Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
ITALY has stepped up efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties with Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector following a high-level business mission that brought leading Italian agri-food technology firms to Harare last week.
The mission, organised by the Italian Embassy in Zimbabwe with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) in Johannesburg, South Africa, culminated in the launch of the “Italian Agri-food Technology for Africa” project, an initiative aimed at promoting collaboration in agricultural production, processing and value addition.
The delegation, led by Agri-food Consulting president Mr Renzo Piraccini, comprised representatives from seven Italian companies — UNITEC, GREENEXTA, ARETÈ, F.C. Engineering, Tropical Food Machinery, Cibus Tec and TUT-TOFOOD.
The visit, which ran from Wednesday to Friday last week, marked the first Italian business mission to Zimbabwe in several years and was organised in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and Industry and Commerce, as well as the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI). Representatives from key institutions, including the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), Zim-Trade, the Horticultural Development Council (HDC) and the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), also participated.
The programme began with a networking event at the Italian Residence attended by senior Government officials, industry leaders and private-sector stakeholders.
This was followed by a business forum where Italian companies showcased technologies and solutions designed to improve agricultural productivity, processing efficiency and food value chains.
Participants also held a series of business-to-business meetings aimed at identifying partnership opportunities between Zimbabwean and Italian companies.
Among the issues discussed was the possibility of developing pilot projects in tomato production and processing, a sector viewed as having significant growth potential.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Piraccini said Southern Africa presented growing opportunities for investment and collaboration in agriculture and agro-processing.
He said Zimbabwe, in particular, offered prospects for mutually beneficial partnerships that could enhance production, value addition and market access.
The final day of the programme was dedicated to field visits, with Italian delegates touring agricultural and industrial facilities operated by Zimbabwean counterparts.
The visits provided an opportunity for the companies to assess local operations, exchange technical expertise and explore potential areas for joint ventures and investment.
Italian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Giuseppe Giacalone described the mission as a critical platform for strengthening economic relations between the two countries.
“This business visit provided an important opportunity for dialogue between the various stakeholders involved and enabled us to explore, in practical terms, the commercial relations and potential opportunities for collaboration between Italy and Zimbabwe,” he said.
Ambassador Giacalone said the initiative had also created an opportunity to introduce innovative Italian agricultural technologies that could support increased productivity and output across Zimbabwe’s farming sector.
He noted that the engagement came at a time when Zimbabwe’s economy was experiencing positive momentum, creating opportunities for deeper international business partnerships.
The mission reflects growing international interest in the country’s agriculture sector, which remains one of the nation’s key economic pillars and a major driver of industrialisation, food security and export growth.
Officials from both countries expressed optimism that the engagements would pave the way for future investments, technology transfer, and stronger commercial partnerships in agriculture and agro-processing.
Peter Tanyanyiwa