Barcelona, 5 October 2016 – The social and solidary economy has received a strong presence in the Mediterranean region in the last years, emerging as a key tool to generate economic and social wealth. The increasing collaboration of organizations of the sector, as cooperatives, mutual and associations, with the public and private sector, has demonstrated that can help from important form to find solutions to the current challenges of the region, such as the high rates of youth unemployment, gender equality or social protection.
In this sense, the Euro-Mediterranean Network of social economy (ESMED network), represented by its president, Juan Antonio Pedreño, and the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), represented by its general coordinator, Anwar Zibaoui, have agreed today to reinforce their collaboration and to stimulate projects and joint activities to promote and to consolidate this economic sector in the Mediterranean region. This economic model counts today with more than 900,000 companies generating over 8 million jobs and involving more than 100 million people in the region. Several countries of the region have already recognized the importance of the sector for its economic sustainable growth and the creation of stable and qualitative employment.
The 1st Mediterranean Social Economy Forum
Barcelona will host next December the 1st Mediterranean Social Economy Forum in the framework of the 10th Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders. Since both entities have declared, this meeting of regional and international scope will give major visibility to the contribution that the social economy realizes to the social and economic development of the Mediterranean.
The forum has for aim to raise awareness among the private sector of the opportunities that the social economy offers as generating factor of benefits and economic sustainable growth. A wide range of experts and organizations in the sector will present their knowledge and experiences in the sector. The attendees will have the opportunity to present to associations’ leaders, mutual, cooperatives and foundations, concrete initiatives such as the creation of new companies or managerial projects among the Mediterranean countries.
ASCAME, as the main representative of the Mediterranean private sector, has for priority to work with other actors to provide services addressed to this business group. In this respect, the Association acknowledges that this forum will be an international reference of the social economy. This sector must act as a lever for the attainment of sustainable, responsible and solidary growth of the Mediterranean region.