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WestMED online roundtable: Unlocking Business Opportunities in Libya’s Blue Economy

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This online roundtable, held online on 24 April 2025, focused on raising awareness and promoting investment opportunities in Libya’s Blue Economy sectors, with a focus on aquaculture, ecotourism, desalination, and renewable energy.

Key discussions highlighted the importance of private sector involvement, capacity building for local workers, and development of infrastructure such as ports and logistics services.

Successful regional examples, such as Tunisia’s support for youth and startups through economic accelerators, were shared, alongside innovative projects like marketing seafood and creating cosmetics from marine ingredients.

The event also emphasized the need for appropriate legislation, environmental sustainability, and the role of innovation and digitalization in fostering growth within the Blue Economy.

Key Discussion Points

  1. Raising Awareness: The event aimed to inform Libyan private stakeholders about viable sectors within the Blue Economy.
  2. Showcasing Success Stories: Regional and international case studies were highlighted to demonstrate successful initiatives in the Blue Economy.
  3. Funding and Technical Support: Discussions focused on available funding mechanisms and technical support for entrepreneurs in the Blue Economy sector.
  4. Fostering Connections: The roundtable provided a platform for stakeholders to connect, foster innovation, investment, and partnerships within the Blue Economy.

 Strategic Focus Areas

  • Private Sector Investment: Emphasis was placed on the importance of private sector involvement in sectors like aquaculture, ecotourism, desalination, and renewable energy.
  • Capacity Building: The need for training and qualification programs for local workers was highlighted to reduce dependence on foreign labor.
  • Infrastructure Development: Discussions included the development of ports and logistics services to support Blue Economy activities.
  • Environmental Sustainability: Addressing environmental pollution was recognized as a crucial component of future strategies.
  • Legislative Support: The importance of appropriate legislation and skills enhancement was discussed to support the new generation of entrepreneurs.

Regional Collaboration and Innovation

  • Tunisia’s Experience: Successful experiences from Tunisia were reviewed, focusing on supporting youth and startups through economic accelerators.
  • Innovation and Digitalization: Projects such as marketing traditional seafood products and developing cosmetics based on marine ingredients were discussed, emphasizing the role of innovation and digitalization.

International speakers included Amna Souhlobjy (Tunisian Maritime Cluster) and Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub Italy)

Approximately 25 stakeholders joined this roundtable with a regular questions and answers amongst the participants.

 

Agenda: available here

For more information, contact Masauda Abuarosha (WestMED National Hub Libya)

 

Emna Sohlobji - MBA presenting during a an online roundtable on Blue Economy opportunities in Libya

meeting with two people sitting at desk in Libya

Meeting on Libya–WestMED Cooperation and Advancing the Blue Economy Transition

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Tripoli, April 14, 2025 – The Libyan National Coordinator and member of the Steering Committee of the WestMED Initiative for Sustainable Development, Eng. Ali Shagrune, met today with Dr. Saber Al-Azzabi, Deputy Minister of Marine Wealth in Libya.

During the meeting, both parties discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Libya and the WestMED Initiative, particularly in promoting the blue economy, sharing expertise, and coordinating efforts for sustainable maritime development. The discussion emphasized the importance of a strategic shift toward the blue economy as a pathway for Libya’s economic diversification, improved maritime governance, and attracting investment in fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement with the WestMED Steering Committee and to supporting national efforts toward achieving sustainable development goals in the maritime sector.

Libya Hosts the Mediterranean International Conference on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity

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Tripoli, April 12, 2025 – Today, WestMED’s Libyan National Coordinator and member of the WestMED Initiative Steering Committee, Eng. Ali Shagrune participated alongside Dr. Saber Al-Azzabi, Deputy Minister of Marine Wealth, in the Mediterranean International Conference on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, held in Tripoli, Libya.

During the conference, the Libyan delegation delivered an intervention highlighting the importance of preserving biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Libya’s role in marine environmental protection and expanding marine protected areas. The presentation also addressed current environmental challenges to marine biodiversity in the region and stressed the importance of regional cooperation within the WestMED framework to achieve shared sustainability goals.

The intervention reaffirmed Libya’s commitment to supporting international and regional efforts to strengthen marine environmental governance and integrate biodiversity into blue economy policies.

For more information, visit the event webpage or the facebook page

 

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Ufm Mediterranean pavillion stand with people passing by at an exhibition

UfM and Interreg NEXT MED renew commitment to tackle regional challenges together

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12 March 2025, Barcelona – The Union for the Mediterranean and Interreg NEXT MED, the largest EU-funded transnational cooperation programme promoting socioeconomic development and environmental initiatives in the Mediterranean Basin, have reached an agreement formally extending collaboration between both parties for at least another three years.

The Memorandum of Understanding, which highlights how both Euro-Mediterranean institutions strive to reinforce political, socioeconomic, and cultural ties in the region, was signed by UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel and Director General of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme Giovanna Medde. The agreement, significantly, foresees mutual participation in events and conferences and, when relevant, extends invitations to participate in internal meetings as observers. It will also see the organisations continue to exchange information on projects of common interest, identify joint coordination actions and raise awareness of regional challenges together.

“The UfM and Interreg NEXT MED are united by the common goal of enhanced dialogue and cooperation between Mediterranean countries. The indisputable success of our partnership over the years is a positive sign for the future,” said UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel. “The UfM remains convinced of the long-term constructive influence of this alliance and looks forward to three more years of shared accomplishments.”

The long-standing partnership between these Euro-Mediterranean institutions has resulted in a multitude of impactful actions including Interreg NEXT MED’s participation in the UfM-sponsored Mediterranean Pavilion at the latest three United Nations Climate Change Conferences, its commemoration of the anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, and involvement in thematic UfM forums on youth empowerment or the blue economy, among others.

“The UfM-Interreg NEXT MED agreement has been instrumental in enhancing coordination between both institutions,” said Giovanna Medde, Director General of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. “It is essential for developing and implementing jointly-owned solutions to the complex challenges our region faces. I am confident that renewing it will help us move closer to achieving our common goal of a more integrated, peaceful and prosperous Mediterranean.”

Source UfM website

2nd call for experts WestMED stakeholder Group on Susttainable tourism incl beach with kayak

2nd Call for Experts: WestMED Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism | Deadline 31 March 2025 (EOB)

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Deadline to register for this 2nd Call for experts: 31st March 2025 (EOB). Only applications submitted within the deadline will be accepted. In case of  too many applications, prioritization will be given to experts from Southern shore countries of the Western Mediterranean region.

About the Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism

Given the fact that tourism plays such a significant role in the Western Mediterranean as one of the key contributors to both the upside gains as well as the downside risks of the blue economy, there is an urgent need for enhancing eco-tourism in the region. In order to address the challenges of the sector in the Mediterranean, we should enhance EU and external territorial cooperation (including non-EU WestMED countries as partners such as Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) and promote active knowledge sharing amongst stakeholders from both the northern and southern shore, to multiply results.

The Westmed Initiative has set up a technical group on Sustainable Tourism, the objective of which is to serve as a technical forum to discuss trends and opportunities towards sustainable tourism within the region and to provide support to participants to develop project ideas around the topics already set at EU level with regards to the tourism-related topics of green transition, digitalization, promotion of social inclusion, governance, and skills.

In 2024 we issued a call for experts and we are reissuing a second call, calling for experts particularly in the Southern shore countries of the Westmed.

We are looking for technical stakeholders of tourism initiatives including: partners of the Interreg Euro MED Sustainable Tourism Mission; partners from previous EU tourism projects; Mediterranean Tourism Stakeholders from the public and private sector; Non-EU Associated Partners; Travel Foundation; Associations; Networks; Tourism businesses; research and innovation centers; technological centers; universities; ports and their representatives; townhalls; yachting/small cruising; nautical sector, etc.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

Role: This expert group will suggest project proposals and be the main contact point for establishing consortia and projects for future EU funding opportunities around sustainable tourism. The expert group will also serve as the main forum to discuss specific topics of interest to the group.
 Participants in the WG are currently in the process of setting up project proposal.

Requested involvement: This group will gather periodically to be informed about opportunities, recent developments and discuss specific topics of their choice. We envision to have 3-4 online meetings with the expert group per year.

Application

For questions: contact Marta Pascual from the WestMED National Hub Spain or Stephanie Vella from the WestMED Nation Hub Malta

Check the dedicated Sustainable Tourism Technical Group page

coastline Mediterranean with sea and olive tree on the rocks

 

 

 

WestMED event Libya: Investing in the Sustainable Blue Economy

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This event took place on February 8, 2025 in Benghazi, and was organised in cooperation with the Ministery of Investment. Its main focus was to highlight and discuss investment opportunities in the blue economy and their role in sustainable development, while at the same time  highlighting Libya’s participation in the WestMED Initiative and its significance in fostering regional collaboration.

The workshop opened with welcoming remarks and appreciation for the organizing committee. The Minister of Investment delivered the keynote speech, stressing the importance of cooperation between institutions and the need to diversify Libya’s economy beyond oil through sustainable investments. He also reaffirmed his support for the WestMED Initiative and its role in strengthening regional partnerships.

This was followed by remarks from Dr. Abeer Al-Awami, Director of Strategic Planning and Investment at the Ministry, and Masauda Abuarosha, Libya’s National Hub Representative, who introduced the WestMED Initiative and emphasized Libya’s role in advancing the blue economy. The Italian National Hub Representative, Mr. Leonardo Manzari, delivered an insightful presentation outlining the initiative’s objectives, providing real-world examples, and showcasing key achievements. His presentation was well-received by attendees.

Throughout the event, 18 presentations were delivered, covering various topics related to the blue economy, investment opportunities, and sustainable development. The discussions were engaging, highlighting both challenges and promising prospects for Libya in this sector.

The event gathered 56 attendees representing academia, research organizations, government ministries, international representatives, media, and NGOs. Notable participants included universities such as Benghazi, Tobruk, and Omar Al-Mukhtar, research bodies like the Libyan Authority for Scientific Research, representatives from multiple government ministries, the Benghazi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and diplomatic representatives from Italy and Morocco. also from the League of Arab States.

At the conclusion of the event, certificates of appreciation were awarded to all participants, and a shield of gratitude was presented to Mr. Leonardo Manzari and Dr Masauda Abuarosha. The Minister of Investment hosted an official lunch for all attendees in recognition of their contributions.

The workshop resulted in several key recommendations, including the need to strengthen investment in the blue economy, support the private sector, enhance vocational and higher education, secure financial backing for projects, and ensure environmental sustainability.

The next workshop is planned for after Ramadan (most likely April 2025), continuing efforts to advance Libya’s blue economy.

 

For more information on this event, contact Masauda Abuarosha (WestMED National Hub Libya)

 

Confrence hall filled with participants for the WestMED event in Libya on Blue Economy investments - February 2025

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Regular updates on WestMED (Technical) thematic stakeholder group activities

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The WestMED Assistance Mechanism (WM-AM) has initiated several thematic discussion platforms. Current and future maritime developments are being discussed with lead stakeholders from the participating countries under the guidance of  WM-AM  facilitators, with a focus on concrete actions – often in the form of joint project development.

To provide insights in the objectives and activities of these stakeholder groups, regular updates will be provided in the form of short presentations. These presentations can be found as a pdf file on the respective thematic stakeholder group pages:

If you are interested to know more or consider joining, just get in touch with the respective WestMED National Hubs that are mentioned on each of these pages

Ali Shagrune meeting the miister of Tourism and traditional industries Nasreddine Milad Al-Fazzani, January 22, 2025

The libyan Minister of Tourism and Traditional Industries Meets with the Head of the Libyan Maritime Cluster/ WestMED’s national coordinator to Promote the Blue Economy

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The Minister of Tourism and Traditional Industries, Nasreddine Milad Al-Fazzani, held a meeting today, Wednesday, January 22, 2025, with the Head of the Libyan Maritime Cluster and WestMED’s National Coordinator, Eng. Ali Shagrune, to discuss enhancing the direction toward the blue economy. The meeting was attended by the Minister’s Advisor, Eng. Khaled Mohamed, and the Director of the Industries Department, Najib Al-Habshi.

During the meeting, discussions focused on intensifying efforts to promote the blue economy, considering the Ministry of Tourism and Traditional Industries as one of the key sectors in this field. The Minister emphasized that tourism is one of the primary sources for supporting the national economy and transitioning from a rent-based economy to a diversified economy that contributes to sustainable development for current and future generations. His Excellency stressed the importance of supporting blue economy-related projects, describing them as the optimal pathway for economic development in Libya, following the example of other nations. The meeting also  addressed the mechanism for establishing the Maghreb Maritime Cluster , encompassing all Maghreb countries, to facilitate the exchange of expertise among these nations.

Eng. Ali Shagrune highlighted the significance of establishing the Libyan Maritime Cluster as a platform aimed at developing the economy and encouraging investment in various tourism sectors, such as coastal tourism, marine excursions, and the construction and development of recreational ports. He also emphasized the importance of training and development to create a skilled workforce in the tourism field. The Libyan Maritime Cluster is expected to serve as a central platform for coordinating policies, attracting investment, and supporting sustainable growth in the blue economy, ultimately positioning Libya as a leading tourism hub in the Mediterranean region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister expressed his gratitude to the Head of the Maritime Cluster for his dedication and interest in the Libyan Maritime Cluster platform and the blue economy project. He reaffirmed his unlimited support for the success of such programs and meetings aimed at advancing the blue economy in Libya and fostering a diversified and sustainable economy.

 

Text/ photo: based on facebook post: Ministry of Tourism and Traditional Industries – Libya

 

white blue city sidibou-said,tunisia with blue sea in the background

Tunisia assumes co-presidency of the WestMED Initiative

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The Republic of Tunisia, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians abroad and the Secretariat General for Sea Affairs is assuming the co-presidency of the WestMED Initiative for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Mediterranean from January 2025 until December 2026.

Taking into consideration its strong commitment to the principles and values of peaceful coexistance and sustainable development among the peoples of the region, Tunisia will co-preside the initiative with Portugal during 2025 then with Spain in 2026, fully in line with the Initiative’s rotating co-chairmanship. Tunisia has taken over this responsibility from Mauritania who has held this role for the past two years.

Tunisia’s co-chairmanship will be an opportunity to reflect the concerns and expectations of the southern state members of the Initiative through cooperative strategies and policies in favour of a sustainable blue economy with the aim to harmonize the development between the two shores of the western mediterranean region, particularly in the fields of green transport, blue skills, sustainable tourism, sustainable fishing and aquaculture, as well as the preservation and the empowerment of the coastal areas and communities.

In this regard, Tunisia intends to work with its WestMED Initiative partners on issues aimed at:

  • Highlighting the need for stronger cooperation between the members of the initiative to achieve the objectives of decarbonization and the green maritime transport.
  • Creating synergies between northern and southern mediterranean countries to ensure a smooth energy transition of the commercial and fishing fleet.
  • Promoting sustainable fishing practices and mitigate the impacts of aquaculture on the marine environment
  • Addressing the disparities in port infrastructure development between the northern and the southern mediterranean countries.
  • Ensuring the transition to more sustainable practices in the tourism sector.
  • Developing blue skills training programs and facilitate cooperation between the two shores of the western mediterranean to share know-how and strengthen capacities and careers in the blue economy, particularly in terms of sustainability and decarbonization.
aerial from container ship at sea with TG Green shipping logo

Launch of S3 Thematic partnership “Shipbuilding Propulsion Systems Alliance” with 26 partners from 3 EU sea basins

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Maritime transport and Ports probably represent the core sector, to win the challenge of sustainability of the Blue Economy, considering its impact in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA) and jobs creation across the EU and its neighbouriung regions.

Greening the EU maritime transport is therefore pivotal to ‘green’ the EU blue economy at large (including tourism, aquaculture, biotechs, marine renewable energy).

But a green transition for the EU maritime transport sectors requires a common vision to equip ports and fleets in a coherent way, within a network capable to ensure their operativity.

Therefore, within the work of the WestMED Technical Group on Green Shipping,the strong need emerged to re-configurate the shipbuilding supply chain and create the production capacity to equip the fleets with propulsion systems, using alternative fuels.

Shipbuilding Propulsion Systems Alliance
For this reason the WestMED Technical Group on Green Shipping, the EU Seabasin Assistance Mechanism, promoted by CINEA and DG Mare, have supported a dedicated Smart Specialisation (S3) Thematic Partnership in this area, encountering the interest of the impacted territories where shipbuilding operations are mostly located, and involving different stakeholders – authorities, research and innovation centres, businesses and investors.

 The newly launched S3 Thematic partnership “Shipbuilding Propulsion Systems Alliance”, led by Region Liguria, Região capital de Portugal, Region Attica, brings together 26 partners – including Regional Bodies, Businesses, Cluster Organisations, Research & Innovation Centres and Civil Society Organisations – from 5 EU Member states  and 4 non EU partner countries spread across 3 EU Sea basins (Mediterranean Atlantic, Black Sea).

 The initiative, more specifically, aims at:

  • Speeding  up the modernisation and renewal of the supply chains related to the production/refitting of propulsion systems, as well as to the delivery of the fuel, for each type of alternative fuel.
  • Accelerating the replacement/refitting of traditionally propelled fleets to diversify, renew, revitalise the sector across Europe and its neighbourhoods;
  • Fostering the adoption of innovative fiscal and financial schemes, to allow shipowners, shipbuilders and related stakeholders to achieve greater impact and sustainability for their investments.

 

For more information on this Partnership, visit the  S3 Community of Practice page of the European Commission