ASCAME

The Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) was founded on October 1, 1982, as an initiative of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with its counterparts from different Mediterranean countries.

From the about ten founding members of 1982, today ASCAME brings together over 300 hundred Chambers of Commerce and similar institutions, from 23 Mediterranean countries.

ASCAME was created with the primary goal of furthering economic cooperation throughout the Mediterranean region, showing a strategic vision of North-South cooperation and integration. This vision was confirmed in Barcelona by the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in 1995.

Nowadays, 30 years since its inception, this strategic vision has been strongly reinforced. Through ASCAME, the private sector is positioned in the regional political agenda to catalyst solutions that can answer accordingly to the changing socioeconomic scenarios in the region. [2]

According to article 3 of the Statutes, “The fundamental purpose of this Association is to establish permanent contacts and forge lasting relationships among its members in order to co-ordinate, implement and promote studies and joint actions with a view to developing economic exchanges and co-operation within the Mediterranean area of international scope.”

The objectives that the association wants to achieve are:

• Establishment of a network of Chambers of Commerce and organisations working in the field of cooperation and economic exchange between countries in the Mediterranean region
• Promotion and search of synergies between these countries' economies
• Creation of working ties between peer institutions aimed at encouraging international cooperation through joint performance of activities and/or studies
• Assertion of the Mediterranean identity
• Contribution to build an area of peace, tolerance, security and prosperity

ASCAME serves as a unique instrument for the socioeconomic development of the region through:

• A close collaboration with the most important organisations and international institutions of the Mediterranean region
• The promotion of regional and international economic activities
• The involvement in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation projects

The Association envisages two types of membership: Full Members, which are Chambers of Commerce and Industry of countries riparian to the Mediterranean, and Associate Members, which are the various Mediterranean institutions and organisations having a relationship with the objectives of ASCAME.

Today, around 75% of its members are Chambers of Commerce and Industry from different Mediterranean countries and around 10% are national Chambers of Commerce and bilateral Chambers of Commerce. Nearby 10% of its members are business representative organisations, employees’ organisations and associations for economic promotion.

The rest of members are port authorities, promotion agencies and fairs, among others.

ASCAME has currently members from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Serbia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

ASCAME's operating structure consists of:

• General Assembly. The General Assembly is composed of all members. Its main task is to define the general policy and major lines of the activity of the Association.
• Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is the permanent management and administrative body of ASCAME. The Executive Committee consists of only full members bordering the Mediterranean Sea, in the number of one per country.
• Bureau. The Bureau consists of eight Chambers of Commerce and Industry chosen from the Executive Committee. The Bureau acts on behalf of the Executive Committee in regards to ordinary and ongoing matters.
• General Secretariat. The Executive Committee nominates a Chamber among the members to act as ASCAME General Secretariat. This position is currently held by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Services, Industry and Navigation. The General Secretariat is responsible for monitoring the decisions taken by the General Meeting, the Executive Committee and the Bureau, conserving ASCAME records and providing secretarial services
• Committees and Working Commissions[3]

ASCAME carries out several activities aimed at promoting the economic development of the region, namely events, working groups and cooperation projects.

The Association’s work as an interlocutor is recognised by relevant regional and international institutions, such as the European Union, the Union for the Mediterranean, the European Investment Bank, the Arab League etc., through numerous collaboration agreements and joint participation in a large number of cooperation projects, as well as in various concrete actions. All this, as a result of being the organisation that, with the greatest extension in the territory, has the biggest experience to create platforms for dialogue and business economic cooperation in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, ASCAME occupies a prominent place in the field of cooperation between Chambers of Commerce, cities and companies in the Mediterranean field.

ASCAME provides support and advice to its Chambers of Commerce members, encourages contacts between them and promotes their initiatives. The Association plays a significant role in the field of international cooperation between Chambers of Commerce, a role that has been acknowledged by leading European and international institutions. It also occupies a privileged position in terms of representing the private sector in the region.

ASCAME has signed several cooperation agreements with relevant institutions in order to achieve its objectives and cooperate in its work for the economic development of the Mediterranean.

Among others, ASCAME has signed cooperation agreements with the following institutions:

Union for the Mediterranean (Ufm), European Investment Bank (EIB), European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), Eurochambres, Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Business Women (AFAEMME), MEDCities, Word Federation of Free Zones (FEMOZA), Association of Iberoamerican Chambers of Commerce (AICO), Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce, FERRMED, U.S Chambers of Commerce, MedCruise, International Chamber of Commerce - World Chamber Federation, Euro-Mediterranean Network of Social Economy, Mediterranean Hotels and Restaurants Association (MH&RA), World Tourism Organisation (WTO), World Federation of Consuls, World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) and Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) among others. [5]

• http://www.ascame.org/