Italy has launched its first national pavilion at GITEX Kenya, bringing six startups and SMEs to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) as part of a broader push to deepen commercial and technology ties with East Africa under the country’s Mattei Plan for Africa.
The Italian National Pavilion, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) at Hall 2, Stand H2-A10, was inaugurated by Vincenzo Del Monaco, Italy’s Ambassador to Nairobi, alongside ITA representatives and members of the local business community.
The pavilion is exhibiting six Italian companies – Aflabox, Balamb, CRMpartners, Eneron, Hcomm, and Metaphora Lab – alongside the E4Impact Foundation from Università Cattolica di Milano, which is working to connect European academic programmes with African market opportunities through a local incubator.
The headline announcement came from Harmonic Innovation Group, whose CEO Emanuele Spampinato revealed a €50 million investment plan for Africa alongside the launch of the first Italian incubator on the continent, focused on climate technology and food systems. The incubator will operate through Harmonic’s H.E.R.O. Acceleration Programme for African founders.
ITA also established a dedicated Pitch Arena at the pavilion, giving Italian companies direct access to investors and technology firms including 637 Capital, the Association of Startup and SMEs Enablers of Kenya, and Harmonic Innovation Group.
Italy’s participation is framed within the Mattei Plan, Rome’s policy framework for repositioning its engagement with African nations around equal partnership rather than traditional aid models. Kenya was selected as a priority market given its National Digital Master Plan, which targets full digitisation of public services and is seen as creating significant entry points for foreign technology companies.
“This initiative represents a critical strategic positioning,” ITA said, describing the pavilion as a matchmaking platform designed to convert institutional dialogue into concrete commercial partnerships in what organisers have branded the “Silicon Savannah.”
AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA 2026 runs until 21 May across the Sarit Expo Centre and KICC, with over 1,200 exhibitors and 35,000 visitors expected across the three days.
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