11 July 2024, Marrakesh, Morocco - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) inaugurated the II edition of its Marrakesh Economic Parliamentary Forum for the Euro-Mediterranean Region and Gulf, generously hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in Marrakesh.
The first day of the Forum began with an opening ceremony featuring an address by H.E. Sen. Enaam Mayara, PAM President, and President of the House of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco, who highlighted the importance of having such Forum in a world with multidimensional risks and crises. Notable addresses were also delivered by M. Mohamed Sibari, 1st Vice President of the House of Representatives of Morocco, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Rachid Talbi El Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco; H.E Mr. Chakib ALJ, President of the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM), in representation of Morocco’s private sector; H.E. Mr. Nebojša Radmanović, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who emphasized the need to focus on renewability for a sustainable future; and H.E. Mr. Ahmed Bin Salman Al Musalam, President of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain, who underscored the Forum’s importance as a platform of discussion and cooperation among parliaments.
Furthermore, the opening ceremony saw the presence of presidents and representatives of parliamentary assembly from across the globe: H.E. Mrs. Fabiana Martin, President of the Mercosur Parliament; H.E. Mrs. Silvia Garcia, President of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN); H.E. Mrs. Cristina Reyes Hidalgo, President of the Andean Parliament; H.E. Mr. Luis Redondo, Vice-President pro tempore of FOPREL and President of the National Congress of Honduras; Mr. Victor Manuel Lopez Lewis, General Director of the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO), who delivered his address on behalf of H.E. Mr. Rolando Patricio Gonzalez, President of PARLATINO; H.E Mr. Jérémie Adomahou, Chairperson of The African Parliamentarians’ Network on Development Evaluation (APNODE); Hon. Abdulla Nasser Alsubaey, Head of Qatari Delegation to the PAM and Vice-President of the PAM, in representation of H.E. Mr. Hassan Abdulla Al-Ghanim, Speaker of the Shura Council of Qatar; and Ms. Ms. Cecilia Ugaz, UNIDO Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy, as Officer-in-Charge (OiC), on behalf of UNIDO Director General, Mr. Gerd Müller.
Following the opening ceremony, the Forum proceeded with a session on the Macro-Economic Outlook of the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Regions, moderated by Hon. Centemero (Italy). Mr. Hentschel, Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank, reviewed the current macro-economic trends and challenges with a special focus on the MENA region, highlighting the World Bank's initiatives and policies aimed at fostering economic stability and growth. Dr. El Hachimi, Head of Parliamentary and IGOs Partnerships and Outreach, underscored the role of international trade policies in the economic development of the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, especially the WTO's efforts to enhance trade partnerships and address trade barriers affecting these regions. Additional professionals contributed to this comprehensive overview: Mr. Abdelali Debbagh, Deputy Director of the Treasury and External Finance, in charge of the Macroeconomic Pole, Ministry of the Economy and Finance; Mr Gianluca Tiani, Head of Strategy, Synergies & Business Development, International Subsidiary Banks Division, Intesa Sanpaolo Group; Mr. Afailal Abdelatif, Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME); Mr. Afailal Abdelatif, Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME); Prof. Salvatore Capasso, Director, ISMED, Center for Economic Studies in the Mediterranean; Mr. Omar Hassouni, Director General of Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies.
The Forum continued with the first session on “Ensuring Energy Supply and Green Transition in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Regions: Challenges and Opportunities.” Mr. Mohamed Ouhmid, Representative of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of the Kingdom of Morocco discussed Morocco’s comprehensive strategies and policies for advancing energy transition and sustainable development. Mr. Wei Huang, Director of the Division of Planning, Information, and Knowledge Management at the Department of Nuclear Energy, IAEA, emphasized the critical role of nuclear energy in ensuring a stable energy supply and supporting the green transition. Additionally, Mr. Omar Alaoui M'Hamdi, Vice President of the Green Economy and Decarbonation Commission at CGEM and DGA TAQA Morocco, focused on initiatives to promote the green economy and decarbonization in Morocco. He shared insights from TAQA Morocco’s projects, emphasizing the company's strategies to enhance sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. Other notable interventions included Mr. Abdellatif Bardach, ANRE Morocco President and MEDREG President; Mr. Omar Kadir, Director, Business Development of Renewable Energies, Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP); Dr. Robin Degron, Director of Plan Bleu; Mr. Angelo Ferrante, Secretary General, Med-TSO; Prof. Silvana Bartoletto, Energy Security at Parthenope University; and Dr. Renato Benintendi, Process Safety and Environmental Specialist at Kent.
A presentation of the “Parliamentarian’s Guide to Protecting the Mediterranean Sea and Coast” was delivered by UN representatives. Mr. Ilias Mavroeidis, Programme Management Officer – Governance of UNEP-MAP, emphasized the critical importance of coordinated governance in protecting the Mediterranean Sea and its coast. Mr. Mitja Bricelj President of the Bureau of the Barcelona Convention, discussed the objectives and achievements of the Convention in safeguarding the marine environment, providing insights into protocols related to pollution reduction and the sustainable management of coastal zones. Both speakers stressed the necessity of legislative support and active involvement from parliamentarians to enforce environmental regulations and drive policy changes, underscoring the importance of regional cooperation.
The day concluded with a second session focused on “Funding Your Business Idea.” Ms. Meryem Mahfoud, Member of CGEM Financing and Investment Commission, outlined key strategies for securing financing for innovative business ideas, discussing the role of investment commissions in supporting startups and offering practical advice on preparing compelling pitches. Mr. John Shehata, Member of the Egyptian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EPEA) and Strategic Partner at FARO Value, emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships and networking in the funding process. Dr. Massimo Deandreis, General Manager of SRM Research Centre, Intesa San Paolo Group, analyzed macroeconomic factors affecting investment trends and the availability of funding, emphasizing the need to align business ideas with broader economic trends. Mr. Lorenzo Maternini, founder of Talent Garden, shared his experiences, discussing innovative funding models and the importance of building a strong brand to attract investors. Mr. Fathi Houssam, Head of Cooperation Division of the National Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of the Kingdom of Morocco (MAROC PME) highlighted Morocco's entrepreneurial dynamism.
As the Forum progresses, it promises to further solidify the commitment of PAM and its partners to advancing sustainable development and prosperity in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions. //