This is the closing speech of Maurizio Mariano at the Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue – organised annually by the Milan-based think tank, European House Ambrosetti – held on 25 November 2021 at The Capital on Park hotel in Johannesburg…
As the Senior Advisor in South Africa to the European House Ambrosetti, I would like to extend my thanks to all speakers today for your incredibly informative, well-articulated and pertinent addresses. Your invaluable contributions, both in your addresses today and to our continent over the years in various ways, is greatly appreciated.
I am a proud South African with strong Italian origins. I think of myself as having Italian roots and South African wings. These two cultures which have blended within me have without doubt, made me more culturally thoughtful, open minded, more diverse in my thinking, and have generally enhanced me as a person. If the merging of ideas and traditions and lifestyles in just one human makes for a better, stronger person; imagine the overwhelming results of an alliance on the scale which all of you have articulated so well today.
It is apparent that the mission of the European House Ambrosetti to collaborate rather than to compete has been achieved today. Teamwork which has brought together minds of your calibre to discuss challenges to countries’ economic and societal challenges and to craft strategies and solutions which approach such challenges with a relational-based and united narrative, in the interests of all, leaves me in awe.
In listening to you and witnessing your successes, I am reminded of the African word “Ubuntu”, which basically means, I am because you are. We can be truly successful by helping each other to achieve what we want for Africa.
Some of the important topics discussed today were COVID-19, vaccine coverage, climate change and urbanization. These are but a few of the challenges that the African continent faces today.
Working together with multiple sectors; prioritizing collaboration as opposed to competition; and reaching out to countries within the European Union with whom we have developed strong relations will result in a win-win situation. Our continent and the challenges it faces will continue to greatly benefit from such an association and combined intellect.
The recent implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); the adaptations to what was considered “normal” in sectors across the continent prior Covid-19; considering the importance in facilitating international partnerships to develop pharmaceutical hubs and create a resilient and efficient pharmaceutical sector across Africa; the suggestion of inter alia reliance on different energy sources to assist Africa to increase resilience to climate change; and strengthening working relations between agriculture and manufacturing to assist with the foreseeable strain on food systems due to urbanization – are a few ways mentioned today in which our continent can reach out to our Italian and European brothers and sisters to make a better Africa for all.
We are because you are, and for that we are truly grateful. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”
Bye-Bye, Hambani kahle, Totsiens, Arrivederci, Tsamayang gabotse…
*****
Maurizio Mariano is an Executive Director of BBM Law firm in Johannesburg. He’s on maurizio@bbmlaw.co.za and website https://bbmlaw.co.za