Barcelona, 13 January 2016 – The Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) firmly condemns the terrorist attack that was carried out yesterday in the Sultanahmet Square, in the heart of Istanbul, and extends our deepest condolences to the families of the tourists victims of the attack and the people of Turkey, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.

Turkey, key country in the Mediterranean region, is the sixth most popular tourist destination in the world, attracting more than 30 million tourists annually. The tourism sector is a key driver of economic growth of the country, contributing 12 per cent of national GDP and employing directly and indirectly 2, 3 million people. Terrorist attacks, such as the one perpetrated yesterday in one of the most tourist zones of the Turkish city, involves a direct threat not only to the economy of the country, integrity and national security but also to the stability and prosperity at regional y global level.

The Mediterranean region faces great uncertainties, with economic crises, slow attempts at reforms and wars. This time represents a key stage in the move towards the economic and sociopolitical stability of the region, joining forces between the public and private sector. Otherwise, the regional destabilization may be too high and generalized to all areas. The current economic and sociopolitical problems of the Mediterranean region constitute a common challenge that calls for a coordinated and global approach.