SACE (CDP Group) for SMEs: the Tuscan company Leonardo S.r.l. will supervise the works for the 2019 Africa Cup

SACE, which together with SIMEST constitute the Italian Export and Internationalization Hub of the CDP Group, has provided a € 1,2 million guarantee to support the project management contract for the Japama-Douala sports complex in Cameroon, which has been awarded by the Tuscan SME Leonardo S.r.l.

The project management contract, € 7 million worth, is part of a larger project which involves the construction of a 50,000-seat football stadium and a multifunctional sports center. The complex, located in the country's coastal region, will also include an Olympic pool, volleyball and tennis courts, and the national Football Academy building. The complex will be inaugurated on the occasion of Africa Cup 2019, a sports event that will see Cameroon as the host country.

Thanks to SACE’s support, Leonardo S.r.l. took out an insurance policy against the nonpayment risk.

Despite structural difficulties, the Cameroonian economy is showing strong signals, with a 5% GDP growth in the past three years. Today the country is the 11^st destination market for Italian goods in Sub-Saharan Africa, with € 113 million sold in 2016 (+ 15.3%), primarily driven by capital machinery (weighing for the 35% on total exports), a key sector for the development of modern local industry. Among the best opportunity sectors for our companies in the coming years, SACE points out infrastructure, driven by Africa Cup-related initiatives, transport equipment and oil & gas.

Leonardo S.r.l., has been founded in 2001 by Architect Salvatore Re in Pisa. The company is an OICE member company and is quality-certified by the Austrian firm TUV under ISO 9001 and 14001. “Concreteness, Ideas and Innovation” are the three foundations of the company, which deals with designing and managing highly innovative contemporary projects. The realization of the stadium will be managed through Groupement Leonardo S.r.l. - Leonardo Cameroun Sarl.

Studio Sarti Engineering of Rimini and STEAM S.r.l. of Padua collaborate for the structural and plant operation phases. Architect Salvatore Re, the project manager, counts on Werner Sobek of Stuttgart for the advisory for the facades and roofing.