Andersen hosts South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Pandor
The Milan office of Andersen in Italy hosted the round table discussion “South Africa and Italy: co-operation toward sustainability transitions”. Grace Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the South African government, H. E. Nosipho Jezile, ambassador to Italy, and representatives of 14 Italian institutions and companies have attended the meeting. This meeting responds to the internationalization trend of many companies, especially toward the African continent, and the South African government’s intention to increase its foreign contacts and the volume of its exports.
Many companies hve business interests in the aarea, and cooperation with this continent is among the priorities of Italian foreign policy, for which it is essential to support the establishment and maintenance of peace in the region. This commitment is demonstrated by our government’s support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union, and the concretization of the Antanasio Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa, with the objective of improving assistance and accompaniment activities for Italian companies in Sub-Saharan African countries, particularly where the institutional presence is less strong.
In this situation, Andersen acts as an intermediary to foster dialogue and exchanges between different areas of the world, providing integrated assistance for international operations, thanks to the possibilities offered by its global network of professionals.
The topic of the meeting
The Italian companies that participated had the opportunity to introduce themselves and explain their interests in South Africa. This territory has peculiarities that distinguish it from other African nations and make it an optimal incubator for the evolution of new technologies and business models. The differences within South African society mean that all stages of economic development are present in the country, which translates into particularly significant development potential for those who choose to invest within this context.
Minister Pandor spoke of the opportunities South Africa offers Western companies, supported by the significant economic revitalization operations underway. These, relying on a good infrastructure network and a developed financial system, take their cue from the major challenges posed by the health emergency and the region’s unique characteristics. The main objective is to give new impetus to the health, insurance, tourism, agricultural and mining sectors while maintaining the interplay between public and private interests and the openness to foreign countries that characterizes the South African economy.
Economic development will rest on a renewed infrastructure network, which will facilitate the movement of goods and people while allowing for increased exports. In addition, one of the most important goals of the current government is to ensure democratic access to energy resources and technology, to reduce social inequalities and empower everyone to develop their potential.