Mattei Plan: SACE leads Italian companies on a business mission to Côte d’Ivoire — new opportunities in agribusiness and water management
Two days dedicated to showcasing Made in Italy excellence in Côte d’Ivoire: SACE, the Italian insurance and financial group fully owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Côte d’Ivoire and ITA – Italian Trade Agency, accompanied a delegation of Italian companies specialised in agribusiness and water management on a strategic business mission to Abidjan. A concrete opportunity to strengthen the partnership between Italy and Côte d’Ivoire, exploring new collaborations, investments and projects within the framework of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
The event falls within the framework of the Mattei Plan for Africa, as part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural production and promote the effective use of the country’s water resources through investments in the agribusiness sector — with a particular focus on cereal, rice, and maize value chains, identified by local authorities as strategic priorities for achieving full food sovereignty.
Following the success of the 2024 edition, this new initiative brought together companies from across Italy. The two-day event opened with sessions dedicated to introducing the Italian delegation and presenting the main projects currently underway in the country. This gave participants the chance to meet and exchange views with key Ivorian institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, the Ministry of Finance, as well as public agencies like the Agency for the Development of the Rice Sector in Côte d'Ivoire (ADERIZ) and the National Drinking Water Office (ONEP). The second day was focused on targeted B2B meetings, allowing companies to explore concrete business opportunities, lay the groundwork for new partnerships, and strengthen commercial ties between Italy and Côte d’Ivoire.
The initiative was also made possible thanks to the support of the Office of the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire and the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Italy.
“Africa represents a market of extraordinary potential for our companies, which are strengthening their position in priority sectors where Made in Italy expertise can truly support the continent’s sustainable growth, fully in line with the aim of the Mattei Plan. Côte d’Ivoire, in particular, is one of the most dynamic and politically stable countries in West Africa, and this mission opens up new connections and opportunities for Italian and African companies to collaborate on strategic projects and investments that reinforce our partnership and foster shared prosperity”, stated Massimo Schirò, Head of Africa, Turkey, Middle East & Europe di SACE.
SACE maintains a strong presence in Africa through its offices in Rabat, Cairo and Johannesburg, supporting Italian companies across the continent. With this initiative — which follows the 2023 Push Strategy operation worth €200 million in favour of the Ivorian government, aimed at supporting the implementation of the National Development Plan and boosting trade relations between Italian companies and local counterparts — SACE continues to pave the way for Italian businesses in Africa, supporting the diversification of Italian exports towards new markets, in line with the objectives of the Italy’s Export Plan and Mattei Plan for Africa.