MedaWeek 2024 positions Barcelona as the economic, dialogue and cooperation capital of the Mediterranean

The Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) closed the 18th edition of the Mediterranean Economic Leaders' Week, MedaWeek Barcelona 2024, with the commitment of all public and private sector agents to explore new avenues of cooperation to accelerate the economic development of the region and guarantee stability and peace in the countries of the Middle East. 

The institutional and business representatives who participated in this edition made it clear that they are committed to hope instead of uncertainty and indifference, to dialogue instead of division and fragmentation of the region, to the exchange of ideas and knowledge between both sides of the Mediterranean and between East and West, to creating new opportunities, partnerships and alliances despite current and future threats.

MedaWeek 2024, held at the emblematic Casa Llotja de Mar, brought together business delegations, CEOs, entrepreneurs and institutional representatives from 30 countries, both from the Mediterranean region and internationally. 

This year's event was supported by the main institutions of Catalonia, the EU and the Mediterranean region. The event was attended by Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Josep Santacreu, President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Jordi Valls, 4th Deputy Mayor of Barcelona City Council, Ana María Martínez, President of Economic Development and Tourism of the Diputació de Barcelona, Pere Navarro, Special State Delegate of the Zona Franca Consortium, Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, and Senén Florensa, Executive President of the European Institute for the Mediterranean. 

Also in attendance were Ahmed El Wakil, President of ASCAME, and Anwar Zibaoui, General Coordinator of ASCAME, as well as institutional and business representatives from France, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon, among others. 

All of them agreed on the need to strengthen public-private collaboration in order to seek joint solutions to the new challenges arising from the current geopolitical context. They also stressed the crucial role that Barcelona plays in building bridges with Africa, Europe and Asia through dialogue and cooperation.

MedaWeek has reaffirmed the city's position as a hub for the Mediterranean and has consolidated the event as the Mediterranean's benchmark platform for giving the private sector a voice. It has been a unique opportunity to showcase the region's success stories, exchange experiences, foster business connections and bring the Mediterranean closer to markets with great business opportunities, such as Canada - with emerging sectors of global reference in AI and IoT - or Africa - which is leading the digital transformation of the region and which also meets Europe's demand for renewable energies and raw materials. 

Through 10 multi-sector forums, MedaWeek Barcelona 2024 analysed the major global and local challenges facing the region, such as climate change, sustainable and responsible tourism, the new economy and the potential of sectors such as the creative industry, the sports sector, sectors related to the ‘blue and green economy’ and the agri-food industry, with a special focus on business opportunities linked to the Mediterranean diet and the halal sector. 

Precisely, as a result of MedaWeek, ASCAME has already started talks with entrepreneurs from the creative and sports industry to promote initiatives in the southern and eastern fringe of the region and thus encourage the creation of startups, promote the exchange of knowledge and innovation, and actively involve the younger segment of the population in projects related to the digital transformation of the Mediterranean.

Once again this year, the gala dinner was held to honour Mediterranean companies and institutions that contribute to the economic development of the region and to a more prosperous and stable future. 

The institutions and personalities honoured were: Union for the Mediterranean, for promoting regional cooperation and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region, the TANJA Foundation, for fostering intercultural dialogue and socio-economic development, journalist and writer Andreu Claret, for his contribution to cooperation and understanding in the Mediterranean, Barceló Group, for its commitment to sustainable tourism and innovation, and Giovanna Medde on behalf of the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, for its crucial role in fostering regional growth and creating economic opportunities on the island,.

The next edition of MedaWeek, the 19th, will be held in November 2025 to coincide with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, a regional cooperation project proposed by the Spanish Government and promoted by the European Union in 1995 in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean summit held in Barcelona.