The Italian embassy was represented at the event and the Ethiopian Millers Association participated in the gathering in Addis Ababa, which included a live video conference with a panel of Italian food entrepreneurs in Cremona. For the first time, and in an official manner, Ocrim said it appeared to the world as an essential part of the food supply chain. The partnership with Bonifiche Ferraresi SpA, the largest agricultural company in Italy, has allowed Ocrim to take this journey, the company said.
Alberto Antolini, Ocrim chief executive officer (CEO), with his welcome address in Cremona, explained the aim of this important choice is to stand as a comprehensive and thorough partner, aware of the importance of the control and management of the raw material, wheat, to be processed. Antolini then introduced Federico Vecchioni, CEO of Bonifiche Ferraresi.
Mebrahtu Meles, vice-minister for Industry – Ethiopia, and Giuseppe Mistretta, Italian ambassador in Ethiopia, were among the notable personalities who spoke from Addis Ababa. They both underlined Ocrim’s commitment to constructing in Africa and in particular in Ethiopia. They noted how a number of Italians have set up their businesses and contributed to improving and diversifying the economy of the country.
The Addis Ababa conference concluded with the “I Capitani Dell’Anno” awards, which for the first time took place outside Italy’s national borders. Sergio Antolini, Ocrim vice-president, and Fabio Raffaelli, president of the jury, awarded each of the major representatives of Ethiopian businesses attending the event.
Alessandro Milan, a journalist with Radio 24, moderated the roundtable discussion in Cremona and interacted with the Addis Ababa conference, which was moderated by Alfredo Tesio with the Foreign Press Association; Matteo Pianca, who is in charge of the economy and trade office of the Italian embassy in Ethiopia; and Genene Gezu, AICS Addis Ababa.
