Josep Santacreu elected new president of ASCAME
Josep Santacreu, president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been elected president of the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) by the institution's Executive Committee, its highest decision-making body, which met today at the Llotja de Mar in Barcelona. Santacreu's candidacy, the only one submitted, was unanimously approved by the Executive Committee and subsequently ratified by the General Secretariat and the General Assembly of ASCAME.
The Committee approved both the renewal of the ASCAME Board of Directors and the restructuring of its committees with the aim of aligning the institution's mission with the new economic situation in the region. It was also agreed to create the ASCAME Senate, a new body that will be chaired by the outgoing president, Ahmed El Wakil, who will continue to be closely linked to the institution as Honorary President, Vice-President and President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
Josep Santacreu's first words as the new president of ASCAME were addressed to his predecessor, Ahmed El Wakil: ‘Despite the difficulties that have recently hit the Mediterranean — such as the pandemic, geopolitical tensions and natural disasters — Ahmed El Wakil has reinforced ASCAME's key role in supporting and defending the interests of its members and actively contributing to the economic development of the region.’ Santacreu added: ‘Today we pay tribute to a great man committed to strengthening unity among all Mediterranean countries, building bridges between businesses and cultures, and defending the vital role of Chambers of Commerce in creating a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Mediterranean.’
As the new president of ASCAME, Santacreu shared the following reflection: ‘I take on this new responsibility with the utmost respect for the legacy of Ahmed El Wakil. I do so with humility and determination, committed to defending the interests of the region's private sector and working for a stronger, more united and more resilient Mediterranean for future generations.’
For his part, the outgoing president of ASCAME, Ahmed El Wakil, stated that ‘the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce play an essential role in leading the transformation of the region and consolidating its strategic role on the international stage.’ El Wakil emphasised ASCAME's decisive contribution to Mediterranean economic development, ‘strengthening business cooperation, attracting international investment and promoting entrepreneurship among young people and women’.
In his opinion, ‘ASCAME has established itself as the main voice of the region's private sector and as a trusted partner for multinational institutions such as the European Union, representing the interests of local businesses’. He also highlighted ‘ASCAME's decisive role in building a more sustainable Mediterranean, promoting the expansion of the green and blue economy in all sectors’.
Barcelona Declaration for the Economic Development of the Mediterranean
ASCAME, together with leading business organisations from Europe, Africa and the Arab world, has promoted the Barcelona Declaration for the Economic Development of the Mediterranean, which includes 30 initiatives to strengthen cooperation, drive innovation and promote sustainable prosperity throughout the region.
The renewal of ASCAME's governing bodies coincided with the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, an initiative that transformed Euro-Mediterranean cooperation by bringing together countries from both sides of the region and promoting political dialogue, economic integration and cultural exchange.
According to the approved Barcelona Declaration, ‘the private sector must move from being a passive observer to becoming a proactive leader, capable of driving inclusive growth, generating employment and promoting regional integration’. It also stresses that ‘businesses, chambers of commerce and entrepreneurs must come together to create a dynamic ecosystem that connects markets, strengthens communities and stimulates innovation’.
The launch of the Barcelona Declaration coincides with the New Pact for the Mediterranean, approved this year by the European Commission to strengthen cooperation and economic integration throughout the region. Building on historical and cultural ties, as well as previous EU initiatives, the Pact aims to consolidate a common Mediterranean space that is more connected, prosperous, resilient and secure. Its priorities include clean energy production, mobilising private investment and promoting large-scale regional projects that generate new opportunities for people and businesses, with a particular focus on young people, women and small and medium-sized enterprises.
This milestone is also in line with the European Commission's 2024-2029 agenda, which places the Mediterranean at the heart of its strategic priorities. A key element of this effort is the creation of a new European Commissioner for the Mediterranean region. Dubravka Šuica will lead the implementation of the New Pact, strengthening partnerships in the Southern Neighbourhood and focusing on jobs, clean energy, investment and regional stability.