As the main representative of the private sector, ASCAME has participated in the meeting of the working party on Euro-Mediterranean Industrial cooperation that took place on January 21 in Brussels.

The objective of this meeting has been to prepare the 9th ministerial meeting on Euro-Mediterranean industrial cooperation that will take place on February 19 in Brussels. The latter will bring together 43 ministers from UfM countries in order to discuss subjects related to the industrial cooperation, especially the future strategy of industrial cooperation, a strategy ASCAME has heavily participated in with the aim to defend the interests of Mediterranean SMEs. President Choucair will represent ASCAME at this ministerial meeting and will address the Ministers on the challenges facing Mediterranean SMEs.

The ASCAME President, Mr Mohamed Choucair, has represented the Association during the 9th Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation which took place in Brussels and which brought together 43 ministers from the members’ countries of the UfM to discuss the challenges of the industrial cooperation. It is the first time that a high representative is invited to stand for the private sector during this ministerial meeting.

On the occasion of the 9th Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation which took place in Brussels on 19 February 2014, 43 ministers from the members’ countries and other main actors of the Mediterranean region such as representatives from public authorities, business associations as well as international organizations convened to discuss several issues related to the industrial cooperation. Participants agreed that there is a common goal to create favourable conditions for a collective and effective mobilization that will help the region meet the challenges of sustainable growth and living conditions for the local populations. The aim would be to improve the business environment in the Euro-Mediterranean region and promote entrepreneurship and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

On the other hand, it has been also discussed the future strategy of industrial cooperation, a strategy ASCAME, as the main representative of the private sector of the Mediterranean region, has heavily participated in with the aim to defend the interests of Mediterranean SMEs. To this regard, President Choucair has underlined, in his speech, the several current challenges that affect today the Mediterranean SME. He has mentioned, among others, the lack of investment addressed to the SMEs, the difficulties of access of these enterprises to the Euro-Mediterranean market or the problem of long-term unemployment in the region.

In order to ensure the positive impact of the industrial cooperation on the prosperity of the Mediterranean and the European Union, the ministers from both regions meet every 2 years to take stock of progress, decide on future priorities and adopt a 2-year work programme. In the framework of this meeting, ministers adopted a Ministerial Declaration and the Euro-Mediterranean Industrial Cooperation 2014-2015 Work Programme.