
Ecco Chamber
Fortnightly Italian news made in South Africa
I edition October 2025

Your Ticket to Italian Flair, Time to Join Italy in Town!


ItalCham's Annual Directory 2025/2026
The wait is over! ItalCham's Annual Directory 2025/2026 is here!
Your ultimate guide to businesses, leaders, and opportunities shaping
Italian–South African trade. Packed with valuable insights, this edition opens doors to new partnerships and growth.
Stay ahead, stay connected, and discover who’s who in our thriving
business community.
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ItalCham, together with our fellow chamber partners, is pleased to invite you to this important session, discussing mental health in the workplace.
Date: 23 October 2025
Time: 18:00 for 18:30 to 20:00
Venue: Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, 1 Fairway Avenue, Johannesburg
Cost: Members R250 | Non-members R350 excl VAT
RSVP: italcham@italcham.co.za
This session will provide valuable insights and actionable advice for
business owners, executives, HR professionals, and transformation managers seeking to strengthen their organization’s approach to mental health.

Driving Business Forward:
The 4th European Chambers
Golf Day Tees Off in Cape Town
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🏌️♂️ Join Us for the 4th Annual EU Chamber Golf Day!
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.
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

The 12th edition of the TEHA CEO Dialogue on Southern Africa, Ambrosetti’s flagship Forum on the continent, will take place on the
20th and 21st of November 2025 at The Houghton Hotel (Lloys Ellis Avenue) Johannesburg.
This exclusive, high-level summit will bring together 200+ CEOs, ministers, economists, and global thought leaders to shape the future of business and policy in Africa.
With coverage from international media such as Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC, Business Day, SABC News, and Newzroom, the Dialogue promises unmatched visibility and impact.
The event has the following objectives:
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Promoting unique business opportunities in the region.
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Strengthening business and political relations among companies and institutions.
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Providing business and political leaders with innovative approaches and ideas capable of shaping their strategies.
Alongside the discussions, participants will enjoy a
cocktail reception and gala dinner,
providing an exclusive networking experience.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Africa’s premier business and leadership forum.

Italy in Town 2025
Early Bird Tickets Available Now!

Are You Ready for Cape Town’s Biggest Italian Celebration?
The wait is over! Early Bird tickets for Italy in Town Festival are officially LIVE and only for a limited time.
Don’t miss out, secure your spot today!
Programme & line-up dropping soon. Stay tuned for more updates!
🍝 More food. 🍷 More wine. More Italy!
Book your Tickets Now!

Recap: The Economic Climate for 2026"

Johannesburg, 2nd of October – The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), in collaboration with the Italian, Belgian, Nordic, and Portuguese Chambers of Commerce, hosted a high-level economic briefing titled “The Economic Climate for 2026” with acclaimed economist Dawie Roodt as the keynote speaker.
The event brought together local and international business leaders, and members of the participating chambers for a timely discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping the year ahead.
Key Insights
In his address, Roodt explored the geopolitical shifts redefining the global order and their implications for South Africa and the wider region. He examined the demographic pressures influencing long-term growth and provided analysis on tariffs, tax policy, and the complex intersection between ideology and economics.
Roodt also highlighted the contrasting prospects of manufacturing-led growth versus services-based economic models, offering a perspective on how South Africa can best position itself in an increasingly competitive global market.
Concluding his presentation, Roodt outlined a realistic outlook for 2026, urging businesses to remain agile, innovative, and prepared for both structural reforms and external shocks that may shape the coming year.
A Collaborative Platform
The event underscored the value of collaboration among Chambers of Commerce in fostering dialogue and providing their members with critical insights into the economic environment.

Italian Excellence: Made in Italy Exhibition Showcases Lifestyle, Design, and Gastronomy
in Sandton
Sandton, 1 October 2025 – The Atrium at Nedbank Headquarters in Sandton played host to the Made in Italy Exhibition, a vibrant showcase of Italian culture, lifestyle, and innovation.
The exhibition was officially opened with welcoming remarks by Consul General of Italy in Johannesburg, Livio Spadavecchia, and Nedbank representative, Ms. Elelwani Pandelani, who both underscored the importance of Italy–South Africa relations and the shared commitment to building bridges through culture, business, and innovation.
Organized in partnership with the Italian South African Chamber of Trade and Industries, the event brought together South Africa’s high-net-worth individuals, business leaders, and cultural influencers for an immersive journey into Italian excellence.
Highlights of the Exhibition
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Italian Gastronomy Showcase – Guests experienced culinary artistry with a live performance by the Prue Leith Culinary Institute, inspired by its partnership with ALMA – The International School of Italian Cuisine. Tastings featured typical dishes skilfully prepared with fresh ingredients, artisanal olive oils, cheeses, and cured meats, as well as world-renowned brands such Peroni Zero, San Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, and Ferrero.
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Italian Coffee Mini-Exhibition – Marking International Coffee Day, the Embassy curated an educational journey into Italy’s global role in the coffee value chain, complemented by tastings of Italian coffee and a showcase if Italian coffee machines.
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Wellness, Lifestyle & Design – The exhibition featured some of Italy’s most prestigious brands in fitness, design, and luxury living, including Technogym, Macron, ItalTile, Ducati, Ross&Brown, Superveloce, Ariston, Sterlings, Alfa Ovens, Bialetti, and Infinity Stone.
A Strategic Showcase
The Made in Italy Exhibition not only celebrated Italian creativity and craftsmanship but also demonstrated the strategic role of Italy as a partner in South Africa’s economic and cultural landscape. The initiative supports Italy’s broader efforts to attract South African investors, tourists, and residents, highlighting the complementary strengths of the two nations.
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Member News:
Technogym Opens
Flagship South African Showroom In Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa – 6 October 2025: Technogym, a global leader in fitness, wellness, health and sport, has officially launched its first flagship showroom in South Africa. Located in Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, the multi-million-Rand, 3,566sqm space is designed as a hub for both industry professionals and health-conscious enthusiasts to explore the latest innovations shaping the fitness and wellness sector.
The opening comes at a time when South Africa’s health and wellness industry is experiencing strong growth – with Technogym South Africa recording a 29% increase in new equipment sales and a 58% growth in its Key Account Club segment in 2024 – and rising demand for smarter, more connected training solutions in both home and commercial settings. The new showroom provides a central space where clients, partners and business operators can experience first-hand the Technogym ecosystem from connected smart equipment to digital services and personalised training solutions.
For individuals, the showroom offers access to tailored consultations, demonstrations and advice on creating personalised training or home-gym environments. For business operators – including gyms, sports facilities, hotels, healthcare providers and property developers, it serves as a resource centre for industry insights, product guidance and professional education. Regular seminars and workshops are planned to further support local trainers, physiotherapists, and wellness entrepreneurs in keeping pace with global trends.
“South Africa has a growing community of health-conscious consumers and a dynamic fitness industry. This new space allows us to create a direct connection with them and showcase how technology is transforming training, rehabilitation and wellbeing,” says Tony Payne, the co-driving force behind Technogym in Southern Africa alongside his brother, Kevin Payne.
To mark the milestone occasion in the company’s 42-year journey, Technogym’s President and Founder, Nerio Alessandri, attended the launch and emphasised the brand's AI-driven innovation strategy and the strategic importance of South Africa for the company.
“Over the years we have developed a unique ecosystem to offer people personalized training experiences for fitness, health and sport. Today Technogym is a Life Science company, able to scientifically prescribe exercise programs based on data and AI; this allows us to add to our fitness, wellness and sport proposition the new Healthness offer. The greatest revolution of our time: making health prevention accessible, measurable and impactful for individuals and communities at large – and South Africa is no exception.”
Founded by Alessandri at the age of 22 years from his garage, Technogym started as a small idea but quickly became a global movement, rooted in his vision to get the world moving again and help people live healthier, better lives through regular physical exercise.
For four decades, the company has pioneered industry-first innovations, from biomechanics to digital platforms and now AI-driven solutions, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. It has become a long-standing partner of leading sports teams and organisations worldwide and has served as the Official Supplier of the last 10 Olympic Games since 2000.
“Beneath the sleek surfaces of treadmills, bikes, and strength machines, AI and smart technology are working behind the scenes to optimise every movement, heartbeat, and outcome – engineering intelligence into every rep,” says Kevin Payne. “Our Johannesburg showroom marks a new chapter for the company’s investment in Africa, offering local businesses and consumers access to global standards in fitness innovation.”
The Showroom is open Monday to Friday from 08h00 to 17h00, and Saturday from 09h00 to 13h00, at 8 Eastwood Road, Corner Jan Smuts Avenue, Dunkeld West, Johannesburg.
For more information, please visit www.technogym.com/en-ZA/.
Technogym
Founded in 1983, Technogym is a world-leading brand in fitness, wellness, sport, and health. Technogym offers a complete Ecosystem of connected smart equipment, digital services, on-demand training experiences and apps that enable each user to access a fully personalized workout experience anywhere and anytime: at home, at the gym and on-the-go. With over 2,500 employees Technogym is present in over 100 countries. More than 70 million people train with Technogym equipment in 100,000 Wellness centers and 500,000 private homes in the world. Technogym has been appointed for the tenth time as the Official Supplier of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and is the brand of choice for training



Welcoming Our New Member:
Terramanzi Group

Terramanzi Group is a leading African consultancy specialising in green building, sustainability, and environmental permitting. With more than two decades of experience, we support EU clients, investors, and developers to deliver projects in Africa that meet both local regulatory requirements and international ESG, Sustainable Design and Net Zero standards.
Our team has successfully delivered over a thousand projects spanning renewable energy, infrastructure, and property development sectors. We provide end-to-end services — from Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and permitting under African regulatory frameworks to globally recognised certifications such as Green Star, LEED, EDGE, Net Zero, and Living Building Challenge. This dual capability ensures that our clients achieve both legal compliance and global sustainability alignment.
By combining deep technical expertise with practical on-the-ground experience, Terramanzi helps international partners navigate Africa’s complex regulatory landscape while unlocking measurable environmental and social value. Our proven track record in biodiversity monitoring, environmental construction management, and stakeholder engagement positions us as a trusted partner for sustainable development across the continent.
HEAD OFFICE
tel: +27 21 701 5228
fax: +27 86 558 1213
mobile: +27 82 575 3800
email: info@terramanzi.co.za
skype: terramanzi
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
16 Bell Crescent
Westlake
Cape Town
7945
GENERAL ENQUIRIES:
info@terramanzi.co.za
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES:
environmental@terramanzi.co.za
GREEN BUILDING SERVICES:
green@terramanzi.co.za
ACCOUNTS ENQUIRIES:
accounts@terramanzi.co.za
WEBSITE


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.

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.
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:
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
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.
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.


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View the new job vacancy below
Restaurant Client Liaison and Admin Manager – PTA
View other job vacancies on the SMILE website
via this link - CLICK HERE
If you are currently hiring,
Please take a look at SMILE-vetted candidates HERE

Alla prossima!