Flights of Purpose

Chambers Note

Taking Italian Influence Beyond Borders

As the new year dawns, we find ourselves reflecting on the indomitable spirit of those who dare to take flight. Much like the waiting lounge at an airport, there is a peculiar magic in the air as we board the new year.

A sense of boundless possibility is present as each of us steps beyond the familiar ground, gets comfortable in our seat and feels the lift beneath the wings. Such moments are not mere flights of fancy; they are acts of both vision and of possibility.

Looking onto the year’s possibilities one sees the upcoming G20, the visit of Andrea Bocelli to South Africa and the tour of the Italian rugby team to face the Springboks. ItalCham’s presence at SIGEP next week and K.EY Energy in March form two plot points along our journey for the first quarter of this year.

Looking further afield, the Business Excellence Awards, an ongoing partnership with Turkish Airlines around Aperilink and SMILE, the Italy in Town Festival and Ecomondo will all be part of the epic journey for the Chamber that we hope you will be on board for.

As we stand on the precipice of this new year, let us consider what it means to take flight. It is not only to soar but also to navigate—to steer through winds both fierce and fair, to rise above storms and find clarity in the open skies. It is to embrace the horizon not as a limit but as an invitation.

In 2025, let us resolve to rise higher. Let us celebrate our shared triumphs and face our shared challenges with the same fervor that has defined us. Let us seek out new opportunities, chart new paths, and strengthen the ties that bind our chamber and our community.

Here’s to a year of bold endeavors and new beginnings. May your ventures be prosperous, your flights steady, and your landings smooth. Together, we will not just take flight—we will soar.

Buon anno nuovo! May the year ahead be filled with promise and purpose.

Welcoming Our New Member

Pernod Ricard is the world’s leading premium spirits company. It has the most comprehensive portfolio in the industry, with over 200 spirits and wine brands distributed in 160 countries. The Group puts its expertise at the service of authentic moments of sharing, while acting ethically and responsibly to have a positive impact on society and on the planet.

Contact details:

Lunga Hlongwa
Head of Public Affairs
lunga.hlongwa@pernod-ricard.com

Welcoming Our New Member

The GIB Group is made up of diverse but complimentary businesses, each run by teams of experts in their respective fields which include: general short-term insurance divisions specialising in Agriculture, Aviation, Commercial and Consumer, Film and Entertainment, Manufacturing, Mining, Marine and Transportation, Property and Professionals, Renewable Energy, and Retail all supported through a select group of global partnerships which extend GIB’s servicing capabilities across the globe.

In the financial services area, specialists provide a broad offering to people and businesses across: Financial Planning, Health and Wellness, Retirement Funds, and Private Wealth solutions.

The teams work within a coordinated approach to seek effective solutions for our clients, ensuring that they deliver services in a way that their clients have come to expect.

Company contact details:

Contact Number: +27 11 483 1212
Email: info@gib.co.za
Website: www.gib.co.za
https://www.gib.co.za/business/commercial-insurance

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opportunity to Host Italian Studies Interns

ItalCham is proud to be a part of an exciting new initiative designed to connect South Africa’s two Italian Studies Departments, at Wits University and the University of Cape Town (UCT), with Italian businesses operating in the country. With the backing of the Embassy of Italy in Pretoria, the Consulate General in Johannesburg, and the Italian Consulate in Cape Town, the Bridging Opportunities project seeks to create a pipeline between graduates specializing in Italian Studies and the business community.

Through this collaboration, ItalCham aims to identify companies willing to host interns for periods of two to six months. These students, having completed their Bachelor’s Degrees with a Major in Italian Studies, are eager to apply their skills in real-world settings, bridging academic learning with professional development.

At a time when youth unemployment in South Africa is at critical levels, this initiative offers Italian businesses a unique opportunity to make a difference while gaining fresh talent with a unique cultural perspective. Moreover, the project has the potential to attract more students to Italian Studies, strengthening the academic foundation of the language and its culture in South Africa.

We invite all businesses with ties to Italy to join us in supporting this initiative. If your company is interested in hosting an intern and contributing to this valuable pipeline, please contact us at sg@italcham.co.za - together, let’s build opportunities that benefit students, companies, and the broader South African-Italian community.

call for submissions: multilingual short story anthology

The Sections of Italian Studies and African Languages and Literatures at the University of Cape Town, in partnership with the Section of Italian Studies and the Section of Translation and Interpretation Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, with the support of the Italian government authorities in South Africa, invite young writers and illustrators to participate in a groundbreaking multilingual project.

The proposed anthology, "Freedom" (Inkululeko : Libertà), seeks to showcase the creativity of young writers in Italian, isiXhosa, and isiZulu. The project aims to promote multilingual and multicultural cooperation amongst the South African youth, fostering a dynamic conversation between languages and cultures.

We invite young people aged 18-25 to submit original short stories in Italian, isiXhosa, or isiZulu, accompanied by an English translation. Illustrators aged 18-25 are also encouraged to submit illustrations for consideration.

A panel of editors will select the best three short stories in each language, as well as the best illustrations and each will receive a prize of R10 000. The selected stories and illustrations will be published in a multilingual anthology, scheduled for release in 2025. The book will be widely distributed in bookstores across South Africa and Italy.

Registration before the 31st of January, Stories and Illustrations submission BEFORE the 18th OF MARCH 2025.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and to celebrating the diversity and creativity of South African youth.

key energy 2025
buyers programme

Building upon the achievements of our 2024 mission to the KEY Exhibition in Rimini, ItalCham is now inviting applications for the 2025 Delegation from South Africa to attend KEY - The Energy Transition Expo. Organized by IEG - Italian Exhibition Group, this event focuses on technologies, services, and integrated solutions for energy efficiency and renewable energy. It serves as a platform to spotlight the acceleration of energy and climate policies, as well as the emerging opportunities in the market.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHEN: 5-7 March 2025

WHERE: Rimini Expo Centre, Italy

KEY25 will showcase top companies specializing in services, solutions, and technologies within the energy sector, including solar, storage systems, wind, hydrogen, mobility, and energy efficiency, extending to smart cities. The event will also feature dedicated areas for cross-sector projects, networking, innovation, and training opportunities.

Benefits for Selected Companies: