Launched by the president of the urban commune, Dr. Mohamed Idaamar, and the deputy Merinda Sabada, in charge of Economic Affairs and representative of the president of Granada, this first meeting of Moroccan and Spanish businessmen, held in Tetouan, marked the kick-off of what looks like a nursery or "incubator" of partnerships between Moroccan and Spanish entrepreneurs.
President Mohamed Idaamar recalled that this initiative of the European Union is an added value in bilateral relations and is likely to further strengthen relations between the urban commune of Tetouan and the Spanish province of Granada. He declared himself very satisfied with the creation of a nursery associating Moroccan and Spanish entrepreneurs. The representative of the president of the province of Granada, Merinda Sadaba, recalled that the creation of this nursery was intended to generate business activities and especially employment opportunities in the north and south of the Mediterranean and subsequently improve the various programmes of the entrepreneurial fabric. "Since 1988, the city of Tetouan has been twinned with Granada and it is time to enhance the activities of Moroccan and Spanish companies and especially to improve the capacity and quality of production in order to redouble the cooperation of Moroccan and Spanish companies. Among other things, this important initiative also plans to internalise companies, to allow the transmission of knowledge, and to sharpen the competitiveness of industrial units on both shores of the Mediterranean."
Within the framework of the "Coopetition" programme, it was also recalled that, for the first time, Morocco was at the head of the list of countries chosen by Spain in import-export with a turnover of 5.3 billion euros. The "Inno Mercamed" project, intended for cross-border entrepreneurial innovation in Granada-North of Morocco, was launched within the framework of the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) programme. It is financed up to 75% by the European Union and 25% by the province of Granada. Thus, it is a question of giving a clear impulse to companies launched in the food industry, retail trade, crafts, and tourism. This important project will have to promote economic exchanges between the north of Morocco and the province of Granada and to highlight the potential and assets existing both in the north of Morocco and in the large region or province of Granada. Let us recall on this occasion that the province of Chefchaouen and the summer city of Oued Laou are full members and beneficiaries of the "Inno Mercamed" project launched from Tetouan. A second meeting is planned, in the coming weeks, in Granada.
-* The "Inno Mercamed" project is launched within the framework of the creation of workshops or nurseries to enhance the production of companies in charge of the food industry, retail trade, crafts, and tourism.
-* This initiative is financed by the European Regional Development Fund, with 75% contribution from the European Union and 25% from the province of Granada.
-* The first meeting of "Inno Mercamed" held in Tetouan also falls within the framework of the twinning that unites the latter with the province of Granada.
