The number of legal immigrants in Italy reached 5 million, of which 500,000 are entrepreneurs, said an official of the Italian Centre for Studies and Research (IDOS) during an International meeting on 'A new EU-US Marshall Plan for the Mediterranean: economic and political development cooperation', initiated by the Mediterranean Prospects Association in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Ebert Foundation.

According to IDOS, which publishes an annual report on migration flows in Italy, four foreign communities are recognized for their dynamism in the creation of companies, notably the Moroccan community with 60,000 entrepreneurs and self-employed, followed by the Albanian with 30 thousand, then in Tunisia and Egypt (between 14 000 and 15 000 each).

In a recent book published by the same center, one notes that between 2007-2011, the individual companies with a foreign boss rose to 51.1 pc (from 165,144 to 249,464) and those with Moroccans on their head to 61.1 pc, bringing their impact by 14.3 pc to 16.5 pc.

Among the 249,464 companies with foreign bosses and active in late 2011, a total of 41,223 have a Moroccan boss, mostly male (90 pc), specifies the IDOS who noted that the Moroccan entrepreneurship, such as immigrants in general is a phenomenon mainly concentrated in certain regions and in certain sectors of economic activity.

Regarding the theme of the conference, the speakers explained that a 'Marshall Plan is likely to promote the integration of immigrants in particular, the development of economic activities in their home countries and thus contribute, through them, to the international expansion of Italian companies. ''

Speaking at the meeting organized in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Italy and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, a senior official of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the 'good percentage' 'of migrants who have an entrepreneurial vocation, '' from North Africa and the Middle East, saying that the development of an entrepreneurial fabric is one of the main objectives that has set the Italian Cooperation '.

Enumerating these objectives, the Italian official indicates that it is particular to 'accompany the democratic transition of the countries of the southern Mediterranean' ',' encourage the emergence of an entrepreneurial solid tissue '' and 'support the most deprived social classes of the population.' '

For him, 'Development Cooperation in the region is a direct strategic investment' 'for Italy.

This international meeting brought together, Thursday and Friday, senior political leaders from several countries as well as senior Italian officials, representatives of international organizations, academics and researchers.

The discussion focused on the latest research findings on critical topics such as energy and water resources, the problem of underemployment, as well as attempts to provide solutions to support growing and coexistence in the region.