Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce reinforce their commitment to sustainable urban transition at MedaCity 2025
MedaCity Forum 2025, the Economic Forum of Mediterranean Cities, concluded last Friday at the Cagliari Congress and Exhibition Centre with great success and a very positive assessment, registering a large participation of Mediterranean institutions and companies and providing a realistic picture of the common challenges facing cities in the region.
This flagship ASCAME event, organised this year by the Cagliari-Oristano Chamber of Commerce and the City Council of Cagliari, with the support of ASCAME and Unioncamere, has established itself as the leading summit for fostering economic cooperation, driving urban innovation and promoting sustainable development among Mediterranean cities. On the one hand, the summit brought together institutional leaders, representatives of Chambers of Commerce, international experts, academics and companies from different countries and sectors in the region to analyse the future of Mediterranean cities and contribute success stories and real solutions. On the other hand, the event highlighted the fundamental role of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce as strategic actors in regional cooperation, as well as drivers of the transition towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban models.
The opening session featured institutional speeches by Maurizio de Pascale, President of the Cagliari-Oristano Chamber of Commerce, Andrea Prete, President of Unioncamere, and Alessandra Todde, President of the Region of Sardinia. Raffaele Fitto, Vice-President of the European Commission, Leoluca Orlando, Member of the European Parliament, Salvatore Deidda, President of the Transport Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Ahmed El Wakil, President of ASCAME, and Giannis Roussos, President of INSULEUR and the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce, who emphasised the urgent need to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean ties in order to address common urban challenges.
The forum featured three thematic sessions. The first was ‘Housing Strategies in Mediterranean Cities,’ in which speakers discussed the transformation that Mediterranean cities are undergoing, driven by continued urban population growth, rising housing costs, and increasing difficulty in accessing decent and affordable housing solutions. They also discussed the loss of social and community spaces, which are essential to the quality of urban life. In this context, innovation and urban regeneration become key tools for rethinking housing.
The next session was ‘The Mediterranean as a sustainable tourist destination: the role of cities’, in which experts shared their views, experiences and best practices for sustainable and inclusive tourism. In this case, the debate focused on highly topical issues, such as the role of cities in shaping sustainable tourism, innovation in tourism, community participation and social inclusion, and public-private partnerships.
In the third session, ‘Port development and urban mobility in the Mediterranean’, the speakers agreed that ports are not just logistical infrastructures: ‘They are authentic urban centres that influence mobility, the environment and the quality of urban life’. In their opinion, in the current context of increasing urbanisation and ecological transition, it is essential to rethink the integration between port development and sustainable mobility. This round table offered a shared vision for a more connected and resilient future.
A particularly noteworthy moment was when young people had the opportunity to propose concrete solutions for sustainable mobility in Mediterranean cities. They were the winners of the ‘Hack the Street’ hackathon, who presented their innovative solutions for more sustainable, equitable cities with greater economic opportunities at MedaCity.
All these sessions and discussion spaces highlighted the common challenges shared by Mediterranean cities, from rising housing costs and the impact of tourism to the challenges of port management. Similarly, it was an excellent opportunity to propose innovative solutions based on territorial cooperation, as well as to highlight the strategic role of Chambers of Commerce in promoting dialogue and synergies between institutions, businesses and civil society, supporting start-ups and SMEs in crucial sectors such as clean energy, the circular economy and smart mobility.
Anwar Zibaoui, general coordinator of ASCAME, highlighted: "Chambers of Commerce are essential connectors between local governments and the private sector, enabling the joint creation of innovative urban solutions. By promoting multi-stakeholder platforms, they drive inclusive and sustainable urban development. They actively support businesses and sectors committed to sustainability and promote forward-looking urban policies, sustainability-based solutions and investments in resilient infrastructure."
Maurizio de Pascale, President of the Cagliari-Oristano Chamber of Commerce, added: "Mediterranean cities face common challenges — from migration flows to pressures on housing and infrastructure — that require collective responses. During this forum, the Chambers of Commerce have demonstrated their ability to foster regional cooperation, build bridges between communities and support policies and initiatives with a united vision for the future."