di: Céline Dominique Nadler | October 17, 2024
An African proverb says: “If you want to go fast, walk alone, but if you want to go far, let’s walk together”. And it is together that institutions, civil society associations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), trade associations and businesses met yesterday at the next edition of Codeway Expothe international cooperation and sustainable development fair which, organized by Fiera Roma and Internationalia, will take place from 14 to 16 May 2025, on the occasion of the press conference launching the event which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Maeci), in Rome.
Together therefore at Codeway Expo, a platform where profit meets change, where companies become protagonists of a global transformation, working together to solve the challenges of the future. Because in the heart of Italian development cooperation, Codeway Expo is not just an event: it is an unprecedented opportunity for companies to join a global network, contribute to progress and, at the same time, obtain visibility, growth and new business prospects. business.
The director of Aics Rusconi
“Codeway is the tangible realization of the involvement of the Italian system in development cooperation,” declared the chief secretary Giuseppe Fedele on behalf of the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, opening the press conference. Words subsequently taken up by Massimo Zaurrini, director of Internationalia, the publishing house of Africa and Business, to quote the Harris Report 2024which, commissioned by the French Development Agency (Afd), highlights how Italy is in first place in Europe for awareness and participation on international cooperation issues. This data is a clear demonstration of the growing sensitivity of Italians towards sustainable development policies and solidarity investments and the Codeway event is able to represent the beating heart of this commitment, offering companies the opportunity to make a difference.
Stefano Gatti, general director for Development Cooperation of Maeci, described Codeway Expo as “a unique platform of its kind where the profit sector meets the world of cooperation”, creating a dynamic environment in which companies can develop new business models sustainable and socially responsible. Marco Rago, legal advisor to Foreign Minister Tajani for Economic Diplomacy and Development, underlined how dialogue between the public and private sectors is now fundamental to face the challenges of global development and, with Law 125/2014, Italian companies they are no longer spectators, but crucial actors in the creation of innovative solutions and in achieving sustainable development objectives: a system – he insisted – which aims to become a point of reference for the entire world.
Codeway Expo will offer innovation and networking without borders to the protagonists of cooperation to express their potential. This was promised by Wladimiro Boccali, coordinator of the event, who presented the 2025 edition as a real “agora” where institutions, regions, trade associations and banks will be able to collaborate fluidly. Furthermore, “Cooperation Villages” will be created dedicated to the meeting of civil society organizations and businesses active in sectors such as agriculture, energy, blue economy, healthcare, digitalisation and emergency management.
The fair also aims to contribute to building partnerships. Stands, B2B meetings, procurement pitches, boardroom sessions and central agoras where the most diverse realities meet will make Codeway Expo a crossroads of innovation and sustainable business where companies will have the opportunity to participate in cooperation projects, also implemented by international stakeholders – such as World Bank, European Investment Bank, Regional Development Banks, etc. – , ranging from renewable energy to education, from technology to health.
Enrico Amadore, in charge of communications at Codeway, explained that the event must focus on inclusive and engaging communication, capable of speaking not only to professionals, but also to new generations, to create a movement on cooperation issues.
At the end of the press conference, Marco Riccardo Rusconi, director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (Aics), launched a strong message: the key words of the future are innovation, territory, partnership and model. Because Italy can act as a model in the world for exporting an efficient and inclusive cooperation system. Rusconi also recalled that to date, approximately half of the cooperation initiatives have a partner from the private sector, a sign that responsible business is now a consolidated reality.
Codeway Expo 2025 is not just a sector event, it is the new frontier of business: a unique opportunity for companies to position themselves as leaders of change, to come into contact with strategic partners and to build a successful model that combines profit and social responsibility.
