Barcelona to host 15th Forum for Economic Development in North Africa in November

Session aims to provide space for deliberation among bankers, regional investors, multilateral organisations, institutions, government representatives

The Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders (MedaWeek) is to be held from 21 to 23 November in Barcelona which will host the 15th edition of the Forum for Economic Development in North Africa (NABDF) to boost regional economy.

The NABDF will take place on 21 November at the Casa Llotja de Mar and will involve representatives from five countries of the northern Mediterranean including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Malta, and five others from the south including Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria,Tunisia, and Libya.

The session aims to provide a space for deliberation among bankers, regional investors, and multilateral organisations, as well as institutions and government representatives, according to the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Mediterranean (ASCAME).

ASCAME organises MedaWeek Barcelona in cooperation with the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed). This year’s edition will focus on promoting dialogue among Mediterranean countries, highlighting their socioeconomic reciprocities.

Meanwhile ,ASCAME and the Technological Centre of Catalonia (Eurecat) will organise the first Mediterranean Innovation and Digital Summit on 22 November in Barcelona.This summit will take place during the Barcelona MedaWeek.

The summit will discuss innovation, new technologies, startups, and entrepreneurship, as well as new financing tools, such as crowdfunding and sponsoring investors (business angels). According to the General Coordinator of ASCAME, Anwar Zibaoui, the digital revolution implies great challenges for the Mediterranean countries in terms of education or employment. It also provides a great opportunity to transform the Mediterranean countries’ economies, boost creativity of young people, and promote gender equality.

Considering that young people under 30 years of age account for 60% of the Mediterranean population, the summit will address possible ways to promote entrepreneurship and favour the creation of new job opportunities.