Ecco Chamber
Fortnightly Italian news made in South Africa
I edition April 2026
Showcase Your Company in the 2026/2027
ItalCham Annual Directory
Annual Directory 2026/2027 - Advertising Rates
Secure your company’s presence in the upcoming
2026/2027 ItalCham Annual Directory!
As the Chamber’s flagship publication, the Directory is distributed to members, partners, and key stakeholders and shared digitally throughout the year, giving your brand long-lasting visibility.
Booking Deadline: 29 May 2026
To confirm your placement in the 2026/2027 Annual Directory contact accounts@italcham.co.za
​Petanque & Bocce Cup
Join the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries and the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a unique afternoon of friendly competition at the Pétanque & Bocce Cup.
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This special edition celebrates the rich traditions of Italy and France, bringing together the classic games of pétanque and bocce in a relaxed, vibrant setting.
Whether you're a seasoned player or completely new to the game, all are welcome—on-site guidance will ensure everyone can take part and enjoy the experience.
Expect an engaging afternoon of team building, networking, and light-hearted rivalry, as teams go head-to-head in a spirited yet social atmosphere.
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Event details
Date: 17 April 2026
Time: 14:00–18:00
Venue: Italian Club of Cape Town
Fee: R 100 (excluding VAT)
Terms & Conditions:​
No refund will be issued in respect of a cancelled purchase or no-show.
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Tickets are transferable but cannot be resold or offered for resale without the expressed consent of both Chambers.
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By participating in the Pétanque & Bocce Cup, you consent to being filmed, photographed, or recorded, and that your name, voice, and likeness may be used for promotional purposes without compensation.
Invitation to Participate: Presentation Event BMWE Business Delegation to South Africa
​ItalCham extends an invitation to our members to participate in the BMWE Business Delegation to South Africa, organised on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWE) and its implementing partners.
The delegation will bring together selected German companies, South African businesses, and institutional stakeholders to explore concrete trade, distribution, and partnership opportunities within the South African market. Participating German companies represent key sectors, including Cosmetics and Cleaning Products, with a strong interest in partnerships, distribution, sourcing, and market entry.
Event Details:
Date: 21 April 2026
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Participation Opportunities
For companies seeking direct engagement, pre-arranged one-on-one B2B meetings will be available with German firms actively looking for partners in South Africa. Participants may schedule multiple meetings based on interest and availability.
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Organisations and institutions may also participate without B2B meetings to observe, network, and engage at an institutional level.
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Interested organisations and members are encouraged to register using the link below.
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Further details, including German company profiles and the final meeting schedule, will be shared with confirmed participants.
Reserve Your Table:
​ItalCham
Business Excellence Awards 2026
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Secure your seat or reserve a table to join us for a distinguished evening celebrating outstanding contributions to the Italian–South African business landscape.
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ItalCham's Business Excellence Awards brings together leaders from the Italian–South African business community
for an evening dedicated to recognising excellence, innovation,
and achievement.​
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Guests can look forward to an elegant evening, complemented by special opera entertainment.
Call for Board of Directors
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled to take place in May, on a date still to be confirmed.
As part of the preparations for the AGM, the nominations for non-executive directors need to be finalised so that candidates can be approved at the AGM.
Your Company is hereby invited to submit nominations for non-executive directors to serve on the Board of The Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries NPC (“ItalChamSA”).
The eligibility criteria for a nomination to be accepted are as follows:
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Paid up membership of ItalChamSA
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Relevant board experience or sector experience and expertise required of a person eligible for appointment to a Board of Directors
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Availability to attend board meetings and participate in the strategic management of ItalChamSA
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The candidate must be a senior legal representative of a member company
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We would encourage female applications in order to foster diversity on our Board
ItalChamSA is a non-profit company and the directors are not remunerated for their services to the Board.
All nominations must be submitted to the Secretary General, with an updated Curriculum Vitae, by replying to this email address (sg@italcham.co.za) by no later than 07 April 2026.
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.
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.
Building Code Red to Code Regulated: South Africa’s Data, AI and Cybersecurity Shift in 2025, and What’s to Come in 2026?
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South Africa’s data protection, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (“AI“) landscape matured significantly in 2025. Key developments included: new POPIA regulations; a joint cyber security standard for financial institutions coming into effect; the Information Regulator issuing draft regulations for healthcare data; and the publication of an AI report by financial sector regulators. At least two notable POPIA-related judgments were also handed down. This article recaps 2025’s key developments and forecasts what is on the horizon for 2026.​
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Investing in Egypt: Corporate Structures and Foreign Investment Regulations​
Egyptian law provides two categories of commercial structures that a foreign entrepreneur can set up in Egypt without the need for an Egyptian partner, as follows:
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Branch and Representative Offices
In the event that a foreign entrepreneur owns a company that has a local commercial agent, a representative office may be set up that is exempt from income tax, contingent upon the representative office restricting its activities to investigating the possibility of production in Egypt. Such a company may register a branch office to carry out a contract that it has to perform in Egypt.
Lesotho's new regulations: No Business Licences for Foreign Nationals
You may have seen the recent headlines relating to no trading licences for foreign nationals. Although how it works and what its reach remains murky. What is being implemented is Regulation 34 of the Business Licensing and Registration Regulations which reserves specific business activities exclusively for indigenous citizens. The rule is not a “foreigner vs. Basotho company” test and not a 20%/30% shareholding threshold. If any proprietor, shareholder, partner, or director is not an indigenous citizen, a licence in a reserved activity runs to expiry and will not be renewed. There is a limited carve-out for a joint venture or partnership with an enterprise wholly owned by indigenous citizens, but sham arrangements will be revoked. What is an indigenous citizen? The regulations define an indigenous citizen to mean a person whose ancestry can be traced back to at least three generations as citizens of Lesotho.
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LEX Africa Expands Pan-African Footprint, Welcoming New Member in Somalia, Burkina Faso, and the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
For any international business or investor, Africa presents a continent of immense opportunity. However, navigating its 54 diverse legal and regulatory landscapes can feel like a monumental task. How do you ensure compliance, manage transactions, and resolve disputes across multiple jurisdictions with confidence?
This is the exact challenge LEX Africa was founded to solve in 1993. As the continent's first and largest legal alliance, our mission has always been to provide a single, trusted gateway to premier legal services across Africa.
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GUIDE ON AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL,
SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG)
LAWS AND POLICIES
LEX Africa is pleased to present the inaugural edition of its Guide on African Environmental, Social and Governance
(“ESG”) Laws and Policies (“Guide”). The Guide comprises practitioner-led analyses of ESG legal frameworks across
Africa, authored by LEX Africa lawyers with extensive local expertise. The Guide provides insight into evolving statutes,
regulations, disclosure practices, enforcement trends and market dynamics that shape ESG compliance and opportunities
throughout the Continent.
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Join Our WhatsApp Channel!
Stay Connected! Join Our New WhatsApp Channel!
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We’ve made staying in the loop easier (and faster) than ever!
Join our brand-new Italcham WhatsApp Channel to get instant updates
on upcoming events, exclusive news, and everything happening at ItalCham, all in one place.
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Real-time updates and exciting opportunities you won’t want to miss!
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Click the link or scan the QR code above to join now and be part of the updates!
job board
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​​​View the new job vacancy below:
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​View 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!