FEMIP 10th SMEs Conference focuses on the new perspectives for the Mediterranean Countries

Entitled “Mediterranean SMEs: Ready to break new ground”, the Conference was held in Tunis. It included many renowned keynote speakers: Hamadi Jebali, the Head of the Government of Tunisia; Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner; Bernardino Leon, EU Special Envoy for the Southern Mediterranean (EEAS); and EIB Vice President, Philippe de Fontaine Vive. Around 300 participants came from banks and leading companies, fund management firms, SMEs or the academic world. Dr. Cardarelli delivered a speech on “Enhancing the International Competitiveness of Mediterranean Enterprises.”

The Conference focused on supporting private sector development and the EIB’s vocation as a long-term investor. Three themes were discussed: Access to diverse and competitive sources of financing as a primary obstacle to the development of the private sector; promoting entrepreneurship and management education as a condition to ensure growth; and reinforcing the international competitiveness of Mediterranean enterprises by repositioning them in the global market.

FEMIP is an EIB initiative in the Mediterranean through his instrument dedicated to the socioeconomic development of nine Mediterranean partner countries. Created in October 2002 by the European Council, FEMIP invested on behalf of the European Union, over 14, 4 billion euros in 10 years. These funds have supported investments in the real economy and employment, totalling $ 40 billion.