On 20 May, Dr. Josep Santacreu, President of ASCAME, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Catalan Chambers, hosted a reception for the Consular Corps accredited in Barcelona. Around one hundred guests attended the event, including the Dean of the Consular Corps in Barcelona, the Honourable Ms. Rossana Cecilia Surballe, representatives of the Government of Catalonia, Catalan and foreign Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as well as ASCAME’s partners, such as Consorci de la Zona Franca and Fira de Barcelona. The reception took place at the emblematic Llotja de Mar building in Barcelona.
During his speech, President Santacreu paid tribute to the historical legacy of the Consulate of the Sea, one of the pioneering institutions that promoted economic governance, legal certainty and peaceful cooperation throughout the Mediterranean. The reception symbolised the continuation of the centuries-old vocation of La Llotja de Mar as a place for encounter, dialogue and exchange among people and institutions from across the Mediterranean and around the world, honouring the generations of Mediterranean women and men who helped shape its history.
Dr. Santacreu recalled how “this house stood at the heart of commercial, institutional and diplomatic exchange across our region” and stressed that “together, we must continue strengthening economic integration, fostering regional cooperation, and promoting a more prosperous, connected and stable Mediterranean region”.
He also highlighted the Chambers’ key responsibility in supporting the private sector as it faces today’s major challenges, such as geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, economic fragmentation, climate change, technological disruption, and the energy transition, among others”. He emphasized: “Our institutions build bridges for businesses, facilitate opportunities, foster innovation, and contribute to economic growth that is not only competitive, but also human, sustainable, and inclusive”.
In this regard, the President of ASCAME expressed his gratitude to the Consular Corps for “actively contributing to strengthening economic, commercial, cultural, and diplomatic relations between societies in the current context of uncertainty, geopolitical conflicts, and historic transitions”.
Before the event, several consuls held a meeting with representatives of ASCAME, including the General Coordinator, Ms. Miriam González, who presented the organisation and its activities; the Secretary General of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Xavier Coronas; the International Director at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Berta Perez; and Ms. Ona Muñoz (Internatiional Department at the Barcelona Chamber), as well as representatives of the Council of Catalan Chambers, to gain first-hand insight into their work and initiatives.