The VIII edition of the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders will be held from November 26-28, 2014 in Barcelona. It will include forums on renewable energies, green and Islamic finances, entrepreneurship, education, and free trade zones to promote sustainable and inclusive development in the Mediterranean region. This year's focus will be on green economy and its role in driving economic and social growth. The week-long event will feature the 11th North Africa Business Development Forum, 1st Summit of Free and Special Economic Zones, 1st Mediterranean Entrepreneurship Forum, 6th Mediterranean Tourism Forum, and other related summits and forums.

1. ascamemedanews
mediterranean business & economic updates
september-october 2014
The VIII edition of the Mediterranean Week
of Economic Leaders will include this year
different forums and events focus on key
aspects essential to the sustainable and
inclusive development of the Mediterranean
region: renewable energies and eco-effi-ciency;
green finances and Islamic finances,
entrepreneurship and education, free zones
or the integration of the Maghreb region. This
year, the focus will be made on Green Economy
as a main driving force for the economic and
social growth of the Mediterranean region.
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AGENDA #MedaWeek2014
11th North Africa Business Development Forum (NABDF) 26th Nov
1st Summit of Free and Special Economic Zones 26th Nov
1st Mediterranean Entrepreneurship Forum 26th Nov
6th Mediterranean Tourism Forum (Meditour) 27th Nov
6th Eco Meda Green Summit: Mediterranean Solar Forum;
Mediterranean Forum for Economic Intelligence; MEDACITY;
Global Eco Forum and VI Meditour: special session on Green
Tourism - 27th-28th Nov
2nd Summit of Islamic Finance 28th Nov
www.medaeconomicweek.org
Mediterranean
Week
of Economic
Leaders
26th-28th November 2014 Barcelona
a need for change
In collaboration with:
Organizers:
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2. ascameopinions
ASCAME, spokesman of
the private sector in the
Mediterranean
As the world becomes aware of the importance of the
“Public-Private” partnership, ASCAME, The Association
of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Mediter-ranean,
reveals itself as a model of its kind, which can
heavily contribute to the emergence of the South coun-tries
and to the constitution of an Euromed area whose
hegemony cannot be challenged in this area of the world.
The organization facing the private sector today is the
Union for the Mediterranean, which includes the 43
countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area. We can say
that the willingness to cooperate is strong from all sides,
but the social platforms and the economic instruments
of the region must find their anchors inside the UfM and
phase their efforts to strengthen the socio-economic cli-mate
of the region; well understood broadly including
freedom, democracy, respect for human beings, equality
of women, child protection and the fight against insecu-rity
and ignorance- in a word all objective development
goals that today are grouped within the term “the new
measures of economic well-being” which gave birth to
inclusive development.
In ASCAME we believe in doing useful work and we are,
in a way, walking a historical path. The presence of 20
presidents of Chambers of Commerce on the Commit-tee
allows us to feel the pulse of the economy at the spot
while others must wait for a long time to obtain statistical
results. Through the network of national chambers, we
can take action and make public- private partnership a
reality.
Every year the Mediterranean Week of Economic Lead-ers
extend the consultation of all entrepreneurs who
wish to speak in the presence of the representatives of
the European Union and the Union for the Mediterrane-an,
among others.
MEDITOUR brings together leading tour operators in the
Mediterranean basin, becoming a unique opportunity to
create synergies and to develop the tourism activity be-yond
the borders of the region.
The logic of ASCAME is the logic of action. Thirty years
ago it was a pious hope, only the more developed Cham-bers
of Commerce of the Mediterranean wished to coop-erate
in order to exchange information and good prac-tices.
Today history has joined them, and ASCAME has
a socio-economic mission anchored in the UfM in all its
aspects.
Mohamed Choucair
President of Ascame
The Association of the Mediterranean Chambers
of Commerce and Industry
“The Mediterranean Week
of Economic Leaders
extend the consultation of
all entrepreneurs who wish
to speak in the presence of
the representatives of the
European Union and the
Union for the Mediterranean”.
“MEDITOUR brings together
leading tour operators
in the Mediterranean
basin, becoming a unique
opportunity to create
synergies and to develop
the tourism”.
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3. ascameevents
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Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders
ascameassembly
Former Prince of the Kingdom of Spain, present King,
during the General Assembly of ASCAME in 2008
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26th-28th of November 2014 - Casa Llotja del Mar - Barcelona
Over the last 7 editions, more than 10.000 business men and
women, governmental entities of the Mediterranean region
and representatives of international and regional institutions
have met to discuss and promote the Euro-Mediterranean
cooperation and integration as a core factor for the economic
and social development of the region. The 8th edition of the
Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders, will play a vital role
in line with the latest regional developments, offering again a
unique platform for thought exchanges of experiences.
Organized by ASCAME and the Barcelona Chamber of
Commerce, Industry and Navigation, with the collaboration of
the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the European Institute
of the Mediterranean (IEMed), the European Investment Bank
(EIB) and other institutions involved in the Mediterranean
project, the 8th edition of the Mediterranean Week of Economic
Anwar Zibaoui, Coordinator of ASCAME; Miquel Valls, President of
the Barcelona CCI and Mohamed Choucair, President of ASCAME
Leaders entitled “A need for change” will focus this year on the green economy as a main driving force of the
development of our region.
In the framework of the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders will also take place the 6th Tourism Mediterranean
Forum (MEDITOUR 2014) which will spotlight Lebanon as a tourist destination and as a major cultural and historic
center in the Mediterranean; but also as a promoter of the green tourism which is now a reality.
Participating in the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders represents a unique occasion to establish a list
of contacts with businessmen and businesswomen as well as representatives of international organizations and
multilateral agencies.
XXIII General Assembly of ASCAME on the 26th of
November
In the framework of the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders AS-CAME
will organize its XXIII General Assembly, which will define the ge-neral
policies and major lines of action of the Association.
ASCAME was founded on October 1982, as an initiative of the Barce-lona
Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with its counterparts from
different Mediterranean countries; the association is nowadays the main
representative of the private sector in the Mediterranean. With a mem-bership
of more than 250 Chambers of Commerce and other associated
bodies from 23 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, ASCAME
works with the most important organizations and international institu-tions,
promoting the social and economic development of the Medite-rranean
region, among others, the European Union (EU), the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the European Investment
Bank (EIB), the World Bank, while ASCAME is also present in multiple high level Euromediterranean workgroups.
See more at: www.ascame.org

4. ascameforums
North Africa Business Development Forum (NABDF) 26th November Barcelona
ASCAME and IEMed aim at creating a sustainable development model for the region based on a transparent and
efficient administration. This year the focus will be made on the 25th anniversary of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA).
Summit of Free and Special Economic Zones 26th November Barcelona
ASCAME and FEMOZA want to establish an action plan to increase the absorption of foreign investment and
provide a safe and comfortable scenario for future projects.
Mediterranean Entrepreneurship Forum 26th November Barcelona
Ascame, UfM and Unimed work together in order to encourage and support entrepreneurship in the Mediter-ranean,
generally recognized as a vital element in economic development and an engine for private sector
growth and diversity.
Mediterranean Tourism Forum (Meditour) 27th November Barcelona
ASCAME and the CCI of Beirut will organize this year the VI MEDITOUR which will focus on Lebanon as a
main tourist destination and cultural center in the region. MEDITOUR enables the Mediterranean Tourism
professionals to find constructive solutions for the sustainable growth of this industry in the region.
Eco Meda Green Summit
1st Mediterranean Solar Forum 27th November Barcelona
The Mediterranean Solar Day will bring together governments, international organizations, project promoters
and private investors, in order to reflect upon and discuss the challenges and opportunities that solar energy
represents for the Mediterranean.
6th MEDACITY: special edition on Green Cities 27th November Barcelona
MEDACITY Forum, in the framework of the ECO MEDA GREEN SUMMIT, will explore the integration of tech-nologies
for renewable energy generation into Mediterranean urban environments.
6th Mediterranean Tourism Forum: special edition on Green Tourism 27th November Barcelona
The creation of greener tourism is happening across the whole breadth of the industry, in travel management
companies, airlines, tour operators, and marketing departments.
1st Mediterranean Forum for Economic Intelligence 28th November Barcelona
The sectors of the environmental management and energy, due to their nature to strategic regional and
global scale, are two hotbeds deserving of special attention on the part of the set of economic actors.
7th Global Eco Forum 28th November Barcelona
ASCAME and Eco Union promote dialogue, innovation and collaboration towards the sustainability of the
Mediterranean region. This year edition focuses on emerging global issues related to sustainable develop-ment
such as green economy, green finance and resources management.
Summit of Islamic Finance 28th November Barcelona
ASCAME and the CEIEFI will play a major role in the Mediterranean capital, bringing together the main fi-nancial
and banking firms, insurance companies and mediators, friendly societies, brokers and investors.
The participants can now register directly on the web page www.medaeconomicweek.org/register
You can also follow us on twitter using the hashtag #MedaWeek2014
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5. Smart Sustainable Innovation Event
Firemed gathered more than 130 people between
SMEs, investors, policy makers, banks and invest-ment
funds at the event “Smart Sustainable Innovation”
#innovationBCN2014 about financial tools in the renewable
energy sector.
The FIREMED Project, which is co-financed by the Euro-pean
Regional development Forum (ERDF), on the 19th of
June, focused its event on promoting the financial instru-ments
that support SMEs in the sector of green energy in
the Mediterranean.
The event was framed in the development of the FIREMED
project, co-financed from the European Union inside the
MED program, and addressed to the consortium of various
Euro-Mediterranean organizations from 7 countries: Italy,
France, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, and Croatia.
The Smart Sustainable Innovation event welcomed the
SMEs, investors, policy-makers, banks, investment funds,
which analysed the present sector of renewable energy
and presented conclusions for boosting possible business
opportunities in the Mediterranean.
The act was inaugurated by Anwar Zibaoui, the Coordinator
of ASCAME; Claudi Alsina, Generalitat de Catalunya; Joan
Parra, General Director of Leitat and KIM who co-organized
the event.
Total project budget 1,919,157.98 € - Period 2013-2015
For more information www.firemed-project.eu
ascameprojects
OPTIMED project’s launching
conference
Optimed celebrated the project’s launching conference
on the 20th of June in Cagliari.
The project aims at improving shipping trade-in timing
and freight costs - within the Mediterranean basin, thus in-creasing
the circulation of goods along the northwestern-southeastern
axis of the Mediterranean area.
The ultimate part of the workshop was dedicated to the
round table with all the project partners: Sardinia Region’s
Government and University of Cagliari from Italy; ASCAME-Association
of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commer-ce-
and the European School of Short Sea Shipping from
Spain; the Chamber of Commerce of Beirut and Mount Le-banon
and the Lebanese Ministry for Transport and Public
Works from Lebanon.
In order to promote the economic cooperation between the
countries of Latin arc of north-western Mediterranean basin
(Spain, France and Italy) and the countries of the Southern
shore (mainly Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon)
and Porto Torres (Italy) ports will be converted into hubs. The
project is funded under ENPI CBC MED, the financial instru-ment
supporting the European Neighborhood Policy (ENPI)
in the Mediterranean basin.
Total project budget 1,999,481.22 € - Period 2014-2015
For more information secretariat.projects@ascame.org
FOSTEr in MED project
A survey to enquire about citizens perception and knowledge on solar
technologies in Mediterranean countries
On the 25th of June 2014, the project began a survey to
analyse the perception of citizens towards PV techno-logies
in the main cities involved in the project: Cagliari
(Sardinia); Barcelona (Spain); Beirut (Lebanon); Alexandria
(Egypt); Aqaba (Jordan); Tunis (Tunisia).
Many factors limit the diffusion of PV technologies among
citizens, such as the lack of knowledge of their benefits or
their implementation procedures. The coordinator of the ac-tivity,
Professor Elisabetta Strazzera (University of Cagliari)
comments: “The social acceptability of technologies is an
issue that should not be neglected in programs aimed at
spreading environment friendly innovations, both at small
and at large scale level. For the ongoing survey, we are
using advanced tools from the social and economic disci-plines
to understand pros and cons that people associate
with the development of residential PV technologies in the
Mediterranean countries, so that indications can be provi-ded
to enhance drivers and smooth out barriers”. Project
finance by EU through the ENPI CBCMED. Period 2012-2015.
Total project budget 4.500.000 €
For more information, www.fosterinmed.eu
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6. ascamenews
ASCAME and the EIB
enhance the support
provided to SME
On the 11th of June, Mr. Mohamed Choucair received
Mr. Philipe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-president of the EIB,
in the premises of the Chamber of Commerce, Indus-try
and Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon in the
framework of a visit in Lebanon.
The President of ASCAME, Mr. Mohamed Choucair, has
extended to the Vice-president of the EIB his warmest
thanks for the work done in Lebanon and in all the
South-Mediterranean countries, through the actions
implemented in favor of the region in which the EIB
and ASCAME are involved.
Mr. Choucair has emphasized the importance of the
agreement signed between both institutions and has
expressed his will to strengthen and announce new
initiatives for the Mediterranean economy and espe-cially
for the SME.
Mohamed Choucair has also demonstrated his com-mitment
towards the EIB and, especially regarding the
programmes in favor of the improvement of the South
and the constitution of a Euro-Mediterranean econo-mic
zone.
The meeting also relied on the presence of the Advi-sor
of the Vice-President De Fontaine Vive, Ms. Emi-lie
Bois-Willaert, the responsible for activities in the
MENA region for corporate and social responsibility,
Mrs. Flavia Palanza and the Director for Operations in
the Mediterranean Region Virginia Garcia Loan Office
Responsible for operations in Lebanon.
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Mohamed Choucair, President of ASCAME and Philippe de Fontaine Vive,
Vice-president of the EIB
New website
Please visit the new website of the VIII edition of the
Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders and regis-ter
to the several forums organized in the framework
of the event in order to be kept updated with the lat-est
news and agendas.
Be part of the #Medaweek2014 by becoming a Spon-sor
or Media Partner.
You can also follow the event on twitter using the
hashtag #Medaweek2014
For more information www.medaeconomicweek.org
ascameweb

7. ascameagreements
ASCAME signs collaboration agreement with the
network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
of the Mediterranean
Through this agreement, ASCAME is committed to strengthe-ning
its social role in the Mediterranean region and shows its
support for all associations of the Red Cross and Red Cres-cent
from the Mediterranean shore.
The collaboration agreement was signed on June 3 in Barce-lona
between the Association of Chambers of Commerce and
Industry of the Mediterranean (ASCAME) and the Red Cross
and Red Crescent from the Mediterranean, represented by
the “Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation” which has the
objective to host the Permanent Bureau of the Mediterranean
Conference of the organization encouraging meetings and
exchange of experience to the achievement of the Internatio-nal
Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
The agreement proves the commitment of both entities for peace, human rights, solidarity, justice, freedom and eco-nomic
equality, social and cultural life in the countries of the Mediterranean region.
Under the agreement, ASCAME and the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation undertake to cooperate with the
implementation of measures and joint projects in the interest of serving the common good and progress of the Me-diterranean
basin.
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ASCAME will sign a MoU with the Secretariat of
Union for the Mediterranean
ASCAME and the Secretariat of the Union for the Medite-rranean
(UFMS) will sign a new strategic agreement in or-der
to enhance the collaboration between both institutions
during the official inauguration of the 8th Mediterranean
Week of Economic Leaders on November 26th in Barcelo-na.
This agreement aims to promote business participation
and private sector involvement within UFMS and ASCAME
activities in the Mediterranean region. It will be signed by
the President of ASCAME, Mr. Mohamed Choucair and the
General Secretary of the UfM, Mr. Fathallah Sijilmassi.
This agreement builds on the previous MoU signed by the
organization shortly after the creation of the UfM in 2008
and is a testament to the will of both international organi-zations
for the promotion of Mediterranean interests.
Marta Corachán, Vice-president of the Center for Mediterranean
Cooperation and Mohamed Choucair, President of ASCAME
Fathallah Sijilmassi, Secretary General of the UfM and Mohamed
Choucair, President of ASCAME

8. ascameagenda
september
VI Edition Beirut Energy Forum-Shaams
Date 17th - 19th September
Location Lebanon - Beirut
Subjet The event will focus on solutions based on solar
energy
Registration http://www.beirutenergyforum.com/
october
EUROMED Business Meetings on Technologies
and Innovation in the Fresh and Processed Fruits
and Vegetables, Vine & Wine, Cereals Sector
V TECHAGRIFOOD
Date 29th - 30th October
Location Parma - Italy
Subjet Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Vine & Wine,
Cereals Sector
Registration http://www.b2match.eu/techagrifood2014
november
VIII Mediterranean Economic Week
Date 5th - 8th November
Location Marseille - France
Subjet Tourism, economic development vector in the
Mediterranean
Information www.semaine-eco-med.com
ASCAME EVENT- VI MEDITERRANEAN Women
Entrepreneurs Forum - Strengthening Women
through the promotion of business in the
Mediterranean
Date 13th - 14th November
Location Thessaloniki - Greece
Subjet Women entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean
Information www.afaemme.org
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ASCAME (Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry)
The network of ASCAME, which is the main representative of the private sector in the Mediterranean, is currently
represented in the consortia of over 22 projects in the Mediterranean. The Association ASCAME gathers more than
250 Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as other entities from 23 countries of the Mediterranean Basin and
represents millions of enterprises.
For more information www.ascame.org
Edited by ASCAME
TOP FRANCHISE
Date 17th - 18th November
Location Marseille - France
Subjet Franchise
Information www.ccimp.com
ASCAME EVENT - VIII Mediterranean Week
of Economic Leaders
Date 26th - 28th November
Location Barcelona - Spain
Subjet Investment and business development in the
Mediterranean
Information www.ascame.org
Registration www.medaeconomicweek.org
Social Media @ascameorg / follow the #Medaweek2014
ASCAME EVENT- VI Edition Meditour
Date 27th November
Location Barcelona - Spain
Subjet Green Tourism - Tourism in Lebanon - Tourism in
the Mediterranean
Registration www.medaeconomicweek.org
Social Media @ascameorg / follow the #Meditour2014
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a ASCAME events
E. communication@ascame.org
www.ascame.org