The Casa Llotja de Mar, headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Barcelona, turned, from Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th of November 2014 into the hearth of the Mediterranean cooperation.

From 26th to 28th of November 2014, it hosted the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders. Organized by ASCAME (Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce) and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce ten events took place in the Casa Llotja de Mar including the 11th North Africa Business Development Forum (NABDF) that opened the discussion of this event bringing together the three shores of the Mediterranean.

The event has been inaugurated by the president of ASCAME, Mr Mohamed Choucair, who has highlighted the importance between the private and public partnership to develop the Mediterranean region. According to President Choucair, one of the main challenges the Mediterranean region is currently facing is unemployment. He also believes that improving security in the region is essential in order to foster the economy.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, Mr Miquel Valls has called on the European Union and the International Community to be more committed towards public assistance to foster the economic development of the Mediterranean.

The coordinator of the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders, also the coordinator of ASCAME, Mr Anwar Zibaoui, has mentioned the need to build relationships and new opportunities for the economic cooperation between both shores. According to his own words, “A world economic platform” is the commitment of the Mediterranean.

The official inauguration counted on the presence of the Minister of Tourism of Lebanon, Mr Michel Pharaon, as a guest of honour and speaker of the VI Mediterranean Tourism Forum (MEDITOUR) who highlighted the need to consolidate the democracy in the region. “We need a more united Maghreb, more integrated, especially economically, and good cooperation between the north and south to enjoy the peoples on both sides” highlighted Mr Senen Florensa, Executive Chairman of the IEMed (European Institute Mediterranean). ” A vision is essential for these 800 million people”, he insists.” We need to be partners, not rivals”.

The global economy requires collaboration among all “said Şerafettin Asut, chairman of the Committee on Transport and Logistics ASCAME and President of the CCI of Mersin at the 1st Forum on Free Zones and special economic. According to Claudio Cortese’s words, “the region has a huge potential. There is no Mediterranean fatality.” The first Deputy Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) adds that there is a need to address the challenges and especially the unemployment rate among women and youth.

“The Mediterranean is a sea of business”, “Entrepreneurship is the ingredient to stimulate the economy and employment”, explain Ferran Tarradellas, Head of Representation for the European Union in Barcelona and Claudio Cortese in the framework of the 1st Forum of Mediterranean Entrepreneurs. The Foreign Affairs of the Generalitat, Mr Roger Albiyana, highlighted the importance of “Putting the Mediterranean back in the middle”