UNIDO ITPO Italy joined the 2025 edition of Codeway Expo, the international cooperation and sustainable development expo taking place in Rome, Italy at Fiera Roma premises from 14 to 16 May 2025. Featuring its own institutional stand at Codeway throughout the entire duration of the expo — notably visited by the Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) Edmondo Cirielli — on 15 May UNIDO ITPO Italy organized and moderated the following events and panel sessions:

“Projects, challenges, and opportunities: unfolding the sustainability and economic growth of the textile-apparel industry in Africa”

15 May 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CEST)

The textile and fashion industries are at a pivotal moment, marked by profound restructuring and consolidation. Amid this transformation, African countries offer both unique opportunities and significant challenges. UNIDO projects in Egypt, Ghana, and the C4 countries—Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Côte d’Ivoire—are focused on building a local textile and apparel value chain that is economically inclusive and environmentally responsible, reshaping and upgrading their role in the global value chain. As major cotton producers, these countries are investing in sustainability to enhance the appeal and competitiveness of "white gold"—the world’s most widely used natural fiber. Yet, there remains untapped potential in value addition and innovation. New opportunities are emerging for production hubs and business ventures focused on recycling and repurposing. These initiatives aim to create jobs, improve livelihoods, and promote environmental sustainability. This panel will explore Africa's potential to become a key player in sustainable textile production and how the continent can seize the opportunities arising from current shifts in textile and apparel sourcing.

"Digitalization and Global Opportunities in the Livestock Sector: Harnessing Innovation for Growth"

The livestock sector is poised for a digital transformation, with cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, AI, and machine learning reshaping global production systems. Organized by UNIDO and Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) di Teramo, this panel will explore how digitalization can drive growth, enhance sustainability, and improve efficiency within the sector. Special attention will be given to Pakistan as a market of opportunity for digital innovation in livestock farming.

“Innovation, Business and Youth – Teaming up for Development”

The panel offers a unique opportunity to bring together stakeholders from diverse sectors involved in supporting start-ups and innovation in developing countries. Voices from incubators, investors, academia, technical agencies, institutions, and business networks will contribute to a rich exchange of challenges faced, solutions developed, and best practices adopted across different contexts. By drawing on their complementary expertise, the roundtable aims to foster a deeper understanding of innovation ecosystems and lay the groundwork for impactful, cross-sectoral synergies.

In the framework of its project dedicated to Iraq and funded by MAECI, at Codeway Expo 2025 UNIDO ITPO Italy also hosted the focal point of the Iraqi Federation of Industries (IFI), to strengthen visibility and networking with exhibitors and visitors, as well as the students winners of its “Agrifood Sustainability for Iraq - The Marketing Challenge” organized in collaboration with EIIS – the European Institute of Innovation and Sustainability.