The Mediterranean is the heart of civilizations and the ancient trade inspiring the following civilizations. As a centre of knowledge, the Mediterranean basin has a long history of innovations. However, can we still claim that the Mediterranean is the centre of knowledge and related innovations of all kinds, even today? The reason why the USA, certain Asian countries as well as Northern Europe leave the Mediterranean Basin behind in terms of information and knowledge on which the innovations and technologies depend is still obscure along with how they do.

Even though each Mediterranean country or city has its own know-how on technology,  IT development needs collaboration and different ways of thinking. We must work together and share. IT and related industries are relatively different from traditional industries and sectors. Apart from the traditional introverted view on industries, the IT world is open source because you need all kind of new ideas, new ways which are also important for the others. If you cooperate, you can rise in the IT world.

Hence, ASCAME can play a crucial role in the Mediterranean Basin for realizing this IT cooperation. We must create a holistic IT development. We must produce IT projects together. We must stop talking about the flamboyant age of the Mediterranean in the past, but start thinking about transforming this power into new dimensions and carrying to the future. I think the IT world creates a new vision for us.

The world is talking about the Industry 4.0. We know that Industry 4.0 is not only related to the industry itself but to Trade 4.0, Tourism 4.0, Education 4.0, Logistics 4.0, Export 4.0 as well. However, all of these fields depend on IT, software and internet-based technologies. That is to say, we must integrate IT into all sectors. IT resembles to the soul of a body. Keeping in mind that you are nothing but dead without a soul, without IT, without internet-based technologies, without software, industries and trade are nothing but obsolete fields.

It is not possible and wise to destroy the natural cohesion of history. Throughout thousands of years, Mediterranean history has converted us into a single-family. We have such strong ties that even the smallest developments in the far corner of the Mediterranean affects all of us. The real solutions for sectorial challenges are strong and sincere cooperation and acting together. A new world is emerging and we see that this new world will be much more fierce and cruel in terms of economy. So we must stop competing with each other and focus on competing with Asia and America.

I believe in this cooperation and this Mediterranean family soul. It is clear that we can’t act individually in this new world. Keeping in mind that ASCAME is the uniting power of the private sector from the western cities of the Basin to the eastern cities, such as our precious city Mersin, we should see this reality and embrace stronger collaborations.

11/05/2018