On the 24th and the 25th of June 2015, the first edition of the Rome Business School’s Italia – Africa Business Forum took place in Rome. Several Italian and African entrepreneurs – from 21 Countries – took part in this event and had a chance to deepen their knowledge of valuable business opportunities in the countries represented and to initiate commercial relationships.
There was a very qualified participation of institutional representatives. All of the speakers shared their entrepreneurial experiences and success stories between Italy and Africa with the participants, offering the opportunity for new ventures and relevant stimuli. In his welcome message, the president of the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament, the Hon. Gianni Pittella, said that “the Rome Business School’s Italia – Africa Business Forum represents a praiseworthy initiative to reinforce commercial and institutional relationships between African countries and Italy. More broadly, it is a useful chance to bring Europe and Africa close together and unite them, in a growing perspective of cooperation and synergy”.
Among others, delegates of the Liberian, South African, South Sudanese and Zimbabwean Embassies in Italy, and representatives of the General Directorate for Sustainable Development, Environmental Damage and Relations with the European Union and International Organizations of the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea participated in the event.
Today, Africa is the continent with the highest growth rate and most business opportunities. The wealth of this continent is due to its abundant natural resources, to its workforce and to its strong determination to grow. For Italy, the ninth economy in the world based on exports, Africa represents a market full of major opportunities.
Given this background, the Rome Business School’s Italia – Africa Business Forum created a positive environment for dialogue and confrontation, which will be repeated with the aim of contributing to the sustainable and socially responsible economic development of these territories.
