Milan-Matera, 11-14 July 2016 - As part of its activities regarding the project to benefit the agribusiness sector of Mozambique implemented by UNIDO ITPO Italy, the office organized an institutional incoming from the African country, from 11^st  to 14^th July 2016, hosting in Italy Mr. Ernesto Ramatane - Coordinator and Technical Development Area Productivity of IPEME and Mr. José Antunes - Director of the Projects Department of GAZEDA.

IPEME is the branch of the local Ministry of Industry which supports SMEs: it can count on several ongoing assistance projects and on an important network of local companies; GAZEDA is the government institution in charge of managing the special economic zones and fast-growing areas, which are characterized by incentives’ frameworks extremely interesting for foreign investors.

The mission was aimed at introducing to the Italians stakeholders who have shown interest to the African country during the promotional phase, the UNIDO ITPO Italy’s project in support of Mozambique and the investment opportunities scouted and selected in the country. Furthermore the mission to Italy represented the occasion for presenting to the delegates of the institutions involved an overview on what Italy can offer in terms of know-how and technology transfer along the entire agribusiness value chain.

In Milan, UNIDO ITPO Italy organized meetings with AICE and Promos, the special agency for internationalization of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, and ALTIS / E4IMPACT Foundation, paving the way for future potential synergies regarding ad hoc agribusiness entrepreneurship training activities in field.

In the framework of the mission to Italy of the two Mozambican institutions involved, a key moment was represented by the round table organized with the leading financial institutions in support of Italian investment initiatives abroad, which counted on the participation of HE Maria Manuela Lucas - Ambassador of Mozambique to Italy and important representatives of the new Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. They confirmed the strong support to UNIDO ITPO Italy’s activities in the country meanwhile the Ambassador enthusiastically welcomed the project’s activities and offered full support in relation to the promotion of the concrete investment opportunities identified in the country.

Finally, in collaboration with institutional authorities of the Basilicata Region, UNIDO ITPO Italy accompanied the Mozambican delegation in several company visits to the agricultural district of Vulture and to the Metapontum Agrobios Research Center. During the study tour, the delegation and UNIDO ITPO Italy also had the opportunity to meet the Regional Minister of Agriculture, Luca Braia, setting the foundation for future potential synergies and collaborations.