The “Regional Business Networking Forum and LevelUp Project Achievement” was held on May 22-23, 2023, in Amman, Jordan. This event took place within the framework of the “LevelUp - Advancing Jordanian Industries” project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and was organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply (MITS) of Jordan in collaboration with the Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BUSINESSMED) and supported by UNIDO ITPO Italy.

The forum brought together private sector companies from Italy and the vibrant Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region – including Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria – and served as a platform to foster business-to-business networking and best practices to reinforce export-oriented value chains for the industries of garment and fashion, food supplements and natural cosmetics, while presenting the achievements of the LevelUp project.

Numerous high-level actors in the field of international cooperation and institutional figures, including Excellencies, Ambassadors and Ministries from Italy and Jordan participated in the event, which also featured the closing remarks from the Head of UNIDO ITPO Italy, Ms. Diana Battaggia: "As UNIDO ITPO Italy, we remain committed to supporting Jordan's industrial development efforts, as well as in the entire MENA region to promote sustainable investments by boosting the competitiveness of SMEs."

The forum witnessed the participation of a delegation of 20 Italian entrepreneurs, particularly from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. The delegation, led by Ms. Luisa Corbelletto, Coordinator of Sprint FVG, had the opportunity to discuss the business environment and opportunities to boost economic cooperation between the FVG-Triveneto Region, Italy, and the MENA region, as well as take part in numerous B2B roundtable sessions. Moreover, Mr. Giulio Tarlao, Coordinator of International Relations and European Programming at the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Ms. Letizia Pizzi, Director General at Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo, also participated in the event as speakers.

Lastly, within the framework of the project "Investment Promotion for Iraq – Phase II" coordinated by UNIDO ITPO Italy, 3 companies from Iraq – primarily from the governorates of Erbil, Dhi Qar, and Basra and operating in the sectors of agro-industrial production, infrastructure and construction, and renewable energies – were also in attendance.

The impact of this forum is expected to be long-lasting, fostering new business partnerships, increased trade, and economic growth in the MENA region. The LevelUp project continues to drive progress towards its goals of job creation, economic inclusion, and the development of a vibrant SME ecosystem in Jordan.

© Photo: Paolo Omero, CEO InfoFactory