others, to waste and water management issues. This is closely linked to ASCAME, as one of the former partners of the REBOOT MED Project.
Building on the outcomes of past initiatives, RECIRCLE MED provides a structured, step-by-step transfer process to assist coastal destinations in developing and implementing local action plans. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building, the project fosters systemic change towards a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable tourism model. With a budget of €1.5 million and partners from the EU member states and IPA countries, the project contributes to the Euro-MED Programme’s priorities while fostering synergies with key Mediterranean actors committed to advancing circular and sustainable tourism across the region.
Ms. Mercedes Acitores, Senior Project Manager at INTERACT: “The private sector plays a vital role in advancing sustainable tourism and territorial cohesion”
Capitalisation took center stage at the recent Interreg MED event, “Paths That Last – Collaborating for a Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean”, organised in Split (Croatia) by the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism (MMM). Panelists emphasized that capitalisation serves as a crucial bridge between the conclusion of one project and the inception of new initiatives that carry its objectives forward. They highlighted its role in building upon existing results, amplifying their impact, and broadening the visibility and influence of Interreg programme achievements.
During the session “Powering Synergies: Capitalisation & Mainstreaming”, Ms. Mercedes Acitores, Senior Project Manager at INTERACT European Cooperation, highlighted the importance of transferring best practices, knowledge, and outcomes from Interreg’s sustainable tourism projects to the private sector. She also emphasized that companies, clusters, Chambers of Commerce, and business associations can directly participate as project partners, particularly in the field of sustainable tourism.
We interviewed her to delve further into the discussion and explore her perspective on strengthening synergies between Interreg programmes.
Driving innovation in the Mediterranean nautical future
In September, ASCAME participated in Blue Marine Talks, an international conference held in Mallorca, Spain, focused on marine decarbonization, energy transition in marinas, and sustainable nautical tourism. Organized by our partner ANBE - the National Association of Electric Boats in collaboration with the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB), the event brought together global experts, institutions, and industry leaders to shape the future of the nautical sector. On behalf of ASCAME, Ms. Andrea Mullerat, our Corporate & Marketing Manager, joined the round table "Innovation as the Center of Sustainable Nautical Tourism", where she highlighted that "both public and private institutions in cities and ports must provide tangible innovative solutions in electric and sustainable mobility".
ASCAME, represented at the African European Forum for Partnership and Development in Benghazi (Libya)
ASCAME’s member, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture Benghazi (BENCCI), will be one of the key partners of the upcoming African European Forum for Partnership and Development, to be held in Benghazi (Libya) from the 13th to the 16th of October. Forum highlights:
âś… Connect manufacturers with emerging project leaders.
âś… Attract European expertise & investment to strengthen key sectors.
âś… Support job creation and sustainable urban development in Africa.
Exploring the Mediterranean Diet: Insights from 'Tomorrow Tastes Annual Conference'
ASCAME's partner, the Torribera Mediterranean Center, will host a new edition of the Tomorrow Tastes Annual International Conference. This year, the event will take place from October 13 to 15 in Kalamata and the Messinia region of Greece, a location deeply rooted in Mediterranean culinary heritage. The conference will explore the multidimensional significance of the Mediterranean diet, addressing key topics such as public health and nutrition, sustainability (including biodiversity and the climate crisis), culinary innovation, behavioral change, technology, and emerging business models.
CCI of Tunisia organizes a Tunisian Business Mission in Warsaw (Poland)
ASCAME's member, the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will organize a Tunisian Business Mission to Warsaw from October 20 to 23, 2025. To strengthen the partnership and develop economic and trade relations between Tunisia and Poland, this mission will be organized in partnership with the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with the support of the Tunisian Embassy in Poland. This mission will be marked by the holding of the Polish-Tunisian Business Forum, which will be attended by representatives of Tunisian and Polish organizations and institutions, as well as by the presence of Tunisian economic operators and their Polish counterparts from different sectors, such as agrifood, renewable energy, textiles, and automotive, among others.
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