Mentoring: the new project of IICUAE

The Italian Industry and Commerce office in the UAE (IICUAE) is playing a pivotal role in bringing Italian businesses to the UAE and also helping UAE investors identify right investments in the European nation. In a freewheeling chat with Khaleej Times, Mauro Marzocchi, Secretary General, IICUAE, talks about business, new projects, and all things important. Excerpts:

Secretary General, tell us about the project Mentoring.
As a result of the long-lasting relationship with the Italian community in the UAE, the IICUAE has developed a strong network of managers and professionals from Italy who constantly cooperate with the Chamber. There are more than 300 Italian companies operating in the UAE through their branches, local agents or Italian investors.
Italian products and services can potentially penetrate the Emirati market, thanks to the high regard for quality Made-in-Italy products and the great dynamism of the UAE economy.
Mentoring is a new project promoted and supported by Unioncamere (the Union of the Italian Chambers of Commerce) and aims at creating a network of Italian businessmen operating in the UAE, who are willing to share their expertise with Italian companies wanting to enter the UAE market. This project represents a natural continuation of the Chamber's ambitions to promote Italy in the UAE and support Italian enterprises.

What are the lines of action for the project?
Our Chamber, in cooperation with its partners in the project, will identify Italian businessmen in the UAE, who will act as the mentors. The Italian Chambers of Commerce in Italy, on the other hand, will select Italian companies wanting to have the role of mentees. The Project Committee will match the mentors and the mentee.
Two dedicated events will take place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to select the mentors. The mentors must be Italian, or have worked/studied in Italy. They should also have an extensive knowledge of Italy and its market and have good experience in a given sector.

What will be the advantages for the mentors and the mentees?
The mentors will be included in an international network of professionals and managers and they will have a chance to confront themselves with the others mentors and with the mentees to know new entrepreneurial realities, improve their interpersonal and relational skills, to find new ideas and to globally increase their visibility. The mentees will have an example and a model that could inspire their companies' internationalisation projects; enrich managerial skills; enhance their position in the Italian market; and get an opportunity to approach a new market supported by an expert guide.

• Dubai