Italian Scientists and Scholars of North America Foundation
|
 |
Home > USA > Business events
ITALY ON A MISSION TO SOUTH AFRICA
The goal is to increase the trade links between South Africa and Italy, which in 2006 was the ninth destination for South African exports. With this objective in mind, the Italian Trade Commission (Ice), Confindustria (the Confederation of Italian industry) and ABI (the Italian banks' association) have organised an official delegation of Italian entrepreneurs to coincide with the State visit to Johannesburg, Cape Town e Durban of Foreign minister Massimo D'Alema and Trade minister Emma Bonino, scheduled for 8-12th July.
The delegation will include firms from the Agroindustrial, Technological and Telecommunications, Biotech & Environmental, Mechanical-electronic, Plastics and Automotive, Textile-clothing, Shoes & Leather, Jewellery, Tourism and Infrastructure sectors. The main event during the trip will be the Forum "Business opportunities between South Africa and Italy", taking place in Johannesburg on 9th July, which will focus on Agroindustry, Infrastructures, Construction, Energy, Environment, Mechanics, Automotive and Jewellery.
The Forum will provide an opportunity to show politicians and entrepreneurs from the two countries the opportunities for investment and cooperation between Italy and South Africa. The keynote speakers will be Mr D'Alema and Vice-president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, while the afternoon will be dedicated to meetings between Italian and South African businesses.
The next day will provide a deeper insight into the opportunities for investments in South Africa, with a series of technical seminars on manufacturing, finance and marketing issues: infrastructures and construction materials, jewellery, financial instruments available to promote foreign direct investment.
From the afternoon of the 10th until the 12th July the delegation will split into two groups: one destined for Cape Town, the other for Durban. The first group will comprise firms from the Tourism, Wine, Fishing, Agricultural machines and Food & Beverages processing & packaging sectors. The second will include representatives from the Logistics and Infrastructure, Construction materials, Energy and Environmental, Mechanics and Automotive components industries. Both groups will have 'back-to-back' meetings with local businesses and will attend seminars on regional investment opportunities: in the Western Cape province in the first case, and in the KwaZulu-Natal province in the second.
South Africa could provide an interesting opportunity for Italian firms: its GDP accounts for one third of the entire Southern African region, and in terms of infrastructures and financial services it is one of the most advanced countries on the African continent. A stable political and institutional framework contributes to a favourable business climate: on the whole, risks for investments are low while opportunities for growth are still high.
Events Programme
|
|
|
