Tunis: A permanent cooperation framework (PCF) has been set up to promote cooperation between the Tunisian, French, Italian and Moroccan Caisses de Dépôts.
Created following a meeting held on May 2 in Rome (Italy) between the CEOs of the four institutions, namely Nejia Gharbi (Tunisia), Eric Lombard (France), Dario Scannapiecco (Italy) and Khalid Safir (Morocco), this framework will provide a flexible and operational platform for discussion.
It will also provide an opportunity to share best practices in such key areas as urban development, adaptation to climate change, biodiversity protection, sustainable infrastructure development and financing projects led by start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to a press release from the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC).
It will also promote coordination with the entire financial ecosystem in the Mediterranean, whether national structures similar to the CDC or the main financial players involved in the Mediterranean, such as the Eu
ropean Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), national development agencies or various networks of investors, especially long-term investors, in order to ensure appropriate synergies between the various financial mechanisms.
At the 7th International Conference of Caisses de Dépôt, held in Abidjan in September 20-23, these four institutions launched a process to further develop cooperation.
“Their first meeting in Rome reflects the shared ambition of the four heads of the CDCs to find common solutions to the major challenges facing the Mediterranean region.
The region faces many challenges, first and foremost global warming, with temperatures rising 20% faster than the global average.
The Mediterranean’s unique marine and coastal biodiversity is under serious threat. Coastal erosion, rising sea levels, desertification, water stress, etc. are all phenomena that are already a reality for many countries in the region.
In addition to these environmental challenges,
there are social, economic and energy issues that have been exacerbated in recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
During the meeting, the officials took stock of the various initiatives to stimulate and promote investment in the Mediterranean, such as InfraMed.
In this context, they reaffirmed their institutions’ active contribution to efforts to protect ecosystems and adapt to climate change, and reiterated their commitment to putting financial innovation at the service of human potential by meeting the financing needs of start-ups and SMEs.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse