9th edition of Italy Africa Business Week (IABW): Partnership for Sustainable Development
Press Release
Rome, 24 February 2026 – Le Rèseau Association is pleased to announce that the 9th edition of Italy Africa Business Week (IABW) will take place at the Farnesina and the Conference Center Villa Aurelia in Rome.
This international event is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the International Organisation for Migration.
IABW was created to promote economic, cultural and social partnerships based on a model of sustainable and inclusive development. Over the course of three days, businesses, institutions, investors and civil society will meet to share strategies, innovation and best practices in light of the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Event details:
- Wednesday, 4 March 2026: Official opening at the Farnesina. Business and institutional delegations from various African countries are expected to attend, including Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Egypt, Tunisia, Benin, Cameroon and the Republic of Guinea, with companies and operators interested in industrial, commercial and investment partnerships.
Press accreditation: further information on the official opening on 4 March will be provided on the Farnesina website shortly before the event. - Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2026: forum and networking at the Villa Aurelia Conference Centre (Via Leone XIII, 459, Rome)
Registration for the conferences on 5 and 6 March can be done through the link.
Reasons to attend:
IABW 2026 represents one of the most significant moments of political and economic dialogue between Italy and the African continent and includes:
- Round tables, thematic workshops and B2B/B3B meetings that promote business and institutional partnerships.
- Focus on strategic areas such as the green economy, infrastructure, digitalisation, agribusiness, training and sustainable mobility, but not only. The meetings will also focus on the role of diasporas, African female leadership, banks and financial instruments for internationalisation.
- Opportunity to attend institutional greetings and speeches by government representatives, diplomats and international stakeholders, with the participation of representatives from AICS, CDP, CNA, SACE, SIMENS, Unioncamere and LUMSA.
The event is also designed as a strategic platform to strengthen economic partnerships between Italy and African countries, promoting new business alliances and concrete commercial opportunities in key sectors of sustainable development.