9th Mediterranean economic meeting to open in Barcelona

By Bahattin Gonultas

ANKARA

Political and business leaders from around the Mediterranean region are to meet in Barcelona, Spain, to discuss economic cooperation and ways of attracting private investment to the region.

The three-day the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders, one of the major economic events in the region, will open in Barcelona on Wednesday.

The leaders forum is organized by the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), and other prominent regional and international organizations.

Business people from around the region, as well as their counterparts from more than 20 countries, are expected to join the event, which will include guests such as Turkish Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Isik who will speak at the 2nd Mediterranean Solar Forum.

This year’s forum, will be held under the slogan ''Together, going further," and will focus on key aspects for the economic development of the Mediterranen.

The Trade and Industry Minister of Egypt Tarek Kabil, the Industry Minister of Algeria Abdesselam Bouchouareb, and the President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce Miquel Valls i Maseda, are expected to attend the forum.

Delegates including representatives of international and regional institutions, companies and CEOs will address the medium- and long-term evolution of the private sector in the future of the Mediterranean region.

According to the organizers, the region's economic leaders also will focus on issues in the region such as the renewable resources of the area and the relationship between economic development and the empowerment of women.

Two new forums will be launched on the Automotive and Hospitality sectors respectively, which are emerging as key industries for the economic development in the Mediterranean area.

Anadolu Agency is one of the media partners for the conference.