After successful editions in key Mediterranean cities such as Barcelona (Spain), Marseille (France), and Alexandria (Egypt), the Mediterranean Cities Economic Forum –MedaCity 2025– will take place this year in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) on September 19, at the Congress Centre – Cagliari Fair. This flagship ASCAME event, organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano and the Municipality of Cagliari, with the support of ASCAME and Unioncamere, stands as the leading summit for fostering economic cooperation, urban innovation, and sustainable development among Mediterranean cities.
MedaCity 2025 has been designed around three core objectives, with a primary focus on addressing the most pressing urban challenges facing Mediterranean cities today. The forum’s thematic sessions will explore shared priorities such as the green transition, sustainable mobility, affordable housing, digital transformation, and social inclusion. Key topics on the agenda include sustainable tourism, port and transport infrastructure, urban regeneration, youth engagement, and innovative financing for local development. To inspire action and exchange, the forum will showcase successful case studies and pioneering practices from cities including Barcelona, Marseille, Beirut, Tangier, Valencia, Mersin, and, of course, Cagliari.
Secondly, MedaCity 2025 will bring together experts from across sectors and countries to explore the vital role of cities as engines of sustainable development, economic opportunity, social cohesion, and peace in the Mediterranean. Sessions will highlight how urban centers serve as hubs for green infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable mobility, while also driving innovation and job creation, particularly in technology, tourism, and the creative industries. Cities will also be recognised for their role in promoting inclusive governance through participatory policies that reflect local needs, and for delivering essential public services, such as education, healthcare, housing, and cultural access, that enhance quality of life and foster community well-being.
Thirdly, MedaCity 2025 will serve as a strategic platform for building partnerships among Mediterranean cities, businesses, and institutions. The forum will offer a unique opportunity to connect with public and private sector leaders, startups, and organizations shaping the urban future of the region. A highlight of the event will be the MedaCity Talks, where young entrepreneurs and changemakers will pitch bold ideas for greener, smarter, and more inclusive cities. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the forum aims to generate new opportunities for economic cooperation and joint initiatives across the Mediterranean.
According to Mr. Maurizio De Pascale, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano and Vice President of ASCAME, “the MedaCity Forum was born out of the need to strengthen the strategic role of cities and Chambers of Commerce in fostering development through cooperation, innovation, and peace”. In this sense, he adds, “Cagliari is ready to serve as a meeting point for ideas, expertise, and concrete initiatives at a time when building bridges across the Mediterranean is more urgent than ever”.
In this context, Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, General Coordinator of ASCAME, emphasizes the urgency of a coordinated urban transformation across the Mediterranean: “Sustainable urban transition is one of the region’s top priorities”. According to him, “to face this, we need targeted investments, innovative financing models, and a shared strategy that unites public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society”. Mr. Zibaoui adds: “The Mediterranean cities of tomorrow -already taking shape today- are those investing in innovation and entrepreneurship. In an increasingly interconnected world, it will be cities, more than nation-states, that lead the way in creating prosperity and well-being across the region”.
MedaCity 2025 will also highlight the leading role of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce as key players in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, building on the solid partnership between ASCAME and the Cagliari-Oristano Chamber of Commerce, which has been actively involved in managing and promoting numerous European projects.