11 th North Africa Business Development Forum (NABDF) 26 th Nov. 1 st Summit of Free and Special Economic Zones 26 th Nov

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1 ascamemedanews 123 mediterranean business & economic updates september-october Week of Economic Leaders 26 th -28 th November 2014 Barcelona a need for change The VIII edition of the Week of Economic Leaders will include this year different forums and events focus on key aspects essential to the sustainable and inclusive development of the region: renewable energies and eco-efficiency; green finances and Islamic finances, entrepreneurship and education, free zones or the integration of the Maghreb region. This year, the focus will be made on Green Economy as a main driving force for the economic and social growth of the region. AGENDA #MedaWeek th North Africa Business Development Forum (NABDF) 26 th Nov 1 st Summit of Free and Special Economic Zones 26 th Nov 1 st Entrepreneurship Forum 26 th Nov 6 th Tourism Forum (Meditour) 27 th Nov 6 th Eco Meda Green Summit: Solar Forum; Forum for Economic Intelligence; MEDACITY; Global Eco Forum and VI Meditour: special session on Green Tourism - 27 th -28 th Nov 2 nd Summit of Islamic Finance 28 th Nov Organizers: In collaboration with:

2 ascameopinions ASCAME, spokesman of the private sector in the Mohamed Choucair President of Ascame The Association of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry The Week of Economic Leaders extend the consultation of all entrepreneurs who wish to speak in the presence of the representatives of the European Union and the Union for the. MEDITOUR brings together leading tour operators in the basin, becoming a unique opportunity to create synergies and to develop the tourism. As the world becomes aware of the importance of the Public-Private partnership, ASCAME, The Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the, reveals itself as a model of its kind, which can heavily contribute to the emergence of the South countries and to the constitution of an Euromed area whose hegemony cannot be challenged in this area of the world. The organization facing the private sector today is the Union for the, which includes the 43 countries of the Euro- area. We can say that the willingness to cooperate is strong from all sides, but the social platforms and the economic instruments of the region must find their anchors inside the UfM and phase their efforts to strengthen the socio-economic climate of the region; well understood broadly including freedom, democracy, respect for human beings, equality of women, child protection and the fight against insecurity and ignorance- in a word all objective development goals that today are grouped within the term the new measures of economic well-being which gave birth to inclusive development. In ASCAME we believe in doing useful work and we are, in a way, walking a historical path. The presence of 20 presidents of Chambers of Commerce on the Committee allows us to feel the pulse of the economy at the spot while others must wait for a long time to obtain statistical results. Through the network of national chambers, we can take action and make public- private partnership a reality. Every year the Week of Economic Leaders extend the consultation of all entrepreneurs who wish to speak in the presence of the representatives of the European Union and the Union for the, among others. MEDITOUR brings together leading tour operators in the basin, becoming a unique opportunity to create synergies and to develop the tourism activity beyond the borders of the region. The logic of ASCAME is the logic of action. Thirty years ago it was a pious hope, only the more developed Chambers of Commerce of the wished to cooperate in order to exchange information and good practices. Today history has joined them, and ASCAME has a socio-economic mission anchored in the UfM in all its aspects. 2

3 ascameevents 8 Week of Economic Leaders 26 th -28 th of November Casa Llotja del Mar - Barcelona Over the last 7 editions, more than business men and women, governmental entities of the region and representatives of international and regional institutions have met to discuss and promote the Euro- cooperation and integration as a core factor for the economic and social development of the region. The 8 th edition of the Week of Economic Leaders, will play a vital role in line with the latest regional developments, offering again a unique platform for thought exchanges of experiences. Organized by ASCAME and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, with the collaboration of the Union for the (UfM), the European Institute Anwar Zibaoui, Coordinator of ASCAME; Miquel Valls, President of of the (IEMed), the European Investment Bank the Barcelona CCI and Mohamed Choucair, President of ASCAME (EIB) and other institutions involved in the project, the 8 th edition of the Week of Economic Leaders entitled A need for change will focus this year on the green economy as a main driving force of the development of our region. In the framework of the Week of Economic Leaders will also take place the 6th Tourism Forum (MEDITOUR 2014) which will spotlight Lebanon as a tourist destination and as a major cultural and historic center in the ; but also as a promoter of the green tourism which is now a reality. Participating in the Week of Economic Leaders represents a unique occasion to establish a list of contacts with businessmen and businesswomen as well as representatives of international organizations and multilateral agencies. XXIII General Assembly of ASCAME on the 26 th of November In the framework of the Week of Economic Leaders AS- CAME will organize its XXIII General Assembly, which will define the general policies and major lines of action of the Association. ASCAME was founded on October 1982, as an initiative of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with its counterparts from different countries; the association is nowadays the main representative of the private sector in the. With a membership of more than 250 Chambers of Commerce and other associated bodies from 23 countries bordering the Sea, ASCAME Former Prince of the Kingdom of Spain, present King, works with the most important organizations and international institutions, promoting the social and economic development of the Medite- during the General Assembly of ASCAME in 2008 rranean region, among others, the European Union (EU), the Union for the (UfM), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank, while ASCAME is also present in multiple high level Euromediterranean workgroups. See more at: ascameassembly 3

4 ascameforums 11 North Africa Business Development Forum (NABDF) 26 th November Barcelona ASCAME and IEMed aim at creating a sustainable development model for the region based on a transparent and efficient administration. This year the focus will be made on the 25 th anniversary of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA). 1 Summit of Free and Special Economic Zones 26 th November Barcelona ASCAME and FEMOZA want to establish an action plan to increase the absorption of foreign investment and provide a safe and comfortable scenario for future projects. 1 Entrepreneurship Forum 26 th November Barcelona Ascame, UfM and Unimed work together in order to encourage and support entrepreneurship in the, generally recognized as a vital element in economic development and an engine for private sector growth and diversity. Tourism Forum (Meditour) 27 th November Barcelona ASCAME and the CCI of Beirut will organize this year the VI MEDITOUR which will focus on Lebanon as a main tourist destination and cultural center in the region. MEDITOUR enables the Tourism professionals to find constructive solutions for the sustainable growth of this industry in the region. 6 Eco Meda Green Summit 1 st Solar Forum 27 th November Barcelona The Solar Day will bring together governments, international organizations, project promoters and private investors, in order to reflect upon and discuss the challenges and opportunities that solar energy represents for the. 6 th MEDACITY: special edition on Green Cities 27 th November Barcelona MEDACITY Forum, in the framework of the ECO MEDA GREEN SUMMIT, will explore the integration of technologies for renewable energy generation into urban environments. 6 th Tourism Forum: special edition on Green Tourism 27 th November Barcelona The creation of greener tourism is happening across the whole breadth of the industry, in travel management companies, airlines, tour operators, and marketing departments. 1 st Forum for Economic Intelligence 28 th November Barcelona The sectors of the environmental management and energy, due to their nature to strategic regional and global scale, are two hotbeds deserving of special attention on the part of the set of economic actors. 7 th Global Eco Forum 28 th November Barcelona ASCAME and Eco Union promote dialogue, innovation and collaboration towards the sustainability of the region. This year edition focuses on emerging global issues related to sustainable development such as green economy, green finance and resources management. 2 Summit of Islamic Finance 28 th November Barcelona ASCAME and the CEIEFI will play a major role in the capital, bringing together the main financial and banking firms, insurance companies and mediators, friendly societies, brokers and investors. 4 The participants can now register directly on the web page You can also follow us on twitter using the hashtag #MedaWeek2014

5 ascameprojects Smart Sustainable Innovation Event Firemed gathered more than 130 people between SMEs, investors, policy makers, banks and investment funds at the event Smart Sustainable Innovation #innovationbcn2014 about financial tools in the renewable energy sector. The FIREMED Project, which is co-financed by the European Regional development Forum (ERDF), on the 19 th of June, focused its event on promoting the financial instruments that support SMEs in the sector of green energy in the. The event was framed in the development of the FIREMED project, co-financed from the European Union inside the MED program, and addressed to the consortium of various Euro- organizations from 7 countries: Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, and Croatia. The Smart Sustainable Innovation event welcomed the SMEs, investors, policy-makers, banks, investment funds, which analysed the present sector of renewable energy and presented conclusions for boosting possible business opportunities in the. The act was inaugurated by Anwar Zibaoui, the Coordinator of ASCAME; Claudi Alsina, Generalitat de Catalunya; Joan Parra, General Director of Leitat and KIM who co-organized the event. Total project budget 1,919, Period OPTIMED project s launching conference Optimed celebrated the project s launching conference on the 20 th of June in Cagliari. The project aims at improving shipping trade-in timing and freight costs - within the basin, thus increasing the circulation of goods along the northwesternsoutheastern axis of the area. The ultimate part of the workshop was dedicated to the round table with all the project partners: Sardinia Region s Government and University of Cagliari from Italy; ASCAME- Association of the Chambers of Commerce-and the European School of Short Sea Shipping from Spain; the Chamber of Commerce of Beirut and Mount Lebanon and the Lebanese Ministry for Transport and Public Works from Lebanon. In order to promote the economic cooperation between the countries of Latin arc of north-western basin (Spain, France and Italy) and the countries of the Southern shore (mainly Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon) and Porto Torres (Italy) ports will be converted into hubs. The project is funded under ENPI CBC MED, the financial instrument supporting the European Neighborhood Policy (ENPI) in the basin. Total project budget 1,999, Period For more information secretariat.projects@ascame.org For more information FOSTEr in MED project A survey to enquire about citizens perception and knowledge on solar technologies in countries On the 25 th of June 2014, the project began a survey to analyse the perception of citizens towards PV technologies in the main cities involved in the project: Cagliari (Sardinia); Barcelona (Spain); Beirut (Lebanon); Alexandria (Egypt); Aqaba (Jordan); Tunis (Tunisia). Many factors limit the diffusion of PV technologies among citizens, such as the lack of knowledge of their benefits or their implementation procedures. The coordinator of the activity, Professor Elisabetta Strazzera (University of Cagliari) comments: The social acceptability of technologies is an issue that should not be neglected in programs aimed at spreading environment friendly innovations, both at small and at large scale level. For the ongoing survey, we are using advanced tools from the social and economic disciplines to understand pros and cons that people associate with the development of residential PV technologies in the countries, so that indications can be provided to enhance drivers and smooth out barriers. Project finance by EU through the ENPI CBCMED. Period Total project budget For more information, 5

6 ascamenews ASCAME and the EIB enhance the support provided to SME On the 11 th of June, Mr. Mohamed Choucair received Mr. Philipe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-president of the EIB, in the premises of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon in the framework of a visit in Lebanon. The President of ASCAME, Mr. Mohamed Choucair, has extended to the Vice-president of the EIB his warmest thanks for the work done in Lebanon and in all the South- countries, through the actions implemented in favor of the region in which the EIB and ASCAME are involved. Mr. Choucair has emphasized the importance of the agreement signed between both institutions and has expressed his will to strengthen and announce new initiatives for the economy and especially for the SME. Mohamed Choucair has also demonstrated his commitment towards the EIB and, especially regarding the programmes in favor of the improvement of the South and the constitution of a Euro- economic zone. Mohamed Choucair, President of ASCAME and Philippe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-president of the EIB The meeting also relied on the presence of the Advisor of the Vice-President De Fontaine Vive, Ms. Emilie Bois-Willaert, the responsible for activities in the MENA region for corporate and social responsibility, Mrs. Flavia Palanza and the Director for Operations in the Region Virginia Garcia Loan Office Responsible for operations in Lebanon. ascameweb New website Please visit the new website of the VIII edition of the Week of Economic Leaders and register to the several forums organized in the framework of the event in order to be kept updated with the latest news and agendas. Be part of the #Medaweek2014 by becoming a Sponsor or Media Partner. You can also follow the event on twitter using the hashtag #Medaweek2014 For more information 6

7 ascameagreements ASCAME signs collaboration agreement with the network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the Through this agreement, ASCAME is committed to strengthening its social role in the region and shows its support for all associations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent from the shore. The collaboration agreement was signed on June 3 in Barcelona between the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the (ASCAME) and the Red Cross and Red Crescent from the, represented by the Centre for Cooperation which has the objective to host the Permanent Bureau of the Conference of the organization encouraging meetings and exchange of experience to the achievement of the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Marta Corachán, Vice-president of the Center for Cooperation and Mohamed Choucair, President of ASCAME The agreement proves the commitment of both entities for peace, human rights, solidarity, justice, freedom and economic equality, social and cultural life in the countries of the region. Under the agreement, ASCAME and the Centre for Cooperation undertake to cooperate with the implementation of measures and joint projects in the interest of serving the common good and progress of the basin. ASCAME will sign a MoU with the Secretariat of Union for the ASCAME and the Secretariat of the Union for the (UFMS) will sign a new strategic agreement in order to enhance the collaboration between both institutions during the official inauguration of the 8 th Week of Economic Leaders on November 26 th in Barcelona. This agreement aims to promote business participation and private sector involvement within UFMS and ASCAME activities in the region. It will be signed by the President of ASCAME, Mr. Mohamed Choucair and the General Secretary of the UfM, Mr. Fathallah Sijilmassi. This agreement builds on the previous MoU signed by the organization shortly after the creation of the UfM in 2008 and is a testament to the will of both international organizations for the promotion of interests. Fathallah Sijilmassi, Secretary General of the UfM and Mohamed Choucair, President of ASCAME 7

8 ascameagenda september VI Edition Beirut Energy Forum-Shaams Date 17 th - 19 th September Location Lebanon - Beirut Subjet The event will focus on solutions based on solar energy Registration october EUROMED Business Meetings on Technologies and Innovation in the Fresh and Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Vine & Wine, Cereals Sector V TECHAGRIFOOD Date 29 th - 30 th October Location Parma - Italy Subjet Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Vine & Wine, Cereals Sector Registration november VIII Economic Week Date 5 th - 8 th November Location Marseille - France Subjet Tourism, economic development vector in the Information a ASCAME EVENT- VI MEDITERRANEAN Women Entrepreneurs Forum - Strengthening Women through the promotion of business in the Date 13 th - 14 th November Location Thessaloniki - Greece Subjet Women entrepreneurs in the Information TOP FRANCHISE Date 17 th - 18 th November Location Marseille - France Subjet Franchise Information ASCAME EVENT - VIII Week of Economic Leaders Date 26 th - 28 th November a Location Barcelona - Spain Subjet Investment and business development in the Information Registration Social / follow the #Medaweek2014 ASCAME EVENT- VI Edition Meditour Date 27 th November a Location Barcelona - Spain Subjet Green Tourism - Tourism in Lebanon - Tourism in the Registration Social / follow the #Meditour2014 a a ASCAME events ASCAME (Association of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry) The network of ASCAME, which is the main representative of the private sector in the, is currently represented in the consortia of over 22 projects in the. The Association ASCAME gathers more than 250 Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as other entities from 23 countries of the Basin and represents millions of enterprises. For more information E. communication@ascame.org Edited by ASCAME