Ecco Chamber
Fortnightly Italian news made in South Africa
I edition February 2026
A Strategic Move:
Business Excellence Awards 2026
Call for Nominations
ItalCham
Business Excellence Awards 2026:
Call for Nominations
Following the success of the 2025 ItalCham Business Excellence Awards,
we are pleased to open nominations for the 2026 edition.
The Business Excellence Awards (BEAs) celebrate more than success —
they recognise the visionaries, innovators, and leaders who are shaping the future of the Italian–South African business landscape.
We invite nominations for Italian professionals, as well as
South African professionals and companies with a strong link to Italy,
whether through Italian products, technology, equipment, or expertise.
This nomination phase is designed to identify outstanding candidates
for consideration. A single nomination is sufficient for an individual
or company to be reviewed and included in the selection process.
As in previous years, all nominations will be assessed by
professionals and independent judging panel, ensuring a fair, transparent, and merit-based evaluation.
Nominations close on 28 February 2026
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​Cape Classic:
Where Music, Moonlight and the Winelands Meet
Cape Classic returns to the Western Cape on 13 –14 February 2026, set within the iconic surroundings of the Morgenster Estate in Somerset West. Founded over two decades ago by Gabi Zahn, the festival has grown into a distinguished celebration of chamber music, drawing local and international audiences to the heart of the Cape winelands.
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Beyond its artistic excellence, Cape Classic is firmly rooted in social upliftment. Proceeds from the festival support educational initiatives for previously disadvantaged children in the Western Cape, with approximately R2.5 million donated to date. This mission is further strengthened by esteemed international musicians who generously perform in support of the cause.
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What to Expect
Audiences can look forward to two evenings of exceptional chamber music, performed by internationally acclaimed artists Thomas Richter (traverse flute), Karlheinz Busch (violoncello), and Erika le Roux (piano). Each evening is thoughtfully curated to reflect a distinct musical era, offering a rich and immersive listening experience in an elegant, intimate setting.
Dates & Themes
Friday, 13 February 2026 | 19:00
Music of the Classical Era — featuring works by Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Saturday, 14 February 2026 | 19:00
Music of the Early Romantic Era — featuring compositions by Gaetano Donizetti, Frédéric Chopin, and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
Venue
The Manor House, Morgenster Estate, Somerset West
Cost
​Tickets, priced at R900 per person, a For enquiries, contact Judika Nel on 021 852 1738 (ext. 216) or explore more at www.cape-classic.com.
WESGRO & European Chambers
Trade and Investment Breakfast
Wesgro, in partnership with the European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is hosting an exclusive by invitation Trade and Investment Breakfast
in Cape Town.
Hosted in collaboration with the City of Cape Town and Western Cape political leadership, the event will bring together Wesgro representatives, European diplomats, and Heads of European Chambers.
ItalCham members will gain valuable insights into why the Western Cape continues to position itself as a key springboard into Africa, while enjoying a high-level networking opportunity with influential public and
private sector stakeholders.
This breakfast is ideal for members interested in trade, investment, and strengthening Europe–South Africa business relations.
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Italy Takes Centre Stage at the Investec SA Open:
Golf & Luxury Travel Promotion
From 21 February to 1 March 2026, the Consulate of Italy in Cape Town and ItalCham will lead a high-profile tourism and territorial promotion initiative in Stellenbosch and the Winelands, focused on golf tourism and the luxury travel segment.
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The initiative will be developed in partnership with the Investec SA Open Championship, a major international sporting event attracting over 30,000 visitors, including golf enthusiasts, business leaders, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. This represents an exceptional platform to position Italy as a premium destination for integrated experiences combining golf, luxury hospitality, wine & gastronomy, culture and lifestyle.
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ItalCham will host a dedicated Italy stand within the tournament village, featuring interactive and experiential activations, and will also participate in an exclusive evening reception organised by the Italian Consulate in Cape Town for selected guests in the Stellenbosch area. The programme will further include an informative session on Italy’s Residence and Investment Programmes (Golden Visa and Investor Visa) for South African citizens.
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We are looking forward to creating visibility and concrete opportunities for Italy and its stakeholders.
​The Global Gateway
The Global Gateway is the European Union’s flagship strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections worldwide. Launched in 2021, the initiative aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027, supporting high-quality infrastructure projects that are sustainable, transparent and aligned with international standards.
Global Gateway focuses on key strategic sectors, including:
• Climate and energy transition
• Sustainable and smart transport
• Artificial intelligence and secure digital infrastructure
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Through a strong Team Europe approach, the programme brings together EU institutions, Member States, development finance institutions and the private sector to deliver impactful projects across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and neighbouring regions.
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More than a funding programme, Global Gateway represents a long-term partnership model, designed to reduce global investment gaps, strengthen local value chains, promote innovation, and create sustainable growth opportunities for both partner countries and European businesses.
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What This Means for Your Business
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Global Gateway creates concrete opportunities for EU companies to contribute expertise, technology and innovation to large-scale international projects. Whether in renewable energy, smart mobility, digital infrastructure, sustainable urban development or healthcare systems, European businesses play a central role in shaping these initiatives.
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As a Chamber, we are committed to supporting our members in identifying and accessing Global Gateway opportunities.
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If you believe your company has a project that could align with the Global Gateway priorities, or if you would like to explore potential partnerships and funding opportunities, we encourage you to get in touch.
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Let’s work together to position your business within one of the EU’s most strategic global initiatives.
Recap:
Pretoria Sakekamer
International Networking Event
ItalCham was pleased to participate in the Pretoria Chamber of Commerce International Business Networking Event held on 23 January, which brought together South African and European business leaders to engage on strengthening international trade and investment relations. The discussions reflected the growing importance of collaboration amid global economic pressure, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting supply chains.
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Key insights highlighted South Africa’s strategic role as a gateway to the African continent, with strong emphasis on manufacturing, clean energy, sustainable development, and value-added exports. European stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening partnerships, supporting local beneficiation, and advancing initiatives aligned with the Just Energy Transition and long-term industrial growth.
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Sector-specific opportunities were also explored, including food services, hospitality, sports tourism, and consumer goods. The event reinforced the value of platforms that foster trust, dialogue, and meaningful cooperation, aligning closely with ItalCham’s mission to promote bilateral trade, investment, and sustainable business relationships between Italy, Europe, and South Africa.
Recap:
SIGEP World 2026
Benchmark Event for the
Foodservice Industry
SIGEP WORLD once again proved to be the international stage where connections turn into opportunities.
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ItalCham had the pleasure of facilitating the participation of a strong South African delegation, supporting meaningful B2B encounters between South African buyers and exhibitors across the out-of-home foodservice ecosystem.
A sincere thank you to Doppio Collection, Baglios, Andiccio24, Foodserv Solutions, VSG Villa San Giovanni, Ciao Pizza and Kream for their engagement, vision and openness to new collaborations.
These days were all about exchange, inspiration and new partnerships.
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Now in its 47th edition, SIGEP WORLD, organised by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group, welcomed over 1,300 exhibitors, with international participation growing by 33% compared to the previous year, and hosted buyers from
75 countries.
The event showcased the very best of out-of-home foodservice, from production to technology, placing the gelato, pastry, coffee, bakery and pizza industries centre stage.
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Looking ahead, we’re excited to keep building bridges between South Africa and Italy, and to see where the next SIGEP will take us.
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​View job vacancies on the SMILE website
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If you are currently hiring,
Please take a look at SMILE-vetted candidates HERE
Alla prossima!