in collaboration with PMI

As the pandemic now appears to be on a slowly subsiding trajectory, its impact on international trade will be long-lasting. The closure of borders and the suspension of several trade activities took a heavy toll on businesses and companies while inevitably disrupting and impairing traditional supply chains across the regions. In addition to this, supply chains, specifically international and transnational ones, remain major targets for organized crime and require special attention as well as greater protection from authorities in the fight against illicit activities. Organised criminal cartels have proved highly skilled in exploiting legislative loopholes, the internet, and the vulnerabilities of fragile economies. They capitalize on gaps in governance, regulations, and oversight to develop their activities. Following the spread of the virus, Illicit networks have proven to easily adapt to a changing operating environment.

In the Mediterranean region, which remains a highly strategic crossroad for global trade, these threats can be mitigated by a deeper cooperation and better coordination to protect the illicit infiltrations of supply chains. This panel will offer an opportunity to discuss how to improve supply chain security and mitigate the risk of organized crime infiltrations and the strategies of MENA regions’ Governments at the national, regional, and multilateral levels to address the transnational security threats from illicit networks.