Sessions

Day 1

Welcoming & Opening Addresses

In order of appearence

Paolo Magri is Executive Vice President of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) and Professor of International Relations at Bocconi University.

He is member of the Strategic Committee of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, member of the Europe Policy Group of the World Economic Forum (Davos) and member of the Board of Directors of the Italy-China Foundation. He is also member of the Scientific Committees of the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) and of the Military Center for Strategic Studies (Ce.Mi.S.S.).

He is a regular speaker, writer and commentator to diverse media outlet on global issues, US foreign policy, Iran and Middle East.

Previously, he served as Programme Director to the UN Secretariat in New York and, up to 2005, as Director of International Affairs at Bocconi University in Milan.

Prof Maurizio Casasco was born in Rivanazzano Terme (near Milan) in 1954 then moving to Brescia where he’s still living.

He got a university dregree in medicine and a specialization in sport medicine and had lot of institutional charges.

President and CEO of a company specialised in diagnostics, he has been elected as Confapi President, the Italian Confederation of small and medium sized industries, in July 2012 and re-elected in July 2015, in October 2018 and in July 2021.

In 2021 he has been elected President of Cea-Pme, the European confederation of SMEs.

Since 2019 he is member of the EESC, the European economic and social Committee, where he is part of the Employers group and of the bureau of INT Section focused on single market and production.

He is also President of the Contaminaction HUB founded by Tor Vergata University and Confapi.

From 2011 to 2014 he has been President of Apindustria Brescia, Confapi local association representing about 1.000 companies.

He’s also the President of the Italian Federation of sports medicine and in November 2017 he’s been elected President of the European Federation of sports medicine. He’s also a member of CONI board.

Since 2015 he’s a member of the Aspen Institute, since 2017 he’s in the Executive Board of the Italian Institute for international politics (ISPI) and he’s also in the board of Foro Italico University in Rome.

Mr. Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh, the current President of the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce, is one of the leading figures of the Djiboutian business community.

In 1988 and after earning a degree in International Business, Mr. Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh began to gain experience in business activities. He then established its first company specialised in the import-export of food products.

Then in 1994, attracted by the fish production, he took over the management of the large fish market of Boulaos and started to export fishery products to the countries in the region.

Multilingual, he has a taste for contact and faces many other challenges while diversifying its activities, especially, with the creation of the Dawaleh Construction Company. Thus, beyond its activities in the building and public work, Dawaleh Contruction is one of the companies in Djibouti pioneers in real estate development.

From 1993 to 2003 he was Associate Member in the General Assembly of the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce (CCD) during the presidency of the late Said Ali Coubèche. At that time, Mr. Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh pleaded the cause of the private sector in the National Assembly as Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and then as Chairman of that same committee.

Man of action and conviction, Mr. Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh, President of the Consular Institution since December 2013, is to use its best endeavours to further the interests of the private sector and contribute to the country’s economic development through the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Dario Franceschini is an Italian lawyer, writer and politician. He was born in Ferrara in 1958 and graduated in law at Ferrara University. In september 2013 he was elected Italian Minister for Culture under Mr. Mario Draghi Cabinet, a position that he already held from February 2014 to June 2018 during the previous Cabinets. The duration of his charge makes him the longest-serving minister of culture and tourism in the history of the Italian Republic.

He manifested his vocation for politics as a student, and this took him to held various political positions: in 1980 he was elected Municipal Councillor of Ferrara; he was Undersecretary of state to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers from 1999 to 2001; Minister of Relations with Parliament and Coordination of Government Activities from 2013 to 2014. Furthermore, he was a prominent member of the Italian People’s Party (PPI) and of the Margherita Party. He is active in the Democratic Party, for which he held the role of National Secretary and group leader in the Chamber of Deputies

Mrs Sereni was born in Foligno (Perugia) in 1960.

Active in students’ organizations and in the Peace Movement.

In 1985 she was elected member of the Regional Council of Umbria.

From 1993 to 2001 she served as Alderwoman holding the portfolio for Budget, Personnel and Social Policies.

In 2001 she was elected for the first time to Parliament in the constituency of Umbria.

From December 2001 to 2005, she was a member of the National Executive Committee of the Democrats of the Left, with responsibility for Foreign Affairs.

In 2005, she took responsibility for the national organisation of the Democrats of the Left and contributed to the establishment of the Democratic Party. She served on the Foreign Affairs Committee until 2006.

In 2006, she was re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies and served as Vice President of the “Olive Tree” Parliamentary Group until 28 April 2008.

First candidate on the list of her region for the 2008 early elections, she served as Vice President of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party until November 2009.

She was elected Vice President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Party during the 2009 Convention of the Democratic Party.

On the occasion of the 2013 general elections, she was first candidate on the list of the Democratic Party in the constituency of Umbria. She served as First Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies from 2013 to 2018. During this period she was also member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

From July 2018 to September 2019 she was member of the National Secretariat of the Democratic Party. She is currently member of the National Directorate of the Party.

On September 16^th, 2019 she was appointed Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (government Conte II).

On March 1^st, 2021 she has been appointed Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (government Draghi).

Mr. Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid was born in June 1993, in Mascara Algeria. After studying in medical school he received his PhD in August 2018. The following year, in September 2019, he is the co-founder of Startup Smart Ways, a company in the field of logistics and geolocation.

In December of the same year, he became the co-founder of a startup Bright Solutions, a company in the field of IT. In January 2020, he was appointed Minister Delegate in charge of Startups in the Algerian government.

Mrs. Jutta Urpilainen is the Finnish Commissioner for International Partnerships since 2019 within the Commission of Ursula Von der Leyen. She holds a Master of Educational Sciences obtained in 2002. Her political career started within the Finnish Parliament, where she was a member of Education and Culture Committee from 2003 to 2007.

After working within the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Development Committee, she held the position of Minister of FInance and Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to  2014. Later, she was also appointed aas  Finnish Foreign Minister’s Special Representative on Mediation (2017-2019)

Mrs. Stella Ndabeni is a South African politician and the Minister of Small Business Development in the Republic of South Africa. She previously served as Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies and prior to the 2019 elections, she served as Minister of the merged Departments of Communications and Telecommunications.

She was born in Sakhela, a village near Mthatha, in 1978. Her academic qualifications include a Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Diploma in Telecommunications and Management Systems, a Certificate in Telecommunications, Policy & Regulation Management (Wits University), an Advanced Certificate in Project Management (Rhodes University) and a Project Management Diploma (Cranefields College).

The Minister is well versed on issues pertaining to ICT convergence and digital transformation, understanding that for South Africa to appropriately position itself for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), skills development and capacity building for the youth, entrepreneurs, government employees and citizens must be at the helm of all interventions. In this contest, she also catapulted the use of technology in schools based in rural and peri-urban areas of South Africa.

Mrs Anna Cavazzini is a Member of the European Parliament for the Greens/EFA-Group. She is the chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection as well as Deputy Member of the Committee on International Trade. She fights for a sustainable internal market, high product standards and a functioning circular economy as well as for fair world trade and just globalization – promoting climate and environmental protection, human rights and fair workers’ conditions along supply chains.

Mr Chiza Charles Chiumya is an experienced public policy practitioner with demonstrated global experience in international trade policy affairs, stemming from his vast experience at the national and continental level for the past 20 years. He has a strong persuasion that Africa’s Regional Integration is key to enhancing Africa’s share in global trade and boosting Intra African trade as well as in creating a conducive environment for socio-economic development for the continent, especially for SMEs.

Through his current position at the African Union Commission as Acting Director of Industry, Mining and Entrepreneurship, in the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining, he contributes to the provision of integrated solutions that combine policy reform and advisory as well as implementation support to challenges of industrial policy and regional integration in African Union Member States. His roles also entails the coordination of intergovernmental policies in the areas of MSMEs Development, Innovation, Quality infrastructure, Mining, Investments and Tourism, in a bid to achieving AU Agenda 2063 Aspirations.

He substantially contributed to the conceptualization and subsequent development of the African Union’s Action Plan for Boosting Intra African trade and the African Continental free Trade Area.

Mr Robert Dussey is the Togolese minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African integration since September 2013. Born in Bangui Central African Republic in 1972, Dussey was a seminarian and held the position of mediator for the Community of Saint Egidio in Rome. After obtaining his PhD in political philosophy in 1999, he is still today a Professor of philosophy at the University of Lomé. Specialist in issues of peace, management and resolution of armed conflicts, he wrote several books such as L’Afrique malade de ses hommes politique (2008).

From 2005 to 2013 he was Diplomatic Advisor to President Faure Gnassingbé . After being nominated Minister for Foreign Affairs, he was nominated as Chief Negotiator of ACP-UE Post-Cotonou 2020

Session 1 – Which Future for Africa and Europe after COVID?

In order of appearence

Mr. David Sassoli was born in Florence in 1956. He began work at a young age as a journalist with small newspapers and media outlets. Domestic issues in Italy have always had a place in Sassoli’s life. With the birth of the Partito Democratico (PD), David found a place that suited his political beliefs.

Since 2009, he has been a member of the European Parliament. In 2014, he was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament with responsibility for Mediterranean Policy, the Budget and Buildings.

As a member of the Commission for Transport and Tourism, he worked as a rapporteur for European railway reform (4th Railway Package) and the Single European Sky. In 2019, he was elected for the third time as a Member of the European Parliament and became President of the European Parliament.

Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos has served in various high-level cabinet posts, including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence, and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002. He served as EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019.

Mrs. Tiekie Barnard is the Founder and CEO of both Shift Impact Africa a Shared Value advisory consulting firm and the Shared Value Africa Initiative(SVAI). She  is driven by her passion and love for the Africa continent and the Shared Value Business Management concept that reconnect company success to social progress.

In addition Tiekie is an advocate for gender equality and is passionate about fighting GBV and in June 2020 the Shared Value Africa initiative Iaunched the GBVF #ITSNOTOK movement to create public awareness of our second global pandemic and to motivate change through the private sector and government.

Prof. Sergio Arzeni is President of INSME, a Rome-based International Network for SMEs promoted by the OECD and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development.

He is:
Senior Advisor at Friends of Europe, a Brussels based Think-Thank focusing on issues related to the functioning and perspectives of the European Union
Executive Member of GCEL – Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics, a Geneva-based public-private partnership building a global digital platform to facilitate international trade among SMEs.

Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of Unioncamere, Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Rome Former Director of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) in Paris responsible for Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Local Economic and Employment Development and Tourism, and
President of the Scientific Committee for Research and Innovation of the Piedmont Region, in Turin;

Before joining the OECD as a Senior Economist, he served as a policy analyst both in the European Commission in Brussels, in the Italian Parliament and the Italian Trade Unions (CISL) national economic research department in Rome, was member of the Council for Southern Italy of the National Research Center (CNR) and was Co-founder of the Italy-Japan friendship Association.
He holds First Class Honors Degree in Political Science from the University of Rome and specialized in Industrial Economics at the International University Institute of Luxembourg and in International Economic Relations at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C., USA.

Mrs. Esther Awoniyi is currently a financial broadcast journalist and business anchor at CNBC Africa, the first and most powerful business media brand which focuses on finance and economic news. She graduated with a BA honours in Linguistics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and then she began her career in journalism as a newscaster and reporter at Minaj Broadcasting Corporation in Lagos.

Shortly after, she moved on to become a lead business programme anchor at Nigeria’s multiple-award winning local station, Channels TV. The brilliant Esther has a very successful career working as a producer and reporter, telling Africa’s remarkable growth story.

Session 2 – New entrepreneurs for Africa: imagine, create and thrive to success

In order of appearence

Mrs. Caroline Hauptmann was born in Stuttgart (Germany) and spent her youth in India and Africa. She studied Business Administration in Wiesbaden and then, she moved to Buenos Aires to study the Spanish language and Environmental Economics. She has vast experience in the private sector, as she cooperated for many years with different companies acting in marketing, public relations, project management, and digitalisation. Among them, there are Rockwell International, R+V Versicherung, Cullinet Software (now Computer Associates).

In 2003 she joined the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), for which she carried out important tasks:  she was in charge of international EU projects, she was endorsed as the Finance Officer for South-East Asia and Latin America, she built up the internal audit unit and, as Deputy Head of Finance and Head of Budget, managed large infrastructure projects such as the “Financial Control of the KAS”. In addition, she was co-initiator of the DMS/VBS project “KAS-wide introduction and use of fav2 in the KAS”. Since 2021, she has been heading the Senegal and Gambia country project for the KAS, based in Dakar.

Ms. Wincate M. Muthini is the Program Manager at the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, coordinating strategic partnerships and programs geared toward an enabling African business environment for economic integration.

Her technical background is in Mechatronic Engineering through which, while at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, she was introduced to AIESEC and held various positions in the Kenyan and Ethiopian chapters developing youth leaders through experiential learning. Through her experience at the organization she gained skills in leadership coaching, brand development, marketing, program management, and B2B.

Having being with the chamber for the past four years, Wincate believes the private sector (SMEs) need to be at the forefront of the AfCFTA creating markets and, thus, bridging the unseen boundaries so that 2063 will bring the next generation borderless markets and greater opportunities.

Rita Kanu is the director of IntelliDIgest Limited and PhD researcher (Civil Engineering) at Heriot Watt University with solid and progressive experience in most aspects of Civil Engineering, specialty in water, wastewater and waste to energy systems. She is strongly engaged in the elimination of food waste through the promotion of a circular economy, by preventing edible food going to waste, and by converting inedible food waste into sustainable chemicals.

She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (MCIWEM). A pioneer of Heriot Watt Female in Engineering and Science forum, a platform dedicated to encouraging young females to develop an interest in and excel in STEM related fields which has evolved to become Heriot Watt WES Affiliated Student Group. Mrs. Ifey was one of the founding members of Heriot Watt University Women’s Engineering society and chair of the WES Affiliated Student Group. Ifey was nominated amongst the Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35 (WE50) in 2017.

Laurent Assembe is an engineer specialized in electronics and transmission systems. In his current position as Director Business Development and Sales at Aerodata, he has got more than 10 years experience in Africa. Aerodata being a german company providing turn key solutions for airborne surveillance and flight calibration systems.

Prior to the current function, Laurent Assembe worked as program and project manager as well as system engineer and scientist for other companies and entities.

Mrs. Khadidiatou Ba is a Senegalese student, she is 23, she loves to travel and make new experiences. In 2015 she started her activity as a blogger, and her passion for self-care and cosmetics increases every day. In 2018, she launched her first cosmetic brand of natural hair care products, made by her own Company, The Feewi Corporate.  From this first experience in the business world, full of enthusiasm, she decided to continue her career as an entrepreneur.

Nowadays, The Feewi Corporate is specialized in three different branches of self-care: hair products, skin care products and artistic products. From when it started, the Company has significantly grown. In fact, it records more than 35.000 followers on its official social network, and more than 12 whatsapp groups reaching different countries of the world. In order to become even more efficient in this field, Mrs. Khadidiatou BA is now attending a Marketing and Communication course. Currently, she is the coordinator of her personal blog myafrolegacy.com and is engaged as the hair coaching of the beautiful African community.

Mr Timon Herzog, CEO of Grips Energy, is in the renewable energy sector for around 20 years. After being part of the Solar-PV revolution in Europe, he has focused the last ten years to get ahead with renewables in emerging countries. With Grips, he is working on renewable energy contracting for commercial and industrial off-takers in South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Before joining Grips, he was posted several years in India for the GIZ (German Development Cooperation) advising the Indian government on solar policies and implementing pilot projects for different solar technologies. Starting from 2001, Timon was involved in the international solar industry in different management positions – such as e.g. Head of Product Management at the first stock quoted German solar technology company SOLON AG.

Timon was born in Munich, Germany and graduated in European business administration.

Mr. Antoine Ngom graduated in engineering at the Ecole Centrale de Paris (1955-1958). Soon after, he started his career as Technical Director at the Atos Consulting Finance department (Atos Origin – France). In 1999 he became the founder and the General Director of GSIE Technology, a company that works in the field of innovation and digital transformation. Currently he is the vice President of Conseil National du Patronat du Sénégal and the President of Organisation des Professionnels des TIC du Sénégal (OPTIC). His priority is to organize the private digital sector in Senegal and West Africa in an optimal way, in order to make it a real lever of growth and competitiveness.

Mr. Enrico Mazzon was born in Treviso (Italy), graduated in economics and business management, he completed his training with a master’s in international business, arbitration and tax, both at the University of Venice.

In 2006 he started working in the Italian Public administration in the health and social sector. In 2008 he began to collaborate with the Italian industrial association (Unindustria) at the Treviso office in a project that aims to internationalize and to develop the African markets for various companies in the industrial fabric of northern Italy.

In 2012 he co-founded ETC “Export Trading Cooperation”,multinational Italian group, with trademark registered on the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), rated at European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), active in the consulting and finance industry as per NACE code “technical-financial management of international exchanges and investments”.It is specialized in Trade Finance and Supply chain activities to support interchanges with sub saharan african countries and investment projects.

Mr Mazzon currently is Vice President and Managing Director of the ETC Group, Councilor of Uniafrica, the italian association for the development of relations with African countries and Delegate for Africa Desk in Veneto Region on behalf of Confapi Veneto, the SME italian association.

Session 3 – Launch of the Italian-African SME Alliance

In order of appearence

Mr. Giancarlo Giorgetti is the Italian Minister of Economic Development. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies in the XVII legislature from 2013 to 2014 and in the XVIII legislature until his appointment as undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the Conte I government.

Mr. Ettore Prandini is President of Coldiretti national, the main Italian organisation representing 1.5 million entrepreneurs from the agricultural sector, since November 2018.

His experience as National President comes after an intense activity of representation in his region: in 2006 he was elected President of Coldiretti Brescia, while from 2012 to 2019 he led the Federation of Coldiretti Lombardia, until he became Coldiretti National Vice President in July 2014. He is also Vice President of the Italian Breeders’ Association and President of the Italian Experimental Institute “L. Spallanzani”.

Session 4 – Work-based professional training makes competitive & resilient SMEs

In order of appearence

İlker Aycı was born in Istanbul in 1971. He attended the Bilkent University’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration and later got a Master degree in International Relations at the Marmara University in Istanbul.

As his career started in 1994, he worked for various companies, among which the Kurtsan Medicine, Universal International Trade, and the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, where, as an advisor to the then Mayor of Istanbul, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he took part in a number of development projects realized in Turkey’s largest city. In the insurance sector, Mr. Aycı became the General Manager of Başak Sigorta in 2005.

In 2011, Mr. Aycı became the President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), the only official national body to promote Turkey’s investment environment globally and to assist international investors in their investment projects. Between 2013 and 2015, Mr. Aycı also held first the Vice Presidency and then, the Presidency of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), the umbrella organization of over 170 investment promotion agencies from 130 countries.

Since 2015, Mr. Aycı has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines. Currently, Mr. Aycı is also the Chairman of the Service Exporters’ Association of Turkey and serves as a board and audit committee member of the Turkish Football Federation, the chair of the board of Turkish Airlines Sports Club.

Prof. Raffaella Sadun is a Professor of Business Administration in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School.

Professsor Sadun’s research focuses on managerial and organizational drivers of productivity and growth in both the private and public sector.  Her work appears in leading peer-reviewed journals in Economics and Management and is frequently featured in the business press.

She is among the founders of the World Management Survey, an international research initiative to measure the differences in management practices, and the Executive Time Use Study. She is also a Co-editor for the Journal of Law, Economics and Organisation.

Mrs Linda Onyango is the C.E.O of SME Support Centre Limited. Some of the highlights of her experience include:

Transaction advisory services for SMEs worth USD 2 million over the last three years. Led Business and Investment advisory services for over 1000 SMEs over the last 3 years in various forms including investment readiness trainings/talks, direct business advisory support and capital raising support

In March 2019, awarded by Berkeley Middle East Holdings during the Sub- Saharan Africa Investment Forum as the “most effective local supporter” for her role in mobilising capital for SMEs in Africa. In 2018 appointed as an SDG Influencer to represent Kenyan SMEs at first Heads of States Partnership for Green Growth Summit in Copenhagen. In 2017 appointed as an UNLEASH Global SDG Talent Shaper because of her contribution in ensuring the adoption and scale of RE technologies.

Lead SME Advisor, Energy 4 Impact(E4I), Climate Innovation Centre. Linda led the design and implementation of investment readiness programs and business advisory support to over 100 renewable energy and agribusiness entrepreneurs at E4I.

Dr Stephan Kunz is Project Manager in the Special Initiative Invest for Jobs of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in Senegal. Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa.

He brings his many years of experience in business and development cooperation, particularly from Asia and Africa. His core sectors are vocational training, textiles- and agro-industry as well as IT. In addition, he himself was socialised and trained in a medium-sized family business.

Mrs Blessing Ebere Achu is a creative startup ecosystem builder, passionate about supporting the growth of women and youth-owned/led SMEs in the African fashion industry – from cotton farmers to retail stores – and build a generation of globally reputed “Made in Africa”- brands.  She is the MD of 360 Creative Hub and Idozi Colletive, which aims to fuel fashion enterprise through technology.

Armed with extensive experience in Business Development and Sales Management in the Enterprise Software and Telecommunications sub-sectors, she is driven towards consistently exploring better ways of promoting Fashion Business Growth through technology. She works not only to help creative brands improve their knowledge and methods, she also facilitates export and international reach for emerging fashion brands through e-commerce and strategic partnerships. She has extensive experience in conducting research, developing partnerships and mobilizing financial resources through private and public channels.

Blessing holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from University of Nigeria Nsukka, a Fellow of the African Women Entrepreneurship cooperative, Women Entrepreneurship by Bank of America for Cornell University, Cherie Blair Foundation, Fellow Enpact Mentoring program. Over her 14 years professional journey, Blessing has successfully developed and implemented sales and marketing plans that aided the closing of multi-million dollar deals. She is tenacious in generating growth, ensuring customer loyalty and fostering strong relationships with external business partners.

She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Nigerian Student Fashion Design Week, mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, and promoter of leadership in young women, she sits on the board of few startup companies in Nigeria .and is a beneficiary of the Texinnova Acceleration Program, the only fellow selected from Africa.

Mr. David McKenzie is a Lead Economist in the Development Research Group, Finance and Private Sector Development Unit. Prior to joining the World Bank, he spent four years as an assistant professor of Economics at Stanford University.

His main research is on migration, enterprise development, and methodology for use with developing country data. He has published more than 100 articles in journals such as the American Economic Review, and Journal of the European Economic Association. He is currently on the editorial boards of the Journal of Development Economics and the World Bank Economic Review

Mr. Costantino Chessa graduated at Bocconi University of Milan in Business Administration. He has been working for over 13 years for ENI society, in which he held different positions: he started as the Organization Senior Vice President (2008-2011), then he was endorsed as the Continuous Improvement Senior Vice President from (2011-2018). Currently, he has been serving ENI society as Head of Procurement since October 2018.

Prior to joining the ENI society, he spent 11 years working for Saipem, an advanced technological and engineering platform for the design, construction and operation of complex, safe and sustainable infrastructures and plants. He started working for Saipem as HR Development Specialist, then he held the position of Organizational Analyst, and finally he became Head of Organization Development and Change Management.

Since 2014 Mr Stefan Moritz is Managing Director of European Entrepreneur CEA-PME, the Brussels-based confederation of European SMEs associations representing 2 million enterprises with about 16 million employees

Mr  Moritz has many years of experience in EU-funded economic development projects managed by international partner networks all over Europe.

After his studies in Sociology in Germany, he moved to Italy where, in 1999, he founded, together with 4 other partners, the Consulting Firm AREA EUROPA scrl, with seats in Bologna and – since 2013 – in Brussels. He led the company from 1999 until 2013 and, since then, manages the Brussels office.

He is an experienced project manager for regional economic development, European network manager, workshop facilitator and strategic advisor. Stefan Moritz speaks fluently English, Italian and Spanish, plus some French and Dutch.

Official Launch of the Africa IP SME helpdesk, organised by EU-Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Directorate General International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission

In order of appearence

Mr. Kamil Kiljański  received his degree in economics from King’s College London and then followed his vocation. He firstly was a member of the Chief Economist Team at the European Commission’s DG Competition from September 2003 to 2009; then he was appointed as the Chief Economist at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market and Industry, a position that he has been holding since July 2009.

Prior to joining the Commission, he worked for three years as a Senior Economist at LECG (an economic consultancy) in its London office. He has wide experience in various fields, among which energy, environment, payment systems, ICT and media. Furthermore, he was also involved in several International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) litigation cases, as well as advised on regulatory matters.

Mrs. Esther Awoniyi is currently a financial broadcast journalist and business anchor at CNBC Africa, the first and most powerful business media brand which focuses on finance and economic news. She graduated with a BA honours in Linguistics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and then she began her career in journalism as a newscaster and reporter at Minaj Broadcasting Corporation in Lagos.

Shortly after, she moved on to become a lead business programme anchor at Nigeria’s multiple-award winning local station, Channels TV. The brilliant Esther has a very successful career working as a producer and reporter, telling Africa’s remarkable growth story.

Session 5 – New financial tools for sustainable SME growth in Africa

In order of appearence

Mr. Emmanuel Agha holds a BSc degree in Computer Science and an MBA with a specialty in Leadership and Sustainability. He is mainly interested in Financial Inclusion, Digital Payments, MSME Development and Development Finance. More precisely, he is passionate about providing digital payment solutions especially in a continent where transactions are still largely cash-based and a significant number of economic actors remain outside the formal economy.

With over 20 years of diversified and extensive experience in last-mile financial technology, digital financial services, e-payment adoption, agency banking, and merchant aggregation, he currently is the CEO of Innovectives Digital Experience (INDEX) Group. INDEX is a SME focused digital banking infrastructure company working with small businesses, banks, International Card Schemes, and other financial service providers to deploy fit-for-purpose and sustainable initiatives that deepen adoption of formal financial services as well as stimulate the demand side of digital financial services.

Mr Brian Mangeni is currently Executive Director of Einstein Rising a social enterprise ecosystem builder operating in East Africa and the Portfolio Manager- East Africa for Ondernemers voor Ondernemers(OVO), a not for profit organization that believes that promoting entrepreneurship in those countries has a strong economic and social impact. Through the ‘Sustainable Technology for Africa’ program whereby entrepreneurs in Africa receive coaching over the course of a week, 6months mentorship and where possible, are incorporated in the OVO investment portfolio.

Prior to his current placements, Brian has been the head of the East African Energy Technology Development Network. He also serves on the boards of directors of several African SMEs in Agriculture, Energy and Health. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science, Professional Accounting Certification, A Masters in Business Administration and a postgraduate diploma in Social Business from the University of Santa Clara, California, he has been involved in researching and developing solutions to problems facing the startups in Africa.

Ms. Diana Battaggia has developed a distinguished career holding several political and leadership roles, both as a Member of the Italian Parliament and as top advisor for economic and institutional affairs for a wide range of Italian and European companies and institutions.

With high‐impact practical working experience both within the United Nations system and at national political level, Ms. Battaggia combines leadership qualities, professional qualifications, diplomatic talent, and a vast knowledge of global economic environments in developed and developing countries.

Her leadership skills enabled her to set up and consolidate business networking synergies on a global scale among high­‐level governments, business, and academia officials as well as multinational companies and SMEs, forging a dialogue and full consensus around the role of UNIDO and its mandate.

Given her deep knowledge and understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ms. Battaggia is also actively advocating in conferences and seminars for companies and institutions on why and how to pursue the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs.

Since 2004, Ms. Battaggia has been acting as Head of UNIDO ITPO Italy, assisting developing countries in their industrialization efforts through the promotion of foreign investments and technology transfer by identifying and mobilizing technical, financial, and managerial resources to increase employment, economic competitiveness and environmental protection.

In particular, Ms. Battaggia has launched and implemented various initiatives to support SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, in creating public-private partnerships with international stakeholders, and formulating innovation management standards, to enable industrial transformation and leapfrogging processes.

Closing Remarks

In order of appearence

Markus Jerger is Federal Executive Director of the Federal Association for Small and Medium Businesses of Germany (THE MITTELSTAND BVMW), and is the acting Managing Director of BVMW INTERNATIONAL uniting the interests of more than 900,000 companies from all business sectors.

The BVMW association operates some 340 regional offices in Germany and 65 international offices with a workforce of some 500 staff, experts, specialists and partners. The BVMW is the largest voluntarily organised and cross-sectoral economic interest group for the German small and medium enterprises.

Markus Jerger had held leadership positions and exclusive partnerships with the International Olympic Committee, the Kempinski Hotels & Resorts Group and was member of the Supervisory Board of Colony Capital´s renowned LaTour Medical Group in Switzerland.

He is a visiting professor for ‘Leadership and Entrepreneurship’ and Co-Chairman of the SME ACADEMY COUNCIL of UNECON State University of Economics of Saint Petersburg, and has served the educational board of the International Center Lomonosov University in Geneva, Switzerland of which he holds an honorary professorship.

Markus Jerger is a member of ACATECH GESELLSCHAFTSPOLITISCHER BEIRAT, an advisory think tank of the DEUTSCHE AKADEMIE DER TECHNIKWISSENSCHAFTEN.

Political remarks

In order of appearence

Mr. Luigi Di Maio is the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs since 5 September 2019. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Social Policies from 2018 to 2019, and as Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies in the XVII Italian legislature.

He was born in Avellino in 1986. He attended the Liceo classico and then he enrolled at the University of Naples Federico II to study engineering, but subsequently changed to jurisprudence. He was among the founders of student societies at both faculties.

Day 2 – Shared Value Business Lab 2021
“Successful SME-investments in Africa for jobs and professional training”

Welcoming and Opening Addresses

In order of appearence

Mr. Jens Spahn is a banker and a German politician who has been serving as Federal Minister of Health in the fourth cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2018. A member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), he has been the member of the lower house of the federal parliament, the Bundestag (German: Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestages, MdB), for Steinfurt I – Borken I since 2002. At the time of his election in 2002, Spahn – at age 22 – was the youngest member of the CDU in the German parliament. From July 2015 to March 2018 he was Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Minister of Finance. He was sworn in as Federal Minister of Health on March 14, 2018.

Mrs. NéNé Fatoumata was born in 1982 in Guediawaye, (Dakar).

Her academic qualifications include a baccalaureate at the Baobab school and a Diploma of Higher Technician in Tourism at ENSUT Dakar. This will allow her to access the world of work, making her first experiences in the banking and telemarketing sectors.

She has been serving as Senegalese Minister of Youth in the cabinet of the President Maki Sall  since 2019. Mrs Mbaye is currently deputy mayor of the town of Guediawaye, president of the statutory commission of the women’s cooperation of micro finance and solidarity. She also presides over the destiny of the women of the Alliance for the Republic in the department of Guediawaye.

Mr Jens Schmid-Kreye is Deputy Head of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Prior to this he served as Deputy Head of German Cooperation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At BMZ he also served as Senior Policy Officer in the East Europe Division as well as the Central America Division). He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and History

Dr. Karim Bendhaou (MD, MBA) has served as President of North and West Africa operations (40 countries of  Africa) for Merck for over 18 years till September 2018 and since then he heads the Africa Bureau and coordinates all of Merck’s corporate, strategic and executive decisions in Africa.

He has been appointed, in August 2019, as Africa Engagement Committee Chair of the IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations).

He holds a Doctorate in Medicine from Algiers and Paris, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

A real pioneer, he has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for almost 22 years, building up strong pan- African organizations, gaining extensive experience in biotech medicines and biosimilars, and leading a successful enterprise; all the while keeping the patient in mind and increasing the commitment of the organization to the UNDG and to high ethical values.

In 2007, he was one of the initiators of the joint program with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the elimination of Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease in Africa.

Passionate about Africa, he is highly committed to driving the continent forward helping, through public-private partnerships, to lead the improvement of healthcare with a focus on Digital Technology and adoption of innovative ideas. Through the various corporate social responsibility projects, he has worked together with governments and non-governmental organizations to assure access to treatment.

He has recently been involved in equitable access to vaccines through the dissemination of technology allowing the manufacture and local filling of the vaccine.

He is also sponsor of several Startups fighting against falsified medicines and others working for the establishment of a system ensuring the supply sustainability for Africa regardless of the events that may affect the planet.

He is member of different Pharma associations and organizations: PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America), LEEM (Les Entreprises du Médicament), GEIP (Groupement des Exportateurs de l’Industrie Pharmaceutique), LEMM (Les Entrerprises du Médicament au Maroc), SEPHIRE (Syndicat des Entreprises Pharmaceutiques Innovantes et de Recherche) and Africa Engagement Committee Chair of the IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations).

In November 2020, he has been appointed as a commissioner for the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2021.

Mr Jorge Portugal  is the General Manager of COTEC Portugal, since 2016, a cross industry, leading business innovation network which comprises 340 enterprise associates, which accumulates with the position of Board Member for European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME. 10 years as advisor on innovation, entrepreneurship at the office of the President of Portuguese Republic and to the Portuguese Government. Experience in Information and Communication Technologies, Distribution and Banking. PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon. MBA from NOVA School of Business and Economics.

Roundtables

Nafissatou Tine is an attorney at law with a keen interest in entrepreneurship and new technologies. She assists individuals and companies to better prepare and/or develop its economic activity in French-speaking Africa.

Nafissatou is also the founder of Sunulex.Africa: the digital platform of African legislations. The database offers access to more than 70,000 legal and tax documents (law, jurisprudence, doctrine in all areas of laws) in 15 French-speaking countries and 8 regional economic communities by a simple subscription.

Beyond this primary mission, Sunulex has a social mission: to make the law accessible and understandable to citizens. In this framework, Sunulex, with the support of the ‘Fondation la France s’engage’ produces short videos explaining certain aspects of the law towards women.

Mr Ibrahima Sissoko, 40 years old, was born in France from Malian parents. He started his career in international trade before a reconversion in digital.
After obtention of IT developer certification, to complete his formation, he integrates an IT engineering School and becomes IT architect and Software integration engineer. He is currently following an IT Entrepreneurship and Management MBA

Ibrahima is what we can call a “serial entrepreneur”. He is the CEO of “Feel Hilt” group and has founded several companies in digital sector. Among them a training center, a digital marketing company and Hilt Technology Engineering, IT and Consulting company,

Ibrahima is also active in west Africa. He made investment in sustainable development projects by supporting innovative start up in their growth.

Involved in climate change and greenhouse gas emisions consequences, especially country in Africa, Ibrahima focused in innovation management to bring his contribution to the 5th industrial revolution which will re-invent utilization of NTIC in all different fields in order to build new business models in line with an sustainable and circular economy.

Mr Klaus Dellmann manages the business activities of the German high-tech company Mühlbauer Group in West Africa. As an OEM and complete solution provider, Mühlbauer is a hidden champion and global leader in the field of identification and security (document) solutions.

Previously, he founded and managed a consulting company that has supported worldwide operating private companies in market entry and business development in Africa and has been a service provider to government institutions, e.g. CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and GIZ.

Klaus also worked in business development and advisory capacities at other organizations, such as Siemens. He has lived and worked in Europe, Africa, North and Latin America.

Klaus holds a Master’s degree in International Business and a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies.

Regarded as one of Africa’s most influential women in engineering, Mrs Sabine Dall’Omo has consistently put her best foot forward and broken boundaries in this male-dominated field.

She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and board member for Siemens in South Africa, following a successful career at the company for over thirty years. She works tirelessly to push the continent forward in terms of science and technology by ensuring that innovative ideas are harnessed into tangible solutions for society.

Earlier this year Sabine was appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of the NEPAD Business Foundation and as an honorary member to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V.; in addition to these roles Sabine has also been appointed on to the Presidential Advisory Council on Investment (PACI)

Mr Minsaer holds a Master’s Degree in Consulting for Change at “institut européen d’administration des affaires (INSEAD)” and currently he is Co-Founder and CEO of Hello Solar, the first PAYG solar home system company in Ethiopia. Hello Solar, is the pioneer of Pay As You Go Solar, an innovative system which aims to provide access to energy for the rural population of Ethiopia. As a consequence, people are provided the necessary tools to be connected to the rest of the world.

Prior to Hello Solar, Mr. Minsaer has 23 years combined experience in consulting and c-level positions in various companies in telecommunications, consulting and mobile money, which led him living and working across Europe, Africa and Asia.

He has extensive knowledge and experience in different fields: sales & distribution, marketing & branding , change & transformation projects and Executive coaching & leadership development.

He’s a man of strong behaviours: he strongly trusts the human innovative capacity to adapt, to transform and transcend any actual and future challenge. He believes that our VUCA world is organic and interconnected whereby everything is systemic and multidimensional. Furthermore, he is convinced that people and extension organizational culture are the fundamental assets of any company.

His mission is to be the catalyst that sparks, accelerates and sustains the dynamics for change, transformation and long term sustainable growth.

Mr Ruggero Aricò graduated in Law at the University of Messina, Italy in 1999 and he was admitted to the Bar in 2002. He joined Enel in 2000 at the Institutional and International Affairs Department. In 2003, he moved to Brussels to manage the institutional relations with the European Union, in particular he worked very closely to the European Parliament. After 5 years, he moved to Moscow
as Head of External Relations for Russia & CIS Countries and in 2010, he moved to Algiers as Head of External Relations for Algeria. Since March 2016, he is the new global Head of Institutional Affairs for Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania in Enel Green Power, the biggest renewable energy private company in the world.

Ruggero has an extensive experience in international relations, governmental affairs, energy and environment regulation and legislation. He spent most of his life outside Italy, he speaks fluently several foreign languages and he is often invited worldwide as visiting professor in universities and as conference speaker and moderator.

He is also Vice President of “Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo” (the General Confederation of Italian Industry association for the development of Italian businesses in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East), Board Member of the Italia-ASEAN Association (the association that represents and supports Italian companies in all sectors with business interests in the ASEAN
countries) and Member of the Coalition for Action Steering Committee at IRENA (the International Renewable Energy Association).

He has been appointed Vice President of “Disability Pride Italy”, a non-profit organization that raises all issues that people with disabilities are facing nowadays and which organizes the Italian edition of the international event “Disability Pride”.

Recently he has been designated City of Messina Mayor’s Expert on Sustainability, Innovation, Smart City and Financial Innovative Tools. In January 2021, he has become member of the B20, the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community and he has been assigned to the Task Force “Action Council on Sustainability & Global Emergencies”.

Member of the Scientific Committees of “Taobuk – Taormina International Book Festival“, “The Thinking Watermill Society Association” and “Mondo Internazionale”, Ruggero is also Political Advisor of TaoDust, the only start-up company in the world that combines equity crowdfunding with asset tokenization bringing off-chain projects on the blockchain.

Recently he has been appointed Board Member and Head of International Relations and Sustainability of the football club “ASD Città di Taormina”.
He is member of the Rotary Club, where he received the highest honors “Paul Harris Fellowship”.

Ms. Wincate M. Muthini is the Program Manager at the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, coordinating strategic partnerships and programs geared toward an enabling African business environment for economic integration.

Her technical background is in Mechatronic Engineering through which, while at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, she was introduced to AIESEC and held various positions in the Kenyan and Ethiopian chapters developing youth leaders through experiential learning. Through her experience at the organization she gained skills in leadership coaching, brand development, marketing, program management, and B2B.

Having being with the chamber for the past four years, Wincate believes the private sector (SMEs) need to be at the forefront of the AfCFTA creating markets and, thus, bridging the unseen boundaries so that 2063 will bring the next generation borderless markets and greater opportunities.

Energy-efficient solutions for preserving fish, seafood, vegetables, and fruits are a top priority of KTI’s agenda. Mr. Michael Walleter is responsible for elevating KTI’s product range to provide benefits for fishermen, fish processors, farmers, and food traders both economic and ecological.

Mr. Michael Walleter was appointed as Head of Sales and Board Member of family-owned KTI-Plersch Kältetechnik GmbH with effect of April 2019, responsible for global sales and market development.

Graduated from Technical University of Munich, Germany, with a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, he worked for several years in the automotive industry and as a management consultant before joining KTI in the beginning of 2017.

Michael further holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, enabling him to advance refrigeration technology for food preservation in close collaboration with KTI’s customers. Through designing cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions together with his team of engineers he constantly strives to provide sustainable solutions.

Mrs. Ajola Jallow, who possesses “the first large-scale privately 100% Female owned agricultural business in The Gambia”, is strongly convinced that “agriculture is the sole agent to change life in Africa”. When she was a child, she already aspired to become a farmer, but she couldn’t find any icon or motivation to follow her dream. For that reason, she opted for studying economics at university, and then she started her career working in several banks.

She holds a degree in Economics with a professional background on both Wall Street Firms & International Development Organizations such as the World Bank  in Washington D.C. & The United Nations Population Fund Headquarters in New York City.

By the way, she felt that this was not her path, so she decided to follow her real passion. In 2015, she launched “GrowHer Africa”, an agribusiness social enterprise geared to producing professional – grade female farmers. For this young entrepreneur, it is time to “change the script for agriculture”. This is why, Mrs. Jallow suggests that the question should not be “how to empower women in agriculture” but rather “how business women in agribusiness can be promoted”. She is known as a restless optimist  who prefers to be considered as a “Business woman in agribusiness instead of women in agriculture”.

Mr Gilles Yabi is the founder and executive director of WATHI. He guides and supervises the activities of the think tank, whose permanent team is based in Dakar (Senegal). WATHI is an open platform for the production and dissemination of knowledge and proposals on all issues crucial to the present and future of West Africa and other regions of the continent. Gilles Yabi is regularly invited to share his thoughts on political, economic, educational and security issues with various African and international organizations.

He also has a long experience of interacting with the media, and has been publishing columns on African political and economic issues for the past fifteen years. He hosts the weekly column “Ça fait débat avec WATHI” on Radio France Internationale (RFI).

Political Resumé and Final Remarks

In order of appearence

Born in 1955, in Germany, Mr Muller holds a Master’s degree in Business Education. He began his political career at the European level in 1989, when he was elected MEP. After he continued  his political path within the Bundestag, as a member of the EU, Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. He was spokesman of the group of parliamentarians from the CSU for foreign affairs, European policy and development policy.

From 2005 to 2013, he was Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection where he was responsible, among other things, for international relations, development project and world food affairs. Since 2013, he has been at the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Mr. Günter Nooke is the Personal Representative of the German Chancellor for Africa at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), a position he took after serving for four years as the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Foreign Office. During his term as a member of the German Bundestag between 1998 and 2005 he was the spokesperson of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group on culture and the media; spokesperson and chair of the working group on the Culture in Germany Study Commission; spokesperson of the CDU Bundestag members from Eastern Germany and deputy chair of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group. He was a member of the state Parliament Brandenburg, chairing the parliamentary group Bündnis/Caucus.

From 1995-1998 he worked as a project manager in the redevelopment of the East German brown coal mining areas. Günter Nooke is a trained bricklayer and holds degrees in physics and occupational medicine. He has published on a wide range of topics i.e. regarding Africa, Human Rights, the Peaceful Revolution and German Reunification.