Sectors of intervention

One of the aims of the IABW is to create a synergy between the needs of Africa and the Italian know-how within these sectors:

Infrastructures

The infrastructural deficit represents one of the biggest problems in most Africa countries. The Italian know how in this domain can be fundamental to optimize the use of recourses and allow African states reach full economic potential. The infrastructural development, beside the attraction of foreign investments, might positively influence the trade levels inside Africa.

Renewable energy

In most part of the continent still there are no networks which can guarantee full electrical coverage over the territory, with all difficulties that this absence implies. The renewables energies might represent the best solution to the lack of electricity; in fact new technologies, like solar and wind, might in such cases compensate this gap in a totally eco-compatible way, economically and politically profitable (many states in the world suffer the dependence from oil).

Agriculture and Agribusiness

The agro-food sector, which goes from agriculture to agro-industry, is one of the potential engines for growth of the Countries of Subsaharan Africa. The agriculture uses 60% of population and represents 24% of GDP in the region. Moreover it contributes, more than any other sector, to the global growth of income in rural areas; it stimulates the growth in other business sectors (growing demands of goods and services produced outside the sector), reduces global levels of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Agriculture and Agribusiness are two of the sectors most promising for the development of the African continent.

Innovative start-ups and new technologies

The average age of the entire African continent, 19, tells a lot about the creative opportunities embodied by the start-ups that animate the continent: Rwanda and Ethiopia are, in this sense, the elephants of Africa. Today innovation is the key to economy trasformation, from global to digital: internet and mobiles are fundamental resources for access to knowledge and know-how. Reducing the digital divide, making the most of resources and enhancing African creativity by putting new technologies and European technological know-how at the service of primary needs is the key to promoting growth, knowledge and sustainable development.

Biomedical

Health is a primary good for any Country, but it is also a powerful tool of economic wellbeing as, in order to function, a sanitary system needs health personnel and an industry which produces medical technologies useful for prevention and diagnosis, cure and rehabilitation. The sector of medical devices can contribute in an important manner to this change of speed in African Countries, creating the basis for a development not only economical, but also social. For this reason, it is fundamental to create the conditions in order to motivate the partnership between Italy and African countries, with the aim to introduce innovative devices and lifesaver, to favor the education of medical-health personnel, to stimulate the birth of health infrastructures and surgeries. A coordinated action of this kind would create value and jobs at all levels and for all Countries involved.

Textile and fashion

According to the African Development Bank, the value of the fashion market in Africa fluctuates between 15 and 30 billion dollars a year: more than a half is represented by the informal market. Creativity in the textile sector of much of the African continent goes hand in hand with the production of raw materials, from cotton to vegetable fibers to semi-finished leather. Out of 54 countries in the continent 38 are producers of high quality cotton: the strengthening of the textile industry and the fashion manufacturing sector have already had a great impact on the economies of countries such as Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Morocco.

A sector, that of fashion, which is already exploding in Africa: the international fashion weeks in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa recall, every year, a vast public, of high economic depth and not only in Africa and in this context the “Made in Italy“, Which alone represents a quality brand recognized all over the world, can play a strategic role both to supply ideas and raw materials and to transfer skills and create new growth opportunities in Africa.

Tourism and safety

Safaris and tourist villages, climbing and backpack-on-shoulder trips, modern cities full of clubs and rich nightlife, high-level forums and cultural events, Africa is now partially stripped of that romantic and stereotyped patina of yellow and sandy roads, drums and big game.

The complexity, the diversity and the poignant beauty of so many areas of the continent makes Africa a perfect place to create economy through tourism and there are many Italian companies that, in this sector, have carved out a space of quality and important economy in the country where they are installed.

Waste management

The great urbanization of Africa’s different cities poses a great challenge, fundamental for the quality of life and the protection of the environment: the management of urban waste and water treatment. The potential future African smart-cities, with a view to improving services and substantially reducing operating costs, have the need for more intelligent and efﬁcient collection systems and low environmental impact and large capacity disposal systems. of recycling. The global technological revolution is transforming the way we think about waste management: in this, Africa represents a great opportunity for experimentation, development and growth.

Activities

CONFERENCES

Our conferences will have as speakers international expert who will offer and share new, specific and innovative views.

ROUND TABLES

An opportunity to deepen a specific theme in a more technical way and in a numerically narrower environment.

B2B AND NETWORKING

An innovative format: B2B and Deal Rooms Work sessions very interactive, the B2B and Deal Rooms will bring together entrepreneurs, investors and lenders of the same activity sector. They will also be able to present their development projects and identify new partners. In the B2B meeting it will be possible: to meet a qualified representation of African and Italian entrepreneurs; to acquire a list of potential Partners divided by sector; The agenda of the B2B meetings will be organized by a system of MATCHING. By doing this we will take into consideration the preferences expressed by the participants who have previously received the list of businesses which will participate with their characteristics.

WORKSHOPS

Grand finale at the end of the third edition of Italia Africa Business Week with a spectacular Gala dinner: music, food, fashion show to enhance the cultural dynamics italo-African.

GALA DINNER

Grand finale at the end of the third edition of Italia Africa Business Week, un Dîner de Gala sera l’évènement de clôture du forum: musique, degustation et défilé de mode pour valoriser la dynamique culturelle italo-africaine.