Mediterranean economic leaders to gather in Barcelona

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - An entrepreneurial-economic event to explore the necessary measures that Mediterranean countries need to develop a truly globalized economy will be held in Barcelona on Nov. 20-22.

The 13th Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders (MedaWeek), under its slogan "A new dawn for the Mediterranean", will gather businesses, corporations, government officials, experts and multilateral organizations.

It will also address the challenges economies face with the rapidly changing environment and policies to cope with it, as well as relevant issues for the Mediterranean private sector, such as sustainability, youth unemployment, the skills gap for the 4.0 Industrial Revolution, inclusion of women in the workforce, entrepreneurship initiatives, investment opportunities in Mediterranean countries and Africa, human rights or climate change, among others.

The event, of which Anadolu Agency is global communication partner, will be organized by the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation.

"Following a decade of international appraise, MedaWeek Barcelona has become the reference point in the Mediterranean for economic and political dialogue, voicing the interests of the private sector and high level policy-makers in the region and the world," Ahmed El Wakil, the president of ASCAME, said.

The event will focus on three main objectives -- the importance of the African continent’s role for the Mediterranean, alternatives to the Western banking system and the sustainable development needs of the Mediterranean area.

Past editions of the forum featured more than 35 thematics fora, 600 working sessions, 1,800 prominent speakers and welcomed over 20,000 attendees from all over the world.