The CDGs of Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia strengthen their cooperation in the face of the challenges of the Mediterranean

Those responsible have achieved ‘the creation of a permanent consultation framework (CPC) that, on the one hand, promotes the sharing of good practices and expertise between the Funds, and on the other hand, promotes interactions with the Mediterranean financial ecosystem to promote the implementation of concrete solutions. projects that have a direct impact on the population,” according to a press release from the Caisse de dépôt et de gestion du Maroc.

Members of the Caisses de Dépôt Forum, the Moroccan, French, Italian and Tunisian Caisses maintain historic and rich relationships based on trust, sharing and mutual respect, the press release notes, adding that they are strong in this dialogue and aware of the inherent problems in the In the Euro-Mediterranean area, during the 7th conference of the Forum des Caisses de Dépôt in Abidjan, in September 2023, these four institutions initiated a dynamic aimed at further strengthening their cooperation.

This first meeting in Rome therefore reflects the common ambition of the four managers of the Caisses to develop collective solutions to the major challenges facing the Mediterranean region, led by global warming, while protecting the marine and coastal biodiversity of the The Mediterranean Sea, unique in the world, is in serious danger, we note.

”Coastal erosion, rising sea levels, desertification, water shortages… So many phenomena that are already a reality for many countries in the region. To these environmental challenges are added the social, economic and energy problems that have been exacerbated in recent years by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine,” the same source continued.

On all these topics, the Caisses de Dépôt, leading countercyclical players, committed to the common good, have “developed real expertise by deploying innovative solutions on a national scale”.

Faced with this observation, the discussions between the Managing Directors focused on three main themes corresponding to the action priorities of each of the Funds, namely investments, climate and biodiversity and financial innovation at the service of human resources.

At the end of their discussions, the creation of the CPC was thus established, which will provide a ‘flexible and operational’ discussion platform between the four institutions, allowing them to exchange good practices in key sectors such as urban planning development, climate change adaptation, protection of biodiversity, development of sustainable infrastructure and financing of projects implemented by startups and SMEs.

According to them, the CPC will also promote interaction and coordination with the entire Mediterranean financial ecosystem, whether national structures close to the Caisses de Dépôts model or key financial players in the Mediterranean, such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), national development agencies or various networks of investors, especially in the long term, to ensure appropriate synergies between the different financial instruments.

They also welcomed the role and actions of the Union for the Mediterranean (UMZ) as a multilateral framework for cooperation in the Mediterranean, fully committed to the sustainable and inclusive economic development of the region.

Faced with the many challenges facing the region, in particular that of climate change, the Directors stressed that the Caisses de Dépôts were “fully mobilized to continue implementing innovative and concrete responses for the benefit of the population and the protection of the environment’. .

Mr. Safir, quoted in the press release, underlined on this occasion the need to seize this opportunity to place the Caisses de Dépôts on a sustainable development path.

Thus, he affirmed “that we, Caisses de Dépôts, to have a better world tomorrow and to go beyond proclaiming principles, must have new ambitions and undoubtedly invent new methods of action. A new phase, a new strategy, must support everyone in these transitions for the well-being of future generations.

For his part, Mr Lombard was delighted that climate and environmental issues were at the center of exchanges between Mediterranean funds. “To respond to the unprecedented challenges facing the region, collective and determined action is essential. This is the meaning of this meeting and our engagement with my Italian, Moroccan and Tunisian colleagues,” he said.

For her part, Ms. Gharbi confidently affirmed during the meeting the need to place actions in a sustainable development path. She said that in order to build a better future, it is imperative to adopt new ambitions and rethink the methods of action.

“Our horizons must be focused on supporting the transitions necessary for the well-being of future generations and ensuring that our action has an impact. As members of the Forum des Caisses de Dépôt, we share this commitment to collective and determined action to tackle the problems. multiple challenges facing our region,” she added.

At the end of their discussions, the four Caisse managers more broadly recalled the relevance of the Caisse de Dépôt model as an establishment that mobilizes domestic resources to finance long-term economic, social and environmental development.

In this context, the Directors-General reiterated their desire to fully contribute to the discussions in the various international fora on financing development and ecological and digital transitions, as the deposit funds represented a relevant financial instrument serving these objectives, it concludes press release.