Round Table on a Business Coalition for Peace in the Greater Mediterranean Region - Meeting Report

This is the report of a Round Table meeting on a Business Coalition for Peace in the Greater Mediterranean Region, which took place on November 29th, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 20 participants from businesses, civil society, international organizations and academics took part in the meeting. The meeting was hosted by TÜSIAD, the Turkish Industry and Business Association and has been made possible with the financial support of the Hollings Center for International Dialogue. 

A team of business and peace experts have taken the initiative to organize a Round Table meeting whereby business leaders and investors that are active in the Greater Mediterranean region (including Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa) would discuss the idea of a “Business Coalition for Peace”. This coalition is envisaged as a business-to-business platform facilitating the sharing of best practices and innovative solutions to operational challenges, as well as developing opportunities to stabilize and build markets in fragile and conflict affected states. Ultimately, the platform can contribute to building positive peace as well as help improve business policies and practices to prevent companies from contributing to conflict and fragility. 

During the meeting, the different options for engaging in peacebuilding in the Greater Mediterranean Region by businesses were explored. The conclusion of the meeting was that there is a need and interest to further develop a business coalition or a ‘business club for peace’ in the Greater Mediterranean region, given the large challenges for establishing a positive peace based on peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region and the growing awareness by businesses that they have a role to play in overcoming these challenges. The participants to the meeting agreed that the way forward is to identify interested parties who would be willing to support such a platform.