The Steering Committee of the PAM Panel on Trade and Investments in the Mediterranean, operating under the auspices of the 2nd Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, met in Rabat, Morocco, on 3 May 2013, to discuss and review key activities, strategies and priorities for the biennium 2013-2014. The meeting was chaired by Sen. Lhou Lmarbouh of Morocco, PAM Vice President and President of the 2nd PAM Standing Committee.
During the meeting, over 30 parliamentarians and representatives from international, regional, governmental, private sector, academic and financial institutions focused their debate on the global crisis, trends in the Mediterranean and the impact on national and regional economies. Other major issues included the importance of tourism for economic growth in the Mediterranean region and the role of parliamentarians in their capacity as legislators responsible for the introduction of new initiatives aimed at creating the most suitable environment for national and regional growth.
Within the development framework, both parliamentarians and representatives from the private sector targeted the need to concentrate on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the facilitation to access finance, job creation, youth employment, infrastructure and more regional cooperation. The correlation between stability and economic development was also discussed with MPs, who were called to take all the necessary legislative measures necessary to the economic actors.
With regards to the tourism sector it was noted that there is an urgent need to re-activate tourism facilities in the entire region, including the Arab Spring countries. To do this, it is necessary to re-think the concept of tourism in the Mediterranean, for example by promoting a tourism model that involves more countries, taking advantage of the large variety of the region, in terms of climate, activities and the cultural heritage.
On 4 May, the 20 Executive Members of the Energy Group within the PAM Panel discussed the current priority issues concerning the various aspects of the energy sector, such as diversification of sources, energy supply and an energy market in the Mediterranean region touching the requirements of countries in the North and the South. Alternative and renewable energy was also discussed. Developments in the Ouarzazate solar project in Morocco, which will see the production of the first megawatt within the next 20 months, were also highlighted. The Group stressed the urgent need to face the proliferation of uncoordinated initiatives in the sector, and unanimously requested PAM, as a neutral entity, to facilitate the dialogue and the adoption of a coherent approach by all actors involved.
In view of the high level inter-governmental conference “Harnessing Trade for Growth in the Mediterranean” (Geneva, 30-31 May 2013), to be organized by PAM in cooperation with UNECE and UNCTAD, both events also focused on proposals and suggestions to animate the debate to which a wide spectrum of stakeholders from various international and regional public and private organizations will be participating.