“ASCAME is key support for startups and SMEs to make the Mediterranean a dynamic, prosperous and peaceful region as never before.”

When we talk about The Mediterranean Basin, we generally start that the   Mediterranean is the heart of civilizations and the ancient trade that gives life to civilizations. However, the real issue today is not this historic richness. The real issue today must be how we can transform this power into new dimensions and carry to the future.

For the last 15 years and so; we have been talking about the global changes, changing maps and markets. Unfortunately, following the 2008-09 global economic-financial crises, these slogans have become out of date and obsolete. Still, the world hasn’t been able to overcome these social, political and economic issues.

A few years ago, when I made my commencement address in this hall, I said that simple slogans and simple solutions were not enough to solve global and regional problems. And I remembered saying that the world strongly needed new knowledge and the world economy strongly needed a new philosophy and new mentality.

Probably someone heard me and they created the Industry 4.0. As you know, Industry 4.0 is not limited to only industry. On the contrary, it is related to both production and services, even commerce, tourism and education…

I believe that events addressed by our Association, ASCAME, such as the MedaLogistics Summit (which took place last June in Barcelona), are crucial for creating this new knowledge and new mentality on the basis of LOGISTİCS 4.0.

We need innovation; we need something new. Not only the technology but also human resources are changing. The profile of the entrepreneurs is changing. New entrepreneurs may not have big capitals but surely they have this new knowledge, Industry 4.0.

In sum, we must support the start up’s and SMS’s to give dynamism to our economy. I wish the whole Mediterranean richness, welfare and peace.

And, in this sense, ASCAME and all its Chambers network will continue working on in the coming years.

07/03/2017