Collaborative Efforts to Address Mediterranean Region's Challenges

Saturday 04 May 2024 - 14:20

In a groundbreaking initiative, the Directors General of the Caisse des Dépôts institutions from Morocco, France, Italy, and Tunisia came together on May 2nd at the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti headquarters in Rome. Khalid Safir, Eric Lombard, Dario Scannapieco, and Nejia Gharbi convened to tackle the pressing challenges facing the Mediterranean basin.

This summit marked the establishment of a Permanent Consultation Framework (PCF), aiming to facilitate the exchange of expertise and foster crucial interactions with the Mediterranean financial ecosystem. The objective is to promote impactful projects benefiting local communities.

Bound by their membership in the prestigious Forum des Caisses de Dépôt, the Moroccan, French, Italian, and Tunisian institutions have a long-standing history of collaboration. During last September's 7th Forum conference in Abidjan, they initiated a cooperation-strengthening initiative.

This inaugural summit aimed to develop collective solutions for the Mediterranean's most pressing challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, socioeconomic crises, and the impacts of global events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war.

As pivotal actors in addressing national challenges, the Caisse des Dépôts institutions are uniquely positioned to focus on three key priorities: investment, climate and biodiversity, and financial innovation for human potential.

The formalization of the PCF will enable collaboration across various sectors, including urban development, climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, sustainable infrastructure, and financing startups/SMEs. The aim is to leverage synergies with other financial institutions operating in the Mediterranean region.

During the summit, the directors reiterated their commitment to delivering innovative solutions that benefit both populations and the environment. They emphasized the urgency of embracing sustainable development and collective action to address the region's challenges effectively.

In their concluding remarks, Khalid Safir, Eric Lombard, Dario Scannapieco, and Nejia Gharbi reaffirmed the relevance of the Caisse des Dépôts model in financing long-term economic, social, and environmental progress. They expressed their readiness to contribute substantially to international dialogues on development and ecological/digital transition financing.