adminAddressing invited guests to the celebration of the country’s National Day, Italian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Stefano Moscatelli said the achievements in the past year signify a strengthening of the economic and cultural ties between Zimbabwe and Italy.
“In the past few months we have seen a significant increase in inquiries from Italian companies interested in doing business with Zimbabwe,” Ambassador Moscatelli said.
As a result, Italian companies — both resident and non-resident in Zimbabwe — have increased their participation at all the major business fairs in the country. These include the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, where the Italian pavilion won a prize for the second best foreign stand this year, the Harare Agricultural Show and the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair.
A delegation of key players in the Italian tourism industry that visited the tourism fair last year included buyers from Vertours S.r.l. and Il Viaggio Journeys and Voyages as well as tourism journalists from media organisations Latitudes S.r.l and Mondointasca.
The delegation expressed enthusiasm at the business opportunities that the Zimbabwean tourism industry has to offer.
Companies representing a wide cross-section of the Italian economy are seeking linkages with Zimbabwean enterprises as they realise the growth potential that the country offers. Italian companies that are exploring opportunities on the local market include manufacturers of machinery for the mining industry, the plastic industry, earthmoving, solar photovoltaic plants, industrial motors, polyethylene piping, construction industry and footwear.
Teofilo Solutions, a manufacturer of aluminium products for the construction industry, and food processing company Spodale Investments exhibited at ZITF for the first time this year and made some solid contacts during the fair.
In August last year, the Italian Embassy stand at the Harare Agricultural Show, visited by President Mugabe, also hosted representatives from the Italian agriculture and food processing industries Puccioni S.p.A, Agrotech and Sint Tecnologie S.r.l.
A leading fertiliser manufacturer with a presence in more than 65 countries across the world, Puccioni S.p.A has since appointed a local distributor for its products.
As part of initiatives to facilitate stronger business and cultural ties with Zimbabwe, the Italian Embassy launched an introductory course in Italian language and culture in January this year.
The first class to take this course graduated recently and the second intake which includes the beginners’ and intermediate classes is underway.
On the cultural relations between Italy and Zimbabwe, the ambassador said: “We actively promote the exchange of ideas and creativity through our culture exchange programme. This has seen the participation of Italian artistes at the Harare International Festival of the Arts and the October International Jazz and World Music Festival and the recent Zimbabwe International Carnival.”
The embassy’s culture exchange programme also facilitated successful tours by Dudu Manhenga to Italy last year where she performed in front of the Pope at the Roman Catholic Church’s One World Family Love Concert in Milan.
She also performed at the 25th edition of GrandPrix Advertising Strategies Awards ceremony where she was honoured with the Premio Comunicazione e Impegno Sociale.
The award is conferred to individuals of international standing in recognition of their work in effectively using their talents to communicate progressive social messages.
Interaction among Zimbabwean and Italian artistes in the cultural sphere has also led to the Zimbo-Ita project.
This collaboration between Zimbabwean drummer-cum-singer Blessing Chimanga and Italian musicians Max Covini and Matteo Boldini performed at the Zimbabwe International Carnival this year and it has toured Italy, performing extensively in the past year.
In the visual arts sector, Zimbabwe will participate in the Venice Biennale for the second time after the successful maiden exhibition at the global showcase in 2011. Salini Costruttori will sponsor an art exhibition of the Kariba Dam construction that will be shown in Rome this month.
Ambassador Moscatelli also took the opportunity to thank Italian citizens and companies resident in Zimbabwe for their support.
Online Reporter