The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) – Maputo Office took part in the 60th edition of the Maputo International Fair (FACIM), the country’s largest private sector event, held from August 25 to 31 in Marracuene. The AICS stand was featured in the Italy Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), alongside 15 Italian companies, showcasing the know-how and excellence of Made in Italy.
For FACIM, AICS prepared a diverse cultural agenda. On August 26, Agriculture Day, the panel “From Bean to Cup: The Mozambican Coffee Value Chain and the Mattei Plan in Action” was held. The event was attended by AICS Deputy Head Maria Cristina Pescante, Simone Santi, President of the Italy–Mozambique Chamber of Commerce, Paolo Gozzoli, ICE Representative in Mozambique, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, UNIDO, and Amocafé.
During the session, the Maputo Coffee Hub was presented—a center for the promotion and valorization of Mozambican coffee to be established at FEIMA under the MAIS VALOR 2 project, implemented by UNIDO and financed by the Italian Government through AICS.
On this occasion, Maria Cristina Pescante emphasized: “We want to revitalize Mozambican coffee through an approach focused on quality and sustainability, ensuring that small producers have real access to opportunities.”
The meeting concluded with a coffee cupping session, allowing participants to taste over eight varieties of Mozambican coffee, promoting excellence and highlighting the potential of the country’s coffee sector.
On August 27, Health Day, 71 people underwent free screenings for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. In collaboration with Radio Mozambique, awareness messages on preventing non-communicable diseases were broadcast. Additionally, a 30-minute physical activity session reinforced the importance of exercise in preventing these illnesses.
Finally, on August 29, Employment Creation Day, Deputy Head Maria Cristina Pescante delivered a presentation on AICS and prospects for collaboration with the private sector. This was followed by the panel “Connecting Education, Innovation and Enterprises in Mozambique”, featuring Paolo Gozzoli, ICE Director, Luís Neves Domingo, Director of CIUEM, and Inácio Ticongolo, professor at ISUTC – Higher Institute of Transport and Communications.
The event concluded with a pitching session by four start-ups, selected among the 35 supported by the Eduardo Mondlane University business incubator, established through the Coding Girls and ICT4DEV programs.
The AICS stand attracted numerous visitors, including entrepreneurs, students, journalists, and others eager to learn more about Italian Cooperation projects in Mozambique. A highlight of the week was the visit of the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, who expressed his appreciation for AICS’s contribution to the country’s sustainable development during the official opening.