Barcelona, October 7, 2016 - The social and solidarity economy has gained a strong presence in the Mediterranean region in recent years, emerging as a key tool to generate economic and social wealth. The growing collaboration of industry organizations, such as cooperatives, mutual societies and associations, public and private sector has shown that they can contribute significantly to finding solutions to the current challenges in the region, such as high rates of youth unemployment, gender equality or social protection.
Therefore, the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Social Economy (Red ESMED), with its president Juan Antonio Pedreño, and the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Mediterranean (ASCAME), represented by its General Coordinator Anwar Zibaoui, they have agreed to strengthen and boost collaboration and joint projects to promote and consolidate this economic sector activities in the Mediterranean region. This business model, now has more than 900,000 companies generating more than 8 million jobs and involve more than 100 million people. Countries of the region and recognize the importance of the sector for sustainable economic growth and the creation of stable and quality employment.
In this line, the next December will take place in Barcelona the First Forum of Social Economy in the Mediterranean as part of the 10th Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders. As both entities have stated, this meeting of regional and international in scope, give greater visibility to the contribution that the social economy makes the social and economic development of the Mediterranean, an aspect sometimes unknown even to players in the social economy and other regions of world.
The forum also aims to educate the regional private sector about the opportunities that the social economy provides benefits as a generator factor and sustainable economic growth. For this, a wide range of experts and industry organizations will present their knowledge and experience in the sector. Attendees will have the opportunity to present to leaders of associations, mutual societies, cooperatives and foundations, concrete initiatives such as the creation of new businesses or business projects between the Mediterranean countries.
For ASCAME, as the representative of the Mediterranean private sector, it is a priority to work with other actors to launch services to the whole of this business group. In this regard, it recognizes that this forum will be an international benchmark for the social economy. This sector should act as a lever for achieving sustainable, responsible and sustainable growth of the Mediterranean region.
On the ESMED RED
Since 2000, CEPES coordinates the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Social Economy (ESMED) as a platform for institutional reference of the Social Economy in the field of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) , which is the international organization that promotes political, economic and social cooperation in the region encompassing the 28 Member States of the European Union and 15 Mediterranean countries .
Since its inception in 2000, the ESMED Network has focused on strengthening cooperation between the Social Economy North and South Mediterraneo from criteria of solidarity, cooperation and business efficiency, in order to bring about development actions.
Are members of the ESMED RED, 14 organizations North and South Mediterranean representing the Social Economy in 9 countries.
