Eastern Cape courts Italian maritime business

High-level government and business delegation sets sights on Italy

SOUTH AFRICA: Engagements with boatbuilders, cruise ports, training academies, business councils and maritime businesses across Italy have resulted in invitations to industry events and even letters of intent to establish twinning partnerships for the Eastern Cape.

Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane is currently leading a high-level government and business delegation to Italy and Greece to investigate potential partnerships that will strengthen the province’s ocean economy.

The delegation left last week in a bid to position the province as a key investment and manufacturing hub and to explore opportunities in green hydrogen and the ocean economy.

Last week’s itinerary included a business roundtable hosted by the Ambassador of South Africa to Italy where Mabuyane outlined the Eastern Cape’s value proposition. Business representatives were given an opportunity to present their focus areas and explore collaboration opportunities.

According to social media posts from the Premier’s office, Eastern Cape companies operating in port logistics, renewable energy, bunkering, aquaculture, and agro-processing welcomed the platform, with several already securing partnerships with Italian counterparts.

In addition, more than 20 Italian companies are reportedly now interested in investing in the province and have extended invitations to Eastern Cape maritime clusters to participate in a trade fair in October. They were, in turn encouraged to attend the Eastern Cape Investment Conference in September this year.

The Eastern Cape Premier concluded the visit to the Sicily Region with a visit to the Port of Palermo, which has positioned itself as a cruise ship destination that attracts more than one million cruise tourists annually. A bilateral meeting with Renato Schifani, President of Sicily resulted in the signing of a Letter of Intent for the foundation of a twinning agreement that will include the blue economy.

As part of a strategic drive to attract international investment into the ocean economy, the Premier visited Fiart in Naples a globally recognised boat manufacturer that is active in several international markets.

During the engagement, the Premier encouraged the yard to invest in the province. The invitation to invest in local operations is tied to ambitions to accelerate the development of a marine transport and manufacturing ecosystem, unlock opportunities for specialised artisanal skills in boat building and ship repair, and stimulate demand for local component and fibreglass suppliers.

A visit to the Malta Freeport provided an opportunity for delegates to engage with the Maritime Business Forum and Malta Freeport Authority. During the meeting, Mabuyane positioned the Eastern Cape as the “next growth frontier” in the country’s ocean economy.

Discussions focused on unlocking bilateral investment across four strategic areas: ship repair, bunkering, aquaculture, and maritime skills development. Drawing insights from Malta’s world-class transshipment hub, the Eastern Cape aims to forge partnerships leveraging its strategic position within the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Speaking at the Malta Maritime Institute in Paola, the Premier again outlined a bold vision to position the Eastern Cape as a leading global hub in the ocean economy. Joined by representatives from the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), the group discussed new partnerships in student exchange programmes, marine engineering, and port management aimed at building a strong pipeline of critical skills.

Visiting ITS Academy in Italy, Mabuyane received comprehensive briefings on the Academy’s institutional framework, strategic priorities, and its role in driving economic development through specialised training programmes. Engagements centred around ongoing efforts to explore strategic partnerships and opportunities for skills development within the maritime sector, with a particular focus on empowering young people.

The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta where they met with Professor Dr Norman Martínez Gutiérrez (Director, IMLI), as well as the faculty and staff. During the IMLI Director’s presentation possible future cooperation between IMLI and the South African authorities was discussed.

PHOTO: During a visit to the Fiart boatyard, the Premier encouraged the company to invest in the province. (Photo: Eastern Cape Premier Facebook page)

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