About us Progetto il Ponte is a young company founded with the aim of promoting the product s excellence of Italian SMEs in the most attractive foreign markets. We aim at entrepreneurs who want to invest in the African territory and need to be assisted in their own projects. With this goal, our company offers a wide range of services ranging from Events Organization in the target countries to consulting services on internationalization issues, on-site support and related lobbying activities. Progetto il Ponte founded by Cristine Scandroglio, Italian native of Ivory Coast, Marketing, Sociology and Communication expert, and by Fabrizio Avanzini a manager with a decade of experience in foreign markets development. Progetto il Ponte operates with senior managers and Italian partners specialized in internationalization processes and takes advantage of a network of primary importance, both at enterprise and political level in the target countries. The company strategy Our strategy is the result of period of around one year and a half of study of the sub-saharan compartment. Various factors have been analyzed: the economic growth and geo-political stabilization, the growth of the middle class and the expansion of markets no longer completely influenced by former colonies. In this phase, we have been supported by cultural associations, with its own seats in Italy and in the African countries, well recognized for their work at the social level. This has allowed us to have a greater sensitivity of the population with regard to the Italian product and especially understand the purchasing capacity of the new middle class. The next step was to establish a contact with the embassies in Italy and the ministries in the target countries. So far we have opened a series of important contacts with the major ministries of the main sub-saharan countries. They expressed great interest in our projects and services all meant to facilitate the encounter between Italian Companies and the main actors of the sub-saharan countries. As a result of this extensive effort we have succeeded in opening important channels where to convey the Italian companies that are willing to operate on these markets.
Fieritaly Fieritaly, the leading project of Progetto il Ponte, is a showcase of Italian products in Africa. Its goal is to facilitate their positioning in the visited countries and the opening of new markets for the Italian SMEs participating in the event. Thought for the African market, Fieritaly is a unique opportunity for Italian companies to be present in new and fast growing and expanding markets. The idea to create a showcase of Italian products in the African market, is seen as an opportunity to discover its fast growing market potential. The ultimate goal of Fieritaly is to introduce our quality products to counterbalance the offer of low quality products provided by China. Thanks to the growth of the middle and upper class of the African population, Italian products have a wide space for expansion. Construction equipment, clothing, food, beverages, machinery for agriculture, management of waste and recycling are just a few of the areas of opportunity that we intend to push also for the benefit of the African market. Our idea is to repeat the event every year in different countries of the sub-saharan region. In addition to the fair, thanks to the institutional channels involved, a series of complementary events will be organized in order to present the different business opportunities existing in these target countries. Beside creating the awareness of the excellence of Made in Italy, the ultimate goal of such events is to facilitate the encounter of Italian companies with potential Africans buyers not only interested in the product, but also in the development of partnerships for the local product distribution and the creation of a domestic supply chain from sales to post-sales and support. The first edition of Fieritaly The target countries so far selected are: Ivory Coast, Togo, Burkina Faso, and subsequently Ghana and Cameroon. This selection was based, as described in the previous paragraph, upon an in-depth market analysis of the current political/economical stability and the growth of the GDP, combined with the general and strong appreciation of Italian quality. The market sectors that have been identified so far are, in order of importance: Buildings and Furniture Food and Beverage Fashion and Crafts Technologies The first event will be held in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast in the second half of the 2016. Currently our company is defining, with local institutions, all the synergies and collaborations needed to propose an event of great interest for the population of Côte d'ivoire.
Consulting and Support Services for Internationalization Our range of services is not limited to the organization of Fieritaly trade show, but continues with a series of consulting services like market analysis and product positioning, partner selection and training of competent staff for the promotion and commercialization of the Italian products. In contrast to those agencies who offer themselves as a mediator for the opening of new markets, Il Progetto il Ponte makes use of a series of local contacts, represented by ministries, chambers of commerce and financial partners operating in the territory with its network of contacts who work for the proper dissemination of the project and services that we are able to offer to ensure the best success of the operation. Sponsor To ensure the success of the project it is important to have Sponsors of "honour" which with their brand will contribute in promoting the value of Fieritaly to attract the greatest number of enterprises and organizations in this project. For this purpose, Progetto il Ponte will select a small number of potential sponsors for the excellence of their product and a commitment to support this important project. The selected sponsors will benefit, in the selected countries, of an extensive visibility by means of an awareness campaign built for this purpose and with the presence of their logo and company overview in newspapers, television, national and local media as well as social media websites. At the moment the following media have been identified: in Ivory Coast : Fraternité Matin (Gouvernemental), Notre Voie (FPI) Opposition, Le Temps (Indépendant), Le Nouveau Réveil (PDCI RDA ), Le Patriote (RDR). in Togo : Télévision Togolaise, Radio Lomé, Togo presse, LCF-la chaine du futur, RTDS-radio television, TV2-television deuxieme, TV7-television, RADIO TELEVISION ZION, RTJ-Radio Televion Jaba In Burkina Faso : Radio Télévision du Burkina (RTB), BF1 TV, Le Pays, Observateur PAALGA, Journal de Jeudi. Evenement. Throughout the period of the event there will be round table discussions with local chambers of commerce, the most important local companies, associations, NGOS and Cooperatives. The apotheosis of this fair will be a grand gala dinner with the participation of authorities, institutions and Sponsors. This meeting will give, to all these representatives, the opportunity to share their business experiences and sign partnership agreements.
Business in Africa sub-sahariana This is an emerging region that represents the new frontier for the internationalization of Italian companies. Countries that have only recently emerged in the last positions in the ranking of the market attraction potential are now valued as the economies of the most promising in the world. This is due to the development programs that many States agreed upon by giving their commitment to improve the country infrastructure and buildings, to develop agricultural resources and food processing as well as the use of renewable energy. The future perspectives of sub-saharan Africa are more than positive; the trend of growth foresees a steady increase over the next five years thanks to the ongoing process of transformation of the local economy which can provide real business opportunities. Nowadays the world economic scenario refers to the sub-saharan Africa as one of the most strategic areas for the global trade, as evidenced by the Chinese presence in the region. Aware of this potential and with our deep knowledge of each country dynamics, we offer our services to those companies that are seeking new business opportunities. We propose a "slow" but effective way to minimize the risks. We believe that it is necessary to strengthen the network of relationships, formal and informal that we have
built over the years, a network that will allows us to promote the access to the African markets, valuing the importance of cultural mediation, the knowledge of the area and the assets of our local presence. Our partners Partner of patronizing: Operating Partner: Colori d Africa ONG With the partnership's business: CABINET PERFORMANCE CONSULTING GROUP SARL Alliance Mondiale pour l Afrique With the patronage of: Cattedra di Sociologia
Progetto Il Ponte srl Contacts P.IVA 08769190961 N. REA c/o CCIAA di Milano MI 2047596 email: progettoilponte@pec.it web: www.progettoilponte.com Fabrizio Avanzini General Manager Cell.: 320-7444525 email: f.avanzini@progettoilponte.com Mariam Cristine Scandroglio PR and Communication Manager email: c.scandroglio@progettoilponte.com Daniele Magni Marketing Manager Cell: 335-6987654 email: d.magni@progettoilponte.com