At the Euro-Arab conference to support SMEs held in Milan, Italy on 11-12 July, policy makers and representatives of business from some 30 countries held high-level exchanges as to how improved Euro-Arab cooperation could boost the economies on both sides of the Mediterranean. All countries from the EU’s Mediterranean neighbourhood, as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were represented.

Discussions focused on the impact of global and regional developments for SMEs, with optimism that the ‘Arab Spring’ would be bring on an ‘Arab Summer’ where enterprises stood to benefit from the opportunities of more open and transparent business environment.

Youth in focus

Opening the conference, Roberto Formigoni, President of the Italy’s Lombardy region, underlined the need for more reinforced Euro-Arab business cooperation. ‘We need to develop more structured business and university networks,’ he said.

Antonio Tajani, the European Commissioner for enterprise, was clear as to the essential ingredients for political reform and economic progress in the Southern Mediterranean.  More young people must be given the opportunities to take the business route as a career option, he said. 

‘We need to ensure that young people can realise their dreams which will be key to developing regional stability’, said Mr Tajani, echoing repeated concerns for improving youth employment prospects from a wider range of speakers.

The meeting also heard of the establishment of a new Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Micro and Small Enterprises. Its objective is to promote networking and technical cooperation between regional and local SME support organisations in the Mediterranean area.

Bruno Ermolli, President of PROMOS, a professional support agency of the Milan Chamber of Commerce, informed delegates that the centre, based in Milan, will focus particularly on entrepreneurship promotion, human capital developments and access to finance.

Need to engage women

Addressing the meeting, the ETF’s Anthony Gribben, said that business was critical in pushing for reforms in education and training.

‘Reforms need to be co-worked,’ Mr Gribben said making the case for an improved education-enterprise cooperation. He also put particular emphasis on women’s contribution to the economy. ‘It would be a mistake to think that the enterprise competitiveness could be successful if 50% of the workforce – women - are not fully engaged into economic reform drive’.

The meeting, the second Euro-Arab SME summit and follows the Kuwait meeting in 2009, included high-level officials from the Arab League, European Commission, ETF, EIB and the World Bank.

The meeting also allowed for direct contacts between Italian, European and Arab businesses.

For more information, contact ETF expert, Anthony Gribben at Anthony.Gribben@etf.europa.eu