On February 20, ASCAME President Dr. Josep Santacreu welcomed a distinguished Tunisian delegation led by the President of the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Tunis), Mr. Mohamed Moncef Ben Jemaa, to the Llotja de Mar. The delegation was accompanied by the Honorary President of the CCI Tunis and former President of ASCAME (2002–2007), Mr. Jilani Ben Mbarek.
As part of his mandate, President Santacreu is conducting a round of consultations with the members of the ASCAME Bureau, the highest decision-making body, which includes Tunisia, with the aim of strengthening institutional cohesion and jointly defining the Association’s strategic priorities.The CCI Tunis occupies a strategic place in the history of ASCAME, as it was one of the founding Chambers, together with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, which laid the foundations for the association 44 years ago.
During the meeting, the presidents exchanged views on the regional situation, the enormous potential of the Mediterranean for the business community, and the opportunities offered by the Mediterranean Pact. In this context, ASCAME reaffirmed its willingness to play an active role as a bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean, representing and articulating the voice of the private sector. Key aspects of the bilateral relationship were also addressed, including:
- Mediterranean economic development.
- Tunisia’s participation in European projects within the framework of ASCAME
- Collaboration with strategic partners such as the CPCCAF.
- Tunisia’s participation in upcoming ASCAME events and programs.
- The reactivation of common sectoral platforms in areas such as innovation, energy, logistics, and training.
The meeting also allowed progress to be made in preparing for upcoming institutional events: the Bureau session scheduled for March 24 and the Executive Committee meeting scheduled for April 21 in Cairo (Egypt). At this first meeting of the Executive Committee under Dr. Santacreu’s mandate, the President plans to present ASCAME’s strategic lines of action for the coming years, developed in a participatory manner together with all member Chambers. His vision is based on defining these priorities through a shared, inclusive, and future-oriented approach.
In this regard, a constructive exchange took place on the priorities of the Presidency, which revolve around three fundamental axes:
- The Mediterranean Pact as the cornerstone of ASCAME’s action, consolidating its role as a privileged interlocutor for the Mediterranean private sector.
- ASCAME’s positioning as a strategic platform of reference, ensuring its active presence in the main economic forums in the region and beyond.
- Maximizing the added value of member Chambers through modernized governance and a plan to revitalize sectoral commissions.
This meeting follows on from the technical meeting held on February 16 between the ASCAME team and representatives of the CCI Tunis, which enabled progress to be made in aligning priorities for the upcoming governance bodies.
Finally, during the meeting, Honorary President Ben Mbarek reported on his initiative to write a book chronicling the history of ASCAME from its inception to the present day. President Santacreu welcomed the proposal, with the aim of presenting the work on the occasion of ASCAME’s 45th anniversary in 2027, with the participation of other members in its preparation.