Ecco Chamber
Fortnightly Italian news made in South Africa
II edition October 2025
Your Ticket to Italy
Right Here in the Heart of
Cape Town.
​Driving Business Forward:
The 4th European Chambers
Golf Day Tees Off in Cape Town
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​Last Chance to Register for the Golf Day!
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The European Chambers of Commerce invite you to tee off at the 4th Annual EU Chamber Golf Day, taking place on Friday, 7 November 2025, at the prestigious Metropolitan Golf Club in Cape Town.
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This flagship event brings together business leaders, professionals, and members from across the European Chambers for a day of sport and networking.
Participants will enjoy a full day of golf, exclusive prizes, refreshments, and exceptional opportunities to connect with members from the European and South African business communities.
Fourball Entry: R5,000 excl. VAT
Tee-off, prizes, refreshments, and networking included!
Spaces are limited, don’t miss your chance to be part of this premier business and sporting occasion!
​​If you would like to participate, contact Anna-Maria: enquiries@italcham.co.za
12th CEO Dialogue
on Southern Africa
We are pleased to invite you to the 12th CEO Dialogue on Southern Africa, taking place on Thursday, 20th, and Friday, 21st November at The Houghton Hotel, Johannesburg, alongside the G20 Leaders’ Meeting.
Mission:
To build an exclusive network of leaders driving growth across enterprises, countries, and the continent.
An invitation-only summit, the event has become a premier platform for public and private sector engagement, fostering partnerships and
investment opportunities.
Over 200 CEOs, government officials, economists, and industry leaders will attend, with coverage by Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC Africa, SABC News,
and eNCA.
Confirmed speakers include:
Mteto Nyati (Chairman, ESKOM)
Jennifer Zabasajja (Chief Africa Anchor & Correspondent, Bloomberg TV)
Larry Madowo (International Correspondent, CNN)
Enrico Letta (Dean, IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, Spain; EU Rapporteur on the Future of the Single Market; former Prime Minister of Italy)
Colin Coleman (Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; Member of the Board of Advisors, Mercury Public Affairs)
Precious Moloi-Motsepe (Co-Chair, Motsepe Foundation)
José Manuel Barroso (Chair, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance; former President of the European Commission; former Prime Minister of Portugal)
Nhlanhla Nene (Chairman, TEHA Africa)
Lungisa Fuzile (CEO, Africa Regions and Offshore, Standard Bank)
Vincenzo Ercole Salazar Sarsfield (Global Head of Italian Infrastructure, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italian Association of Private Construction Contractors)
Jacob Wiese (Director, Titan Premier Investments)
Anthony Knox (South Africa Country Executive and Head of Investment Banking, Bank of America)
Charles Sakanya (CEO, Mopani Copper Mines)
Paolo Sertoli (Executive Director for Southern Africa, Italian Agency of Cooperation and Development)
Highlights:
Gala Dinner: Thursday, 20 November
Cocktail Reception: Friday, 21 November
Take a look at the key pillars of the event and highlights from past sessions.
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Italy in Town 2025
Early Bird Tickets End Soon!
What’s Waiting for You at the Festival:
Authentic Italian Cuisine & Fine Wines
Indulge in handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, creamy gelato, and exquisite Italian wines — a true culinary journey through Italy’s regions.
Music & Entertainment
Let the melodies of Italian jazz and live performances transport you to a piazza in Rome, a summer night in Naples, or a vineyard in Tuscany.
Pasta-Making Classes
Discover the art of Italian cooking in interactive pasta-making sessions led by passionate Italian chefs — a hands-on experience that brings tradition to life.
Family & Festività
From laughter-filled activities to family-friendly entertainment, Italy in Town celebrates the joy of togetherness.
Limited tickets available!
Don’t miss out, secure your spot and be part of Cape Town’s ultimate celebration of Italian culture.
Buy Yourself Early Bird Tickets today and you could win a 1 of 2 SMEG's Limited Edition Fryring Pan!
The Early Bird Ticket sale ends on October 27th.
Welcoming Our New Member:
Bocca Di Lupo
Located in the picturesque town of Clarens in the Eastern Free State, Bocca di Lupo offers an authentic Italian culinary experience, with its warm and inviting atmosphere providing a perfect escape from the bustle of city life.
Bocca di Lupo's menu is a celebration of Italy's rich flavors, featuring dishes carefully crafted to honor tradition. A particular highlight is the Neapolitan-style pizza, made with high-quality ingredients and cooked in a wood-fired oven. This commitment to authenticity has earned the restaurant the Ospitalità Italiana certification, recognizing it as a genuine ambassador of Italian taste. Guests can enjoy a wide selection of dishes, including hand-rolled pasta, slow-cooked ragùs, and delectable desserts like tiramisu and cannoli.
The restaurant’s authenticity is largely due to its owner, Paolo, who hails from the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. This heritage is reflected in the menu, which includes traditional pasta dishes from his home region. Paolo's passion for genuine Italian food is evident in the quality of the ingredients, which include both locally sourced produce and imported Italian essentials, ensuring every dish is an authentic taste of Italy. His friendly and attentive presence further enhances the dining experience, making guests feel like they are part of the Bocca di Lupo family.
With its delicious food, italian and South African wine list and beautiful mountain backdrop, Bocca di Lupo provides a memorable meal that bridges continents. Whether you're a local or a visitor exploring Clarens, the restaurant offers a welcoming space where good food, engaging conversation, and lasting memories are made.
Welcoming Our New Member:
Minatar
Minatar (Pty) Ltd is an international consulting company with offices in Johannesburg (South Africa), Harare (Zimbabwe), Belgrade (Serbia), Istanbul (Turkey), Moscow (Russia). We have more than 25 years of experience in our business, and extensive network of public and private contacts in both SADC region and Eastern Europe, including Russia and Turkey.
With offices in Johannesburg, Harare, Belgrade, Moscow, and Istanbul, we are ideally positioned to provide superior consulting services between these regions.
Minatar CEO, Mr. Zarko Taric, has decades of experience in promoting South African culture and trade in Eastern Europe, with an extensive network of government, public and private contacts both in Eastern European and South African region. He is a member of various cultural organizations and business institutions in Eastern Europe and Africa.
Company contact info:
Minatar (Pty) Ltd
Director: Zarko Taric
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KEY - The Energy Transition Expo 2026 Hosted Buyers Programme ​
Rimini EXPO Centre, Italy | 4-6 March 2026
​​Join ItalCham’s hosted delegation to KEY – The Energy Transition Expo 2026, a fast-growing global platform where companies, institutions and innovators drive the future of clean energy and sustainability, organized by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group.
After our first delegations in 2024 and 2025 – with the notable participation of SAPVIA (The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association) in 2025 – we are now recruiting South African companies to join KEY 2026 and take part in B2B meetings with exhibitors from across the clean energy sector. ​​​
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Here's what KEY 2025 looked like:
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Over 1,000 exhibitors, 30% of which international
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90,000 m² of exhibition space across 20 halls
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350 hosted buyers and delegations from more than 50 countries
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More than 160 events, conferences and workshops
Why Join?
​At KEY, the future of energy takes shape!
Connect with the global clean energy community, discover innovative technologies, and explore new business opportunities.
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KEY’s unique format brings together seven exhibition sectors, each dedicated to a strategic area for the future of energy:
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SEC – Solar Expo & Conference: the hub for solar innovation, from residential and industrial solutions to large-scale projects and agrivoltaics.
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WEM – Wind Expo for Med: onshore, offshore, and mini-wind: the full spectrum of wind energy and its role in shaping renewable communities. WEM includes the exhibition Su.Port – ports as energy hubs: electrification of docks, emission reduction, and offshore wind development.
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KSE – Key Storage Expo: advanced storage technologies – from electrochemical to thermal and hydro – ensuring flexibility and stability in renewable-based energy systems.
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HYPE – Hydrogen Power Expo: production, storage, distribution and applications: hydrogen as a key vector for decarbonizing industry and mobility.
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EFFI – Energy Efficiency Expo & Sustainable Building District: cross-sector solutions for smarter energy use, plus sustainable construction in collaboration with Green Building Council Italia.
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eME – eMobility Expo: electric mobility at the centre: charging infrastructure, fleet electrification, batteries, and the evolving mobility ecosystem.
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Sustainable City: a laboratory for tomorrow’s cities: smart grids, digital services, clean transport, urban regeneration, and citizen well-being.
Buyers Programme - What’s Included:
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Selected companies will receive the following benefits:
• 3-night hotel accommodation (B&B treatment, 4-start hotel) for 1 representative per company
• Cash reimbursement of maximum € 300,00 as partial coverage of the flight ticket for 1 representative per company
• Transfers Bologna Airport – Hotel / Hotel – Bologna Airport
• Daily transfer from the hotel to the expo venue, and back
• Free entrance ticket
• Lunch at the exhibition centre
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Applicants will have to undertake:
• To schedule at least 10 B2B meetings with KEY exhibitors using the online “My Agenda by IEG” platform. These 30-minute meetings will take place on a dedicated B2B day during the exhibition. If the quota is not met in advance, additional appointments must be arranged directly at the expo;
• To submit the appointment diary, duly completed and signed by all exhibitors met;
• To complete an online satisfaction survey at the end of the meetings;
• To return to the exhibition on the designated free visit day to explore additional companies of interest.
Please note: the exact dates for the B2B day and the free visit day will be confirmed shortly and published on this page as soon as available.
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Apply by 28 November 2025
Limited spots available – applications will close as soon as the delegation reaches full capacity.
The company representative who will attend KEY must be a decision maker.
job board
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​View job vacancies on the SMILE website
via this link - CLICK HERE
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If you are currently hiring,
Please take a look at SMILE-vetted candidates HERE
Alla prossima!