Ecomondo 2024 : Africa at the heart of the green and circular economy

Interview conducted by Dounia Ben Mohamed

Could you remind us what Ecomondo is and what we can expect from the 2024 edition?

Ecomondo, an event organised by the Italian Exhibition Group, is Europe’s largest annual trade show and the main international hub in the Mediterranean basin for technologies, services and industrial solutions in the green and circular economy sectors.

The event, which celebrates its 27^th edition in 2024, will take place from 5^th to 8^th November at Rimini Expo Centre in the Emilia Romagna region of central-northern Italy.

This year, Ecomondo will feature significant new entries that will expand its scope and impact. The Expo Centre will be extended with two new temporary halls, bringing the total exhibition area to over 166,000 square metres. This expansion reflects the growing importance of the event, which this year will be hosting 1,622 exhibiting companies, 16% of which come from abroad.

Technological innovation will be at the heart of this edition with particular focus on solutions to prevent and mitigate climate change. The use of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and advanced monitoring systems will feature in many of the show’s proposals.

The Innovation District will be the beating heart of the event, hosting 20 selected start-ups and awarding the three most innovative with the Lorenzo Cagnoni Prize. These start-ups will include WESEPO WASTE MANAGEMENT LIMITED, an African company from Zambia that specialised in waste-to-energy and integrated waste management services, underlining Ecomondo’s commitment to promoting innovative solutions at a global level.

Moreover, Ecomondo 2024 will give particular importance to the future of employment in the green sector with initiatives dedicated to Green Jobs & Skills and will introduce the Circular and Healthy City area, offering a showcase for the most cutting-edge solutions for sustainable urban development.

The 2024 edition of Ecomondo will focus on Africa for several strategic reasons. This choice reflects Italy’s growing commitment to promoting sustainable development on the African continent, in line with the Government’s Mattei Plan

Why does this edition focus particularly on Africa?

The 2024 edition of Ecomondo will focus on Africa for several strategic reasons. This choice reflects Italy’s growing commitment to promoting sustainable development on the African continent, in line with the Government’s Mattei Plan.

Since 2021, Ecomondo has placed Africa at the centre of its international development strategies, aiming to increase collaboration opportunities for Italian companies in the water, energy, agrifood and circular bioeconomy sectors.

Furthermore, the show will include a specific space for events dedicated to cooperation with African countries with the aim of actively involving entrepreneurs in a dialogue on the transition to a circular economy, turning cooperation into an authentic co-planning process.

The event therefore aims to act as a crucial bridge between Europe and Africa, offering a platform for companies, institutions and experts to meet and exchange ideas in order to promote sustainable growth on the African continent.

This focus reflects Italy’s geopolitical priorities and responds to global environmental challenges, recognising the crucial role of the African continent in the fight against climate change and the transition to a more sustainable economy.

Who will be attending, especially from Africa?

International participation at Ecomondo 2024 will be particularly significant with delegations from over 100 countries expected to attend and the participation of 72 international trade associations. As far as Africa is concerned, 8 delegations and 104 buyers from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Botswana, Senegal, South Africa and Kenya have confirmed. 

This strong African presence reflects the importance that the continent is assuming in global sustainable development strategies and the mutual interest in creating partnerships and development opportunities.

The presence of these delegations offers a unique opportunity for exchanging know-how, networking and promoting international collaborations in the field of sustainability and the circular economy.

… aiming to increase collaboration opportunities for Italian companies in the water, energy, agrifood, and circular bioeconomy sectors

The event will highlight the Mattei Plan and the Africa Green Growth Forum, an initiative aimed at supporting the energy transition on the African continent. What can we expect on this front?

The Africa Green Growth Forum, now at its fourth edition, will be a key event within Ecomondo 2024. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the Mission Structure for the implementation of the Mattei Plan, the Forum will focus on Africa’s sustainable development with a focus on renewables and the circular economy.

Specific Mattei Plan projects, such as the Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy Training in Morocco and biofuel supply chain development initiatives in Kenya, are expected to be explored.

Moreover, the Forum aims to present cooperation case studies in the circular economy sectors applied to various industrial supply chains. Another innovative aspect is the alignment with Italy’s international commitments, in particular those undertaken in the context of the G7 and the European Union, thus ensuring continuity between national policies and global efforts for the sustainable development of the African continent.

What are the key sectors that will be discussed to promote sustainable green growth in Africa?

Multiple and interconnected key areas will be the focus of discussion to promote sustainable green growth in Africa. At the forefront is renewable energy while sustainable agriculture is another crucial area, including satellite monitoring initiatives and improved agricultural techniques to increase productivity and resilience to climate change. The circular economy, applied to various industrial supply chains, will be a transversal theme, the aim being to optimise the use of resources and reduce waste.

The management of water resources is another fundamental area with projects for water purification and the construction of water supply networks powered by renewable energy, essential for addressing the challenges of water scarcity in many African regions. The development of sustainable infrastructure, including digital and energy transport infrastructure, will be discussed as a key element to support economic growth and the interconnection of the continent.

Training and education will also play a central role with particular focus on vocational training in the renewable energy and agrifood sectors in order to create a skilled workforce capable of leading the transition to a green economy.

Last but not least, acknowledging the intrinsic link between public health and sustainable development, the health sector will be discussed with projects aimed at improving health care in various African countries.

These sectors reflect the Mattei Plan’s priorities and aim to promote a sustainable economic development that would reconcile progress, environmental protection and the fight against poverty. The integrated approach to these key sectors underlines the complexity and interconnectedness of sustainable development challenges in Africa and the need for holistic and collaborative solutions to effectively address them.

Developing the biofuel sector in Africa is a priority under the Mattei Plan. How does Ecomondo plan to address this topic?

Ecomondo will address the African biofuel sector development topic, a priority in the Mattei Plan, through various initiatives. To be precise, specific projects will be presented and discussed, such as the one in Kenya for the development of the biofuel supply chain.

This project, supported by the Mattei Plan, aims to involve up to 200,000 small Kenyan farmers by promoting the production of vegetable oil to be used as feedstock for biorefineries. The aim is to regenerate degraded territories through the introduction of best agricultural practices and mechanisation, creating rural income and market access for local farmers.

The Africa Green Growth Forum… will focus on Africa’s sustainable development with a focus on renewables and the circular economy

Discussions during Ecomondo will focus on how these projects can be replicated in other African countries, considering local specificities and potential synergies with other sectors, such as sustainable agriculture and circular economy. Innovative technologies in the field of biofuels will also be presented and policies needed to support the development of this sector in Africa will be discussed.

More broadly, how does this event contribute to strengthening relations between Italy and Africa, beyond migration issues?

Ecomondo contributes significantly to strengthening relations between Italy and Africa by going far beyond migration issues.

The event serves as a crucial bridge between Europe and Africa, offering a platform for companies, institutions and experts to meet and exchange ideas. Through initiatives such as the Africa Green Growth Forum and collaboration with the E4Impact Foundation, Ecomondo fosters dialogue on the transition to a circular economy, transforming cooperation into veritable co-planning.

Ecomondo contributes significantly to strengthening relations between Italy and Africa by going far beyond migration issues… encouraging the creation of business and technology partnerships

The presence of numerous African delegations and buyers encourages the creation of business and technology partnerships. Furthermore, the event promotes the exchange of knowledge and best practices, potentially influencing environmental and economic policies in Africa. The “Business Networking Week in Italy”, organised in collaboration with E4Impact, offers training and networking opportunities for African entrepreneurs and managers in the field of circular economy.

These initiatives aim to stimulate the adoption of sustainable policies and the implementation of innovative solutions on the African continent, thus promoting economic growth in harmony with environmental protection.

In this way, Ecomondo contributes to creating lasting ties based on common interests in the field of sustainable development by strengthening bilateral relations on multiple levels.