Rimini, 09 november 2018. Circular and green economies are values: ethical, overall, but also commercial. None can ignore environment, waste, pollution, sustainability: it’s a business affair, not just a habit of punduits. This is the reason why UNIDO ITPO Italy participated to Ecomondo 2018, the leading international trade fair on green and circular economy in the Mediterranean area held at Rimini Fair from 6^th to 9^th November 2018.

Two were the core activities during the week. First, ITPO Italy staff supported an institutional and business delegation from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the framework of the project entitled “Fostering international partnerships between companies from MENA countries and Italian stakeholders operating in energy and sustainable development”, implemented by UNIDO ITPO Italy and funded by the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea. Second: ITPO Italy staff coordinated and assisted an institutional and business delegation from Mozambique as part of the project “Support to Mozambique’s SMEs in Investment Promotion”, implemented from 2016 by UNIDO ITPO Italy and funded by the Italian Development Cooperation.

ACTIVITY FOR MENA REGION’S COUNTRIES

The ITPO Italy mission in Rimini was to support representatives of companies from Lebanon, Morocco and Jordan in a series of BtoB meetings arranged with Italian exhibitors and technology providers attending the fair. The 12 companies managed to perform a total of around 150 BtoB during the exhibition. The main sector of interest for these BtoB was represented by the multiple industrial applications of solar energy systems.On 8^th November, ITPO Italy staff accompanied part of the MENA the delegation to a dedicated company visit in Lunano, organized in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea. The visit was at the headquarters of the parent company System Group, a leading Italian group which is composed by 16 affiliated companies mainly operating in the piping systems for multiple industrial applications. The study tours consisted in the visit of the factories of 3 different companies of the group, namely Centraltubi, Rototec and Italiana Corrugati.

In particular, Centraltubi operates in the PE, PP and PVC piping systems. The company Rototec is specialized in the production of corrugated and smooth tanks in linear polyethylene manufactured using rotational molding technology. Finally, Italiana Corrugati produces double-wall corrugated pipes in HDPE for civil and industrial sewerage, cable ducting and drainage systems. The company has established itself in the market, accumulating vast experience in the commercial sector which has enabled it to become one of the leading companies in the sector. On the last day of the exhibition the delegates had the opportunity to carry out a free visit of the exhibition and ITPO Italy staff supported them to the visits of several exhibitors stands.

ACTIVITY FOR MOZAMBIQUE

The Mozambique delegation, composed by companies dedicated to the recycling and rural development as well as agribusiness and institutions operating in the field of environment, mineral resources and renewable energy, engaged in an intense activity with more than 70 BtoB meetings arranged with Italian exhibitors. The institutional representatives, responsible for Environment, Rural Development and Energy in the Province of Inhambane, concentrated on several meetings dedicated to the promotion of opportunities in their sector. Meanwhile, the Mozambican Boa Esperança Holistic Development Group Ltd focused the meetings on the research of machinery, plants and equipment, specialized for the crushing, selection and recycling of urban, industrial and hospital waste.