In the framework of the EBSOMED project, the "Donor Funding, Banking, and Novel Financial Instruments in the MEDA-Region" Workshop was organized by the German Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GACIC) in collaboration with ASCAME on 16 and 17 June 2019 in Cairo in Egypt.

The event brought together political actors, representatives of various international institutions, cooperation, and development programs and also banking and financial groups.

In addition to several key interventions, the first day presented relevant calls for proposals dedicated to Business Support Organizations and to highlight the role of these structures in promoting financing for the benefit of triangular cooperation between Europe, Africa, and Mediterranean.

In a word delivered to the audience by an official representative, the Egyptian Prime Minister announced: "For many centuries, the EU has been and will remain Egypt's first partner in the sectors of the economy, trade, commerce, tourism, education, and training. We are now facing common challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region and we must all work together to confront them in bilateral, regional and international levels."

ASCAME President Mr Ahmed El-Wakil inaugurated the event by saying:  "There is a global partnership with the government to achieve growth and development, and this Conference is an opportunity to involve partners and trade union representatives for the practical development of the region."

Imad Ghali, president of the German-Arab Chamber of Commerce, said: "businessmen and small investors are better positioned to find solutions to the daily challenges of economic growth through entrepreneurial opportunities, especially in terms of legal reforms."

"We agreed on cooperation to achieve the goals of sustainable development, modernize the economy and support businessmen, and Egypt has made great progress in achieving these goals," said Ibrahim Lavia, a representative of the EU Delegation to Egypt.

The three plenary sessions of the second day focused on the following themes:

• Preferential lines of credit and low-interest rate loans
• New non-bank financial instruments (factoring, leasing, mortgage financing, venture capital, and private equity)
• Grants and technical assistance made available to Business Support Organisations