The first Symposium on Mediterranean Trade and Port Cities was organized in Izmir on September 25-26, 2008 in cooperation with The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry in Turkey, Izmir Commodity Exchange, Izmir Branch of Chamber of Shipping and Izmir Development Agency.

Within the context of the symposium organized with the participation of presidents and representatives of Mediterranean Chambers and Business Representation Organizations (BRO's) and academicians from 16 countries, proposals have been discussed during round table meetings and academic sessions to develop the cooperation in the Mediterranean.

28 academics from Turkey, Great Britain, Germany, Spain and USA participated the event and shared their research and knowledge with all the attendees.
60 Representatives, Members and Presidents of Executive Boards from Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Heads of Business Representation Organizations participated the event.

The meetings continued for two full days in the Convention center of Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir.
After the Opening Ceremony on the first day, parallel meetings were held for academics and for the presidents and representatives of Mediterranean Chambers and Business Representation Organizations.

As a result of the meetings the participants have agreed that:

1. This international symposium initiated by Izmir Chamber of Commerce is a significant step and shall continue to be organized as a congress in the future.

2. The congress will be organized every two years and will contribute to the deepening of the scientific, cultural and economic relations.

3. The congress will be a platform which will bring together the Mediterranean BRO's and its equivalents together with the academic discussions and researches. The Head Office and the Secretariat at Izmir Chamber of Commerce will be responsible for implementation.

4. The congress agenda will be organized in a way that in addition to the general topics and the themes, current problems and issues on future will be included.

5.  The congress will be a platform that will bring together; ASCAME, other similar international institutions operating in the Mediterranean, Business Councils, Mediterranean BRO's and the equivalents. The Mediterranean academia will be integrated in these activities as well.

6. The current logo used for this symposium will be used as the congress logo and corporate identity of the congress will be established.

7. The BRO's will work and support the exchange programs for students and academics in the Mediterranean.

8. For developing cooperation concerning education, starting from 2009 Izmir University of Economics will provide 2 full scholarships for students from the Mediterranean port cities.

9. For the realization of sustainable peace, security and prosperity in the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean BRO's and all stakeholders will provide collective support.

10. Participants join forces to take precautions for preventing disasters and fire in the Mediterranean. Actions will be undertaken on European level to change Fire 6 Project into Fire Mediterranean Project.

11. Participants will cooperate in the field of tourism and this cooperation will not be limited to summer tourism. Mutual activities will be undertaken to develop yacht, cruise, sports, health and city tourism. Also cooperation will be made to promote the Mediterranean to the far markets.

12. Participants will take the initiative to annul bureaucratic barriers concerning the ports, to set acceptable port tariffs and if possible to equalize port tariffs.

13. Participants will encourage cooperation between Stock Exchanges and other exchanges in the Mediterranean.

14. Participants will establish a portal for Mediterranean Chambers that will function as a database for company and sector information and allow virtual communication. In the framework of this portal "Mediterranean Partners Program" will be developed to match companies from the Mediterranean with each others.

15. 'Mediterranean Port Cities Exhibition' will be organized every two years in different locations.

16. Participants will make an effort for 'Mediterranean Olympic Games' to regain its importance as it is gradually losing its effectiveness.

17. Participants will form a database will for the Mediterranean and its ports which is regarded as warm sea.

18. BRO's in the Mediterranean will take the initiative for activities in Mediterranean countries to increase the joint investments and overcome the difficulties stemming from the trade laws.

19. BRO's in the Mediterranean will make sure their members are included the future similar meetings organized.

20. BRO's in the Mediterranean will attach importance to the environmental protection, pay special attention to the environmental issues in all their activities and will contribute to the EU Agenda 2020 to depolute the Mediterranean.

21.  Participants will work together to promote the Mediterranean Cuisine all over the world and form a Mediterranean Restaurant concept with a common menu. A joint applied curriculum for Mediterranean cuisine will be created and it will be accredited internationally.

22.  Participants will work to develop transportation projects on among the Mediterranean countries to be realized by EU funding.

23.  Efforts will be made to develop the ports which are part of an intermodal transportation network and with a transhipment characteristic due to the importance of eastern Mediterranean in sea transportation. Activities for logistic centers will be delivered to develop intermodal transportation of seaways, airways and railways.

24.  Mediterranean countries will try to sign free trade agreements as much as possible, implement them and work on easing /abolishing visa applications or developing specific applications for the Mediterranean countries.

25. Working Committees will be established to monitor the implementation of the conclusions of the symposium. The working Committees will follow up the procedures and will carry out the activities to organize the next symposium. The Working Committees will be consisting of the representatives of the participating Chambers and other related institutions.

26. A working committee will be established to develop cruise, ferry and yacht tourism between Mediterranean countries to generate joint activities and sustain the continuity of these initiatives. Actions will be undertaken create an authority to develop yacht tourism and to decrease procedures during international passing.

27. A Happy Mediterranean Children Program will be developed which will bring the Mediterranean Children together.

28. For the participation of the countries which do not have port cities but which are in hinterland, a special membership status will be formed.

29. The requests related to the formation of the Executive Board and for the Working Groups will be sent by e-mail to ulusorg@izto.org.tr

PROGRAM: Click Here to Download

Click to download the booklet of the symposium

Part-I

Part-II

Click here to see some pictures