Mar. 20 – With eleven nations ranking in the World Bank’s top twenty countries with the highest growth rate between 2013 and 2015, Africa is the ultimate investment opportunity for Italian companies. And the Italia-Africa Business Forum, held today in Confindustria’s auditorium in Rome, delivered the message loud and clear to the 250 Italian representatives from businesses, banks, and associations present. Paolo Zegna, chairman of Confindustria’s Technical Committee for Internationalization, said that “Italian SMEs can become priority partners for African countries ‘but’ big multinationals are able to move more smoothly.” It thus appears that “inter-industry ventures are the way to go for Italian SMEs.” Africa can be a valuable springboard for companies active in the food industry, as the presence of Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina demonstrated. “I think I can say without a shadow of a doubt – said the minister – that we can play an important role in the food supply chain, developing essential partnerships in Africa in the coming years.” Riccardo Monti, president of ICE, explained how “very little trade and very few investments” characterize the current relationship between Italy and Africa, Because of this, “it is essential that we explain in a clear manner the opportunities, especially in the agro-business sector to encourage bilateral trade and activities with Confindustria, create trade and promote and select the sectors on which to focus, in addition to strengthening the currently adopted financial instruments.” ICE has recently opened an office in Mozambique and will soon open other offices in Angola, Ethiopia and Nigeria.
