IDA SUMMIT 2026: WHEN EXCHANGE AND SHARING OF EXPERIENCES BETWEEN ITALY AND AFRICA BECOME A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN BUSINESSES, INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
These were the defining features of “IDA Summit 2026”, an international event successfully held in Turin from 14 to 16 April at Palazzo della Luce (during the first two days) and at the Sala Viglione of Palazzo Lascaris, headquarters of the Piedmont Regional Council, for the closing day.
Under the organizational direction of lawyer Alessandra Campia and journalist Chiara Osnago Gadda (who also moderated the event together with journalist Oumy Ndour), the event — organized by IDA – Iniziativa per lo sviluppo dell’Africa, an international NGO with special consultative status with ECOSOC, headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, with representations in many parts of the world — promotes Africa’s economic, social and cultural development by fostering international cooperation, dialogue among entrepreneurs and the sharing of expertise.
The Summit was organized together with Associazione Culturale Territori, Fondazione Thesan, CEIDA and Assisi Strategic Forum, organizations sharing common values of ethics, diplomacy and socio-economic development of the African continent, and in partnership with CibusTech. The initiative aimed to promote economic integration between Italian and African entrepreneurs by facilitating the creation of commercial, financial, strategic and technological alliances.
“Although the international situation made visa procedures difficult for several African delegates, limiting their arrival in our country (despite the support and patronage received from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs),” stated IDA President Andrea Giannetto, “together with the decision taken in early April by Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to prohibit ministers from undertaking any travel not strictly related to governmental duties — a measure aimed at reducing public spending following the sharp rise in oil prices linked to the conflict in Iran, which nearly doubled projected budget costs — key African stakeholders still attended the IDA Summit to present several projects.”
Among them were: André Philippe Gauze, Consul General of Côte d’Ivoire; Toure Faman, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Côte d’Ivoire (CCI-CI); M. Toure Sanissy, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Côte d’Ivoire and CEO of SARA PETROLEUM; Cisse Moustapha, Director General of APIX-SA (Senegal Investment and Major Works Promotion Agency); El Hadji Abdourahmane Ndione, Director of the Senegalese Standardization Body; Jean-Stephane MENGA, Director of the Facilitation and Cooperation Department at the Investment Promotion Agency of Cameroon; Cherk Klutse, Investment Director at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC); Bryan Memevegni, representative of entrepreneurs from Benin, and many others.
During the three days, in the presence of Italian and African institutions, entrepreneurs, journalists and professionals from various sectors, the event confirmed itself as an important occasion to highlight Africa as one of the most dynamic areas for Italian small and medium-sized enterprises.
From light manufacturing to agri-industry, from energy to digital technologies, discussions showed that the continent offers growing opportunities for those ready to invest in innovation, local partnerships and appropriate financial instruments. Several themes were addressed with leading experts: agri-tech and sustainable production; construction and green building; renewable energy and circular economy; secure supply chains with the participation of the ADACI Association; women entrepreneurship in Italy and Africa; tourism and safe travel; the Mattei Plan and Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EUDR).
Moments of conviviality and social interaction were also organized to encourage personal connections, including tastings celebrating typical Piedmontese products and Senegalese cuisine. During the first two days at Palazzo della Luce, the “Torino Choco – Coffee Days” were held, focusing on cocoa and coffee supply chains, allowing participants to taste products offered by technical sponsors such as CandyTo, La Perla, Elizia, Cerutti “La Pasticceria”, Cerutti “Il Caffè”, Caffè Ghigo, alongside tastings dedicated to Piedmontese specialties (including products from Perino Vesco bakery) and Lombard products such as rice and gorgonzola provided by AIC – Associazione Italiana Coltivatori — together with Senegalese dishes.
A gala dinner hosted in the enchanting setting of Villa Sassi featured a successful Senegalese fashion show, where guests also enjoyed wines from the EO Regional Wine Shop of Ovada and Monferrato and AIC selections. Another moment of cultural exchange was the Senegalese dinner organized on 15 April at Ascom.
“It is truly essential to develop these relationships between the European, Italian and Piedmontese productive and commercial world and the emerging African one,” declared Maurizio Marrone, Vice-President of the Piedmont Region, during the opening day. “This is consistent with the renewed role of the Italian Government’s Mattei Plan, which aims at Africa’s development to strengthen the centrality of the Mediterranean and Italy’s role in building new relations of friendship involving states but above all businesses.”
Senator Elisa Pirro agreed, emphasizing that cooperation events are fundamental for launching local development projects and that collaboration between Italian entrepreneurs and Africa is essential for mutual growth. She highlighted the importance of investing in small projects enabling local communities to grow, develop entrepreneurship and avoid top-down initiatives that often fail.
Davide Nicco, President of the Piedmont Regional Council, expressed sincere thanks to the organizers, African authorities, speakers and participants for choosing Turin and Piedmont as the venue for dialogue. Hosting the IDA Summit, he noted, meant opening the institution to dialogue between different worlds united by the common goal of building strong relations and generating shared value. The closing day’s focus on culture, tourism, mobility and international relations demonstrated how growth increasingly depends on dialogue, mutual knowledge and networking.
City Councillor Ferrante De Benedictis, representing the Municipality of Turin, added that Turin has always been a meeting point of traditions and cultures and that the main objective of the event was to create value between local and African entrepreneurs. Africa, he stressed, must move from being merely a resource reservoir to becoming an equal and authoritative partner.
Francesco Brendolise, Councillor of the Municipality of Pavia, affirmed that territorial cooperation is the essence of lasting cooperation between Europe and Africa. Building territorial ecosystems involving businesses, universities, third-sector actors and local authorities represents a key foundation for sustainable partnerships.
Alberto Sapora, Vice-Rector for Internationalization at the Polytechnic University of Turin, underlined the importance of Africa within the university’s international strategy and stressed that in-person events such as the IDA Summit are essential for creating and strengthening relationships that later lead to concrete results.
Throughout the Summit, numerous thematic panels and open debates enabled direct exchange between participants, mainly university professors and entrepreneurs already active in Africa. Discussions focused on existing or upcoming projects, as well as opportunities for supplying machinery and sharing know-how.
Among the contributions, Anna Freschi, National Vice President of ADACI and event partner, highlighted procurement as a strategic lever linking Italian and African agri-food and manufacturing supply chains. She emphasized partnerships including certified training, industrial matchmaking and KPI-based monitoring through measurable indicators such as trade exchanges, mutual knowledge, local employment creation, environmental impact reduction and supply continuity.
Targeted and highly attended B2B meetings complemented these exchanges, allowing entrepreneurs to discover new partners and deepen economic and commercial relations. Companies, Chambers of Commerce and Foundations specializing in financing, investment and advisory services were also present to support follow-up activities.
“We have created an unmissable event,” concluded Andrea Giannetto, “which will not end with the three days in Turin but will continue over time through annual meetings and operational missions in both Africa and Italy. This is the beginning of a broader path conceived as a permanent platform for dialogue and collaboration among agri-food value chain operators, because there is also an Africa that works, produces, seeks development and prosperity for its youth, and promotes women’s entrepreneurship.”
Patronages
We wish to express our deep gratitude to the institutions that granted their prestigious patronage:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Piedmont Region, Piedmont Regional Council, City of Turin, Turin Chamber of Commerce, Municipality of Pavia, Municipality of Villastellone, Municipality of San Chirico Nuovo, Cremona-Mantova-Pavia Chamber of Commerce, Turin Academy of Agriculture, MINADER – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon, CCIAK Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Kaolack, CCIAS National Union of Chambers of Commerce and Agriculture of Senegal, CCI-Côte d’Ivoire Chambers of Commerce and Agriculture of Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Cameroon.
Partners
Special thanks to the partners who made the creation of lasting relationships and shared value possible:
CibusTec, ADACI, ARPROMA, Associazione Gammadonna, Torino Fashion Week, DOM Terry Agrisolutions, Confcooperative Piemonte Nord, Fundus della Torre, Carter & Benson, ADN, Studio Legale Borio Campia, Foreste Holding, Turismo Torino e Provincia, Fondazione Casa di Carità Arti e Mestieri ETS, ANOPACI, Violante & Partners, CGMF Foundation, Panafricando, Académie Diplomatique Africaine, Kourel de Chefs, A.I.P.I.L.V., Associazione Provinciale Cuochi della Mole di Torino.
Sponsors
We thank the companies that supported the initiative, believing in innovation as an ethical choice:
A.BRE.MAR. S.R.L., NEA Print, Technosilos, Sancassiano, Side Protech, Dell’Oro, Gami, Real Forni, Delfin, Tecnfood, Renewable Consulting, Meccanica Fantini, Coproget, Sala International Realty, VST, I Feel Gold.
Technical Sponsors
Thanks for operational support and the provision of local products, expertise and essential tools:
Cesin Group, Candyto, Elizia, Paolo Barrasso, Carlo Nicosia, Ghigo Caffé, Cerutti “Il Caffè”, Cerutti “La Pasticceria”, La Perla Cioccolato Torino, Sabor Café, Perino Vesco, A.I.C., Enoteca Regionale di Ovada e del Monferrato, Kourel de Chefs, Cavanna Maria, Syncronia.
Mobility & Hospitality Partner
Recognition to those who ensured participants’ hospitality and mobility:
Nuova Benese, Destination Torino, Federalberghi Torino.
Media Partner
Finally, thanks to the media outlets that ensured the event’s coverage:
TorinOggi and the Morenews Group publications, Contagio Comunicazione, Tecno Edizioni Group, TecnoFood, Vittorio Adelfi.
The event was organized by IDA International.
