Euro-Med business community prepares set of recommendations for UfM

Meeting in Barcelona for the Mediterranean Economic Leaders Summit and the 3rd Invest in Med annual conference, the Euro-Mediterranean business community, together with business supporting organisations, is gathering to prepare private sector recommendations for the political leaders of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).

A press release said the summit, taking place from 3 to 4 June in Barcelona under the slogan ‘Taking the initiative: shaping the UfM', is organised by ANIMA, ASCAME, BusinessEurope, BusinessMed and Eurochambres, with the support of the Catalan government and the financing of the EU-funded Invest in Med programme, following the very successful ‘Med Business Days' organised in 2008 in Marseille (France) and the Athens Euro-Mediterranean Business Forum ‘Bridging the Mediterranean' organised in 2009.

Over 400 representatives of public and private authorities of the region, investors, business networks and enterprises are actively taking part into working sessions dedicated to UfM initiatives and related business opportunities, meeting to develop partnerships and investments, and shape socially responsible investment.

The two days allow participants to present the state of play of Invest in Med, the EU co-funded programme which acts for Mediterranean SMEs thanks to the mobilisation of about 300 field operators, all members of the MedAlliance (economic development organizations, CCi and business federations, as well as their special partners), who are dedicated to boosting foreign investments, sustainable economic relations and smart partnerships between Euro-Mediterranean SMEs.

"Invest in Med is the success story of a business community willing to take charge of its present and its future," says Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry.

Invest in Med is a Euro-Mediterranean Network of organisations, funded by the EU with a budget of €9 million, committed to investment promotion and trade facilitation, strengthening SME collaboration and exchange of best practices. It aims to increase the abilities and efficiency of Mediterranean Investment Promotion Agencies, thus enabling more foreign direct investment in the Mediterranean Partner Countries. This multi-country platform supports the economic development of the Mediterranean and reinforces cooperation between European and Mediterranean IPAs.