Rome - 27-10-2010
UNIDO ITPO Italy – Ambassadors’ Roundtable
| Roundtable with several Ambassadors of sub-Saharan African Countries On October 27th 2010, UNIDO ITPO Italy hosted in its Office in Rome a Roundtable with several Ambassadors of sub-Saharan African Countries and a representative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main subject of this Roundtable was: “Synergies for the Development of Local Capacities and Entrepreneurship in Africa”. The event aimed at creating a useful institutional platform that could contribute to a better understanding of actual needs in the African continent as well as to develop joint synergies and activities for supporting the economic and industrial development in those countries. Furthermore, the Roundtable aimed to: · Encourage the dialogue with national governments and representatives of African Countries; · Find common strategies for the creation of promotional campaigns aimed at improving the African continent perception within the Italian business community; · Discuss about the local capacities and specific needs of each invited country, emphasizing the support to the private sector and local SMEs; · Identify common activities supporting investments, know-how transfer as well as enhancing economic and industrial cooperation with sub-Saharan Africa Embassy representatives of sub-Saharan African countries (in alphabetical order according to the country) : ANGOLA Mr.João Baptista da Costa, Minister Counsellor; Mr. Lourenço Dos Santos Pedro Joao, Third Secretary; CAMEROON Mr. Charles Aparandi Etunyi, Minister Counsellor; COTE D’IVOIRE Mr. Aboubakar Bakayoko, Deputy Permanent Representative to FAO, IFAD and WFP; ETHIOPIA H.E. Fesseha Tesfu Chargé d’Affaires a.i.; Mr. Abebe Kelemu Workneh, Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs; Ms. Haimanot Abera, Second Secretary; GABON Ms. Elyse Nang Bitegue, Counsellor in charge for Economic Affairs; GHANA H.E. Evelyn Anita Stokes-Hayford, Ambassador; Mr. Simon Atieku, Officer in charge of Trade and Investment matters at the Mission; KENYA H.E. Josephine Gaita, Ambassador; Ms. Jane B. Makori, First Secretary; MOZAMBIQUE H.E. Carla Elisa Luis Mucavi, Ambassador; Mr. Melquisedec Muapala, Assistant for Economic Affairs; UGANDA H.E. Deo Kajunzire Rwabita, Ambassador; Ms. Juliet Betty Kajumba, Minister Counsellor. Representative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Marco Claudio Vozzi, Minister Plenipotentiary - Directorate General for sub-Saharan Africa (DGSA). UNIDO ITPO Italy representatives: Ms. Diana Battaggia, UNIDO ITPO Italy Director; Ms. Marcela Pinedo, Sub-Saharan Africa Division Programme Manager, moderator of the Roundtable. The Roundtable started with an opening speech pronounced by the UNIDO ITPO Italy Director, Ms. Diana Battaggia who welcomed all the participants to the above mentioned event. After her welcome address, Minister Plenipotentiary Mr. Marco Claudio Vozzi pronounce a brief presentation concerning the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGAS – Directorate General for sub-Saharan Africa) in the African continent. At the end of his presentation, Ms. Marcela Pinedo carefully described all UNIDO ITPO Italy activities in sub-Saharan African Countries. Following the UNIDO ITPO Italy presentation, each sub-Saharan African representative pronounced a Country presentation, emphasizing the main strengths and weaknesses related to the country industrial development and current local policies and programmes aimed at supporting industrial development. In the afternoon session, the Roundtable was reopened by a final debate concerning local capacities in Africa, investment opportunities for the Italian private sector, possible joint activities between UNIDO ITPO Italy, Embassies and local institutions. |
