The first Euromed Forum was held recently in Sfax, Tunisia. This forum, organised by the Sfax Chamber of Commerce, brought together no less than 40 Chambers of Commerce from the lower Mediterranean basin countries and the North African Region. Sfax is Tunisia’s second largest city and considered to be an important industrial region.

More than 120 companies from Europe and North Africa participated in this event which was also attended by 16 ambassadors of the European Union resident in Tunisia including Malta’s Ambassador Ives De Barro.

The forum discussed various problems that companies, operating within this region, are facing, especially the textile industry, now that the European quota for Asian textiles will be lifted. Various topics aiming at regulating and standardising the support and level of service offered to companies by their respective Chamber of Commerce were discussed.

The Tunisia representative office of Bank of Valletta is also a member of the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and was represented for this forum by its resident manager Mr. Robert Darmanin who stated that this event gave each participant the opportunity to analyse and discuss the various issues and opportunities companies operating within the Mediterranean region are encountering.