The Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of

Commerce and Industry

1982-2012

INTRODUCTION ASCAME was founded in 1982 as an initiative of the

Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona and thanks to the support of five Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce.

ASCAME has become the most important representative of the Mediterranean private sector and a reference in the regional economic cooperation of the region, with over 300 chambers of commerce and other organizations associated with the 23 countries of the Mediterranean.

ASCAME is the only regional organization that brings together North-South private sector institutions in the world, belonging to three continents: Europe, Africa and Asia, representing more than 25 million companies.

INTRODUCTION In 1982, ASCAME showed a strategic vision of

North-South partnership and integration, which was subsequently confirmed by the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in 1995, and today by the Process of Barcelona : Union for the Mediterranean.

Nowadays ASCAME works with the most important organizations and international institutions, aimed to the social and economic development of the Mediterranean region, among others, the EU, the UfM, the EIB, the World Bank, the Arab League etc.. also being present in multiple high level workgroups.

ACTION PLAN

ASCAME launches every year a number of initiatives, which encourage the economic institutional and commercial contacts throughout the Mediterranean region and other parts of the world (Projects of economic regional cooperation, training programs, business forums, etc).

In 2010 and 2011, more than 6,500 companies, representatives of the public and private sector have participated in activities of our network.

Barcelona is the social headquarter and the General Secretariat of ASCAME, responsible for developing and executing the strategic plan and the annual action plan.

MISSION

To be the representative of the private sector in front of the policy makers. Promoting companies, we contribute to the development of the Mediterranean.

Strengthen the role of the chambers of commerce in the Mediterranean as representatives of all businesses, whatever their size is, regardless the sector and in the general interest of the economy, and also as a main agent for the economic and industrial development in the countries of the Mediterranean region.

MISSION

To bring together all the stakeholders of the private sector of the Mediterranean region, contributing to the cooperation and to the development of the private sector in the Mediterranean region.

To promote the Mediterranean and its companies worldwide to face competition from other economic areas.

To defend the Mediterranean economic integration with an area of free trade exchange, as well as the recovery of the Euro-Mediterranean association with the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean

STRATEGIC LINES

ASCAME is already consolidated as an entity that represents the interests of the chambers of commerce and of the private sector of the Mediterranean.

ASCAME is certified as an economic partner of the EU and of international organizations in the implementation of economic cooperation projects.

The organization has approved during the last General Assembly in Istanbul, the Strategic Plan 2012-2016, in order to provide new tools and cooperation projects that will strengthen economic integration and the Euro-Mediterranean Association.

ASCAME WITH THE SMEs

During the last 30 years, ASCAME worked actively in order to provide tools capable of bringing effective answers to the challenges that Chambers of Commerce and, particularly, Mediterranean SMEs have to face.

PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

The MEDITERRANEAN WEEK OF ECONOMIC LEADER has become a major economic event in the Mediterranean region.

This year, the sixth edition will play a vital role in line with the latest regional transformations, offering again an unique platform for reflection and exchange of experiences, addressing critical issues like good governance, youth employment, SMEs’ development, city management values, and human resources skills, by sharing best practices, proposing concrete projects and creating new business opportunities.

PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

Regional programmes with the EU (INVEST-IN-MED, IEVP, MED, etc.)

ASCAME has been the main contributor to the INVEST IN MED and the ENPI programmes

ASCAME and its network just won Euro-med projects

like Invest in Med, Med program, strategic IEVP, etc. These projects are linked with sectors such as agro-food, waste, or renewable energy

PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES The Mediterranean Tourism Forum: MEDITOUR

The Mediterranean Textile Industry Forum: MEDITEX

The Mediterranean Transport and Logistics Forum: MEDALOGISTIC

The Economic Forum of the Mediterranean City: MEDACITY

The Mediterranean Women entrepreneurs Forum: MEDA WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS FORUM

The Mediterranean Forum of the Green Energy: ECO MEDA GREEN FORUM

And 20 other sectoral Mediterranean Forums

OTHER PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

Project for the creation of a Mediterranean Tourism brand Project for the creation of a Mediterranean Arbitration

Center Project for the creation of a Mediterranean International

Commerce Institute Project for the creation of a Mediterranean center of

private-public partnership

ASCAME participates in the commissions for the creation of:

A Bank for the Mediterranean development An agency of Mediterranean Tourism A Mediterranean agency for SMEs A Mediterranean agency for the Urban Development Other projects

CONTACTS

Presidency ASCAME:Address: 1 Justinien street

Sanayeh– 111801 Beirut, LebanonTelephone: 00 961 1 353 390 Ext. 164E-mail: presidency@ascame.org

General Secretariat ASCAME:Address: Av. Diagonal, 452

08006 Barcelona, SpainTelephone: 00 34 934 169 556

E-mail: secretariat@ascame.org

CONCLUSION

Let’s make of the Mediterranean

a thousand things at the same time