Ecco Chamber
Fortnightly Italian news made in South Africa
I edition March 2026
An Italian Swing in the Winelands
Chamber's Note
​Lombardy “Golf Capital”: Assolombarda Launches the Open Horizons Project in South Africa to Attract International Tourism
​From 26 February to 1 March, Assolombarda presented the Open Horizons: Lombardy, the Golf Capital project in South Africa, at the Investec South African Golf Open, in collaboration with the Italian Consulate in Cape Town, the Italian-South African Chamber of Commerce, Federgolf Lombardia, and Confindustria Lombardia.
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The initiative promotes Lombardy with Milan at its core, as a leading international destination where golf, culture, lifestyle, and business intersect to attract global tourism and investment.
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According to Carlo Spinetta, golf serves as a universal platform for building relationships while showcasing Lombardy’s competitiveness, creativity, and world-class event hosting. Visitors will explore curated experiences combining sport, cuisine, art, design, and luxury hospitality.
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The region also hosts major global events such as the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza and the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, strengthening its international appeal.
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Vincenzo Fiordelisi highlighted the strong growth of golf tourism in Lombardy and the project's role in promoting the region’s historic golf clubs and its integrated sports-business ecosystem. The initiative will continue through regional events and the 2026 Golf Tour running until October.
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The Investec SA Open, hosted at the renowned Stellenbosch Golf Club, attracted more than 30,000 visitors, including international golf enthusiasts, business leaders, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. This provided an exceptional platform to position Italy as a leading destination for integrated luxury travel experiences, combining premium golf courses with historic landscapes, culinary excellence and high-end hospitality.
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As part of the programme, representatives from ItalCham also participated in an exclusive evening reception organised by the Consulate of Italy in Cape Town at Wijnhuis in Stellenbosch. The event brought together selected guests from the business and diplomatic community, providing a valuable networking opportunity to strengthen ties between Italian and South African stakeholders.
Assolombarda is one of Italy’s leading business associations, representing over 7,000 companies and approximately 440,000 employees across the Metropolitan City of Milan and the provinces of Lodi, Monza and Brianza, and Pavia.
In partnership with the Italian Golf Federation, Assolombarda is working to position golf tourism in Lombardy as a strategic lever for the promotion of the region as a whole. The objective is not only to enhance its golf courses, but to showcase the broader ecosystem — including cultural landmarks, hospitality, local enterprises and the entire value chain connected to the territory.
Through Open Horizons, this vision translates into a collaborative model where the golf sector acts as a coordinated network of public and private stakeholders, presenting itself internationally as an integrated system capable of generating sustainable economic value and long-term impact across the region.”
Multi-Chamber
Speed Networking Event
ItalCham invites you to take part in an engaging evening
of strategic connection and collaboration at the upcoming
Multi-Chamber Speed Networking Event.
Hosted in partnership with leading international chambers,
this dynamic session will bring together professionals and decision-makers from across industries to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships,
and unlock new business opportunities.
Set against the elegant backdrop of the
Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg,
the event will follow a structured speed-networking format
designed to maximise meaningful interactions in a focused environment.
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Date: 10 March 2026
Time: 18h00 for 18h30 – 20h30
Venue: Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, 1 Fairway Ave, Linksfield North, Johannesburg
Cost: R250 (Excl. VAT) – Members | R350 (Excl. VAT) – Non-members
Registration Deadline: 5 March 2026
You are encouraged to secure your place early, as spaces are limited.
Join us for an evening dedicated to building valuable connections and expanding your professional network across the
international business community.
Reserve Your Table:
​ItalCham
Business Excellence Awards 2026
​Tickets are Now Available
Secure your seat or reserve a table to join us for this distinguished evening celebrating outstanding contributions to the Italian–South African business landscape.
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The 2026 ItalCham Business Excellence Awards (BEA's) will bring together leaders from the Italian–South African business community
for an evening dedicated to recognising excellence, innovation,
and achievement.
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Save the Date: 15 May 2026 at the prestigious @Sandton Hotel,
Dress code: Black & White.
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Guests can look forward to an elegant evening, complemented by special opera entertainment by LoveLine.
Annual Directory 2026/2027 - Advertising Rates
Recap:
Navigating the draft
B-BBEE amendments &
the transformation fund
On 27 February 2026, ItalCham, in collaboration with Siyakha Consulting, had the privilege of participating in a highly significant and timely engagement unpacking the draft B-BBEE amendments and the proposed Transformation Fund.
The session brought together corporates, industry leaders and policy stakeholders for robust, solution-driven dialogue on what these proposed changes mean for businesses operating in South Africa. The depth of insight shared by the Chief Director of the DTIC, Mr Jacob Maphutha, and his team ensured a practical and forward-looking conversation focused on clarity, compliance and sustainable transformation.
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We extend our sincere appreciation to Siyakha Consulting and all partner chambers and stakeholders who contributed to the success of this engagement. Most importantly, we thank our members for their active participation and thoughtful contributions. The level of engagement reflected a shared commitment to responsible growth and meaningful transformation.
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We look forward to continuing to support our members as the regulatory landscape evolves.
Break Into India’s Booming
Pet Market – PetBridge 2026
Early Bird Applications Now Open
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25–26 November 2026 | Mumbai, India
PetBridge 2026 is India’s first fully B2B exhibition dedicated to the pet supplies industry and distribution — powered by Zoomark and BolognaFiere.
Positioned at the heart of one of the world’s fastest-growing pet markets, PetBridge offers South African companies direct access to a $3.6 billion industry expected to double by 2028.
Why exhibit?
✔ Connect with India’s most influential trade buyers through pre-scheduled B2B meetings
✔ Benefit from Zoomark’s international network
✔ Gain visibility within the dedicated International Hub
✔ Access tailored support services for international exhibitors
Early Bird discount (10% off) available until 31 May 2026.
For full information and participation details, please visit the ItalCham website.
​​Take Your Brand to Europe
at Zoomark 2027
Early Bird Rates Now Available
Recognised as Europe’s leading B2B platform for pet food and pet care, Zoomark 2027 brings together innovation, international buyers and key industry players under one roof.
With over 30,800 visitors and 1,260 exhibitors (2025 edition), Zoomark continues to expand its global reach — offering direct access to the European and international pet market.
Why exhibit?
✔ Access the European & global market
✔ Connect with decision-makers actively sourcing new products and partnerships
✔ Meet top global buyers through tailored matchmaking
Early Bird exhibition rates are available until 30 June 2026.
Discover how to participate and access full details below.
​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.
Werkmans Unpacking The Significant Proposed Changes To The "Generic" Codes of Good Practice ('Codes') On BBBEE
Author : Pieter Steyn, Director at Werksmans and Chairperson of LEX Africa
The Codes set out the methodology for calculating a firm's BBBEE rating. Significant changes have been proposed to cater for the proposed new Transformation Fund and changes to the BBBEE procurement scorecard. While not yet binding and still open for public comment, the proposed changes indicate Government policy and have important potential implications for business in South Africa.
On 29 January 2026, proposed changes to the Codes were published for public comment by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition in the Government Gazette. A minimum 60 day period is required for public comment in terms of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act.
The proposed Transformation Fund was first announced by the Minister in January 2025, and a draft Concept Document was issued for public comment in March 2025. The Fund's purpose is to support firms owned and controlled by "Black People" as defined in the Act.
Details however remain unclear, but a website (http://sa-transformationfund.co.za) is operational and indicates that the Fund will be managed by a separate Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) whose board will be appointed by the Minister. An "Oversight Committee" will consist of representatives from both the public and private sectors. The Fund represents an important policy shift by Government away from incentivising private sector driven initiatives towards a State driven process.
Welcoming Our New Member
Valente
Valente is an international benchmark in the construction of fruit‑growing systems, backed by more than sixty years of experience. Founded as a manufacturer of prestressed reinforced concrete poles, the company has progressively expanded its expertise and technologies, becoming one of the few operators capable of offering fully integrated systems — designed and built in‑house — tailored to the agronomic and entrepreneurial needs of each customer.
Innovation is a core value, always accompanied by respect for tradition. This approach enables Valente to continuously improve its products, introducing advanced technical solutions without compromising the reliability that has always distinguished the company.
Today, Valente is recognised as a partner capable of delivering turnkey systems, overseeing every phase of the project: from design to production, from material selection to installation. With more than 50,000 hectares of orchards built worldwide and over 2,000 hectares installed in the last year alone, our experience is a guarantee of reliability and expertise.
In South Africa, we rely on our trusted local dealer Shelanti Agri, to ensure the efficient distribution of our systems and to provide direct support to customers in the area.
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Contact Us:
Tel. + 39 049 5565855
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Lex Africa Knowledge Corner
LEX Africa is an Alliance of leading African law firms, established in 1993 to advise local and international clients on trade, business, investment, disputes, and other activities across Africa. Read some of their informative Articles on the latest below.
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CHILDREN AND MIGRATION ENSURING LEGAL CARE FOR CHILDREN IN MIGRATING FAMILIES​
As more Zimbabwean families spread their wings globally, a critical question arises: what happens to the children? In Zimbabwe’s interconnected extended families, migration is not always just about parents and their biological children. It often involves nieces, nephews, and other young relatives who need continued care and support, legally and practically. This piece delves into the essential legal tools—guardianship and adoption—that empower caregivers to navigate borders and ensure that every child in their care remains legally protected and nurtured, no matter where life takes them.​
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Content Tanzania Instagram photo triggers payment ​​
On 19 August 2025, the Personal Data Protection Commission (the Commission), established under the Personal Data Protection Act, Cap. 44 (PDPA), delivered its ruling in Complaint No. PDPC/CMP/002/2025. The Commission found the Respondent liable for unlawfully posting and commercially exploiting the photograph of a newborn child on Instagram without parental consent.
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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!