Together we stand

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MINISTER of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid co-chaired the Euro-Mediterranean Industrial Ministers meeting along with his French counterpart Luc Chatel. The main aim was to discuss means to enforce principles of the Union for the Mediterranean, launched in July 2008.

"The Union for the Mediterranean is ushering in a new phase that would boost the cooperation and push the traditional relationship that has bound countries of the region into a new era based on the ideas of equality, interdependence and joint ownership," Rachid said during the two-day meeting held in Nice, France late last week.

The ministers discussed proposals for industrial cooperation and the means to identify priorities to coordinate efforts of various countries in order to ensure an effective implementation.

Much focus was also given to the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and ways to improve their competitiveness, innovativeness and growth. The Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise, designed to function as the blueprint for the development of the SMEs sector, was also discussed.

"We need to work more closely in order to reconcile the numerous opportunities offered south of the Mediterranean with the technical capacities and know-how available north of the Mediterranean. If we succeed, then we will manage to create the perfect equation for sustainable industrial development while at the same time investing in the human development and the spirit of co-ownership," said Rachid.