Codeway

The fifth edition of Codeway Expothe first and only international fair dedicated to cooperation and sustainable development, successfully concluded on 17 May.

The main objective being achieved the International Cooperation Community could meet under one roof during the three-day this event , held right at the center of an extraordinary platform of dialogue, interaction, and inspiration for all the protagonists of development. At Codeway Expo, innovation, interaction and partnership were the keywords, giving rise to new relationships and consolidating the existing ones, placing at the center the main focus that forms the exhibition mission, i.e. the synergy between profit and non-profit in new scenarios global development.

For the first time the presence of enterprises was numerous and decisive, both in terms of exhibitors and of participation intensity in the multiple B2B and networking programs of Codeway Expo, that saw the presence of UN Agencies, Multilateral Banks, and foreign delegations.

The event was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli who stated that "collaboration between public and private is crucial with a view to sustainability and growth at a global level. For this reason - he underlined - we believe with conviction in an event, such as Codeway Expo has proven to be, capable of bringing together all the actors in the world of international cooperation and development. An opportunity that is even more precious today, considering the enormous potential offered by the Government with the Mattei plan".

Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of the Italian Agency for Cooperation, underlined the quality and importance of the relationships generated by the event: "The wind has changed - he said -, companies are now more aware of the fact that investing 'with' the Cooperation System in partner countries, particularly on the African continent, is a win-win strategy. Furthermore, investing within the Cooperation System encourages the company to adopt those business models that African countries require for medium-term investments, as in the case of the innovative, sustainable, and inclusive ISI model of AICS. These are the pillars of the involvement of the private sector in current and future cooperation scenarios that events like Codeway Expo can effectively facilitate and support".

Among the exhibitors of Codeway Expo 2024, the 27 companies of the Lazio Region-CCIAA Romegroup participation stood out, presenting solutions and productions of innovative goods and services, seeking international projection in their respective sectors, applicable to development projects in target countries. Silvia Chiave, Head of International Relations and Community Affairs, Cabinet Office of the President of the Lazio Regional Council, commented: “Codeway Expo is proving to be an event outlining a systemic approach in Development Cooperation. In this sense, the 2024 edition has been a very useful tool promoting exchange and dialogue with other Regions, but also with Organizations from the Civil Society, and with the private sector, which will be fundamental for future projects".

“We have always thought that Codeway Expo was the right place for comparison and discussion between the different protagonists of the new concept of Development Cooperation. - underlined the co-organizers Massimo Zaurrini and Gianfranco Belgrano of Internationalia - This year's edition confirms we are on the right path, convinced at the same time that there is wide margin for growth in the participation: of Italian and international institutions, of key actors from the private sector, ending up with representatives from the greater world of Civil Society Organisations".

Codeway Expo 2024 presented a full program of activities over the 3 days including exhibitions, conferences, workshops, B2B and networking: the event was created with the support of Lazio Region and Rome Chamber of Commerce, with the patronage of MAECI, AICS, CDP, CRI, CNR and RAI for Sustainability. The collaborations with UNOPS, ICE-ITA, the EEN network and IILA: the Italian-Latin American International Organization, have been also very important.

The event confirms its strong international connotation, starting from the exclusive, starting from the exclusive PROCUREMENT program which was the undisputed protagonist of the first day, and with the participation, under the coordination of MAECI / UNOPS / ICE, of the most important United Nations agencies and of the major multilateral banks. The internationality was confirmed by the presence of foreign delegations from Iraq, Kenya, Senegal, Somalia and by the projects presented by Jordan, Albania, Egypt. According to the event tradition, there was an active presence of numerous Embassies of the international cooperation countries.

The numbers of the fifth edition trace a remarkable picture of growth in the interest of operators for the prospects offered by the event and by the sector: 52 conferences, 251 speakers, 343 B2B meetings, 86 direct exhibitors, over 3000 visitors and attendees pre registered, figures that are the best premise for future editions.

“Fiera Roma - concludes Fiera Roma CEO, Fabio Casasoli - believed in this event from the very beginning, investing in this project since 2019. Consistent with Rome's vocation of a capitol naturally inclined towards dialogue and city of choice for events dedicated to institutional and international relations, with Codeway Expo our exhibition center has effectively been the home of all the actors of cooperation, thus contributing to the promotion of objectives of a highly strategic sector such as that of international development cooperation. That’s why we are launching the 2025 edition of Codeway Expo right now, the appointment for everyone set from 14 to 16 May next year".

View the press release