Mogadishu, December 11th - UNIDO ITPO Italy supported the participation of an Italian business delegation to the Italy-Somalia Business Forum, organized by UNIDO in collaboration with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Italian Embassy in Mogadishu and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The Forum took place in Mogadishu on December 10th-11th, 2019, and was held under the High Patronage of the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed "Farmaajo".

The activity is part of the project “Agro-technology development for economic growth In South and Central Somalia”, funded by AICS and implemented by UNIDO to support Somali businesses in starting, rehabilitating and upgrading agro-industrial operations, accessing new technologies, markets and financing facilities.

After the opening remarks delivered by UNIDO and the Italian Ambassador in Somalia, H.E. Alberto Vecchi, the Forum was enriched by the noteworthy participation of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Eng. Abdulahi Ali Hassan and the Director of AICS – Mogadishu Office, Guglielmo Giordano. 

In this framework, the business delegation, composed by 10 Italian companies (CNH Industrial, Scova Impianti, Macfrut, Federpesca, Righel Sas, CME Srl, Bonelli Erede, Ascot Industrial, Tropical Food Machinery and Dest Italia), presented their activities and services in social housing, fishery, agro-business and renewable energy sectors to the Somali companies and officers attending the event. In addition, the Italian entrepreneurs had the chance to meet the Somali counterparts during a BtoB and BtoG session arranged on the second day of the Forum. 

The Italy-Somalia Business Forum was a unique economic initiative, strongly supported by UNIDO ITPO Italy which acted as honest broker, in order to contribute to create new beneficial partnerships between Italy and Somalia in the above sectors.