Wednesday May 10th, during the EMENA Foundation’s board meeting, Jesmond Gatt was appointed as new administrator of the Foundation on behalf of MGI. He then elected Ayman Soliman as Chairman to succeed to Pascal Lagarde, Executive Director of Bpifrance within the framework of a rotative chairmanship. The Board meeting was followed by its general assembly and other committees’ meetings.

On Thursday 11^th, members of the Foundation such as Ithmar Capital (Morocco), CDP (Italy), la Caisse des Dépôts (France), the European Investment Bank (EU), The One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Framework (OPSWF), the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) and the Union for Mediterranean gathered and discussed investments projects in the Mediterranean region. All talks had the main objective to tackle  climate change challenges with for SMEs and the development of innovation and infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on the development of Smart Cities. Investors like  (Averroes Africa -Bpifrance, Tilt Capital, Amethis, Stoa and Meridiam) and companies (Egis, Magriser, Ragni, Raxio) were both invided to these sessions.

« EMENA should serve as a catalyst to foster investments in the Mediterranean area, putting together institutional public investors, asset managers, and corporates active in the region. I am glad that the Paris meeting has increased the visibility of the EMENA and the network amongst members funds and corporates within the EMENA region” said Pascal Lagarde, Chairman of the EMENA Foundation and Executive Director at Bpifrance. Adding: “it is great news for the EMENA to welcome KIA, the sovereign wealth fund of Kuwait”.