Sace, Italy’s Export Credit Agency, has mobilized €4.9 billion across the 18 target nations of the Mattei Plan and €6.7 billion throughout the wider African continent, cementing its role as the world’s leading ECA for medium-to-long-term commitments in early 2026.
The big picture: The data, presented to the Chamber of Deputies’ Foreign Affairs Committee by CEO Michele Pignotti, underline Africa’s surging strategic importance for Italian industry, backed by a 17.2% year-on-year jump in Italian exports to the continent in the first half of 2026.
- De-risking and financing: Operating through insurance, guarantees, and close collaboration with the banking system, Sace bridges the financial gap for Italian SMEs, helping them mitigate risks and secure contracts across complex markets.
- Geographical spread: Operations span both North Africa—concentrating around €3 billion across Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia—and high-growth Sub-Saharan markets like Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
Between the lines: The Push Strategy and strategic corridors. Beyond traditional export credit, Sace is actively deploying innovative financial instruments to weave Italian supply chains directly into African infrastructure and development.
- The Push Strategy: Sace-backed financing for major foreign counterparties is directly tied to procurement commitments from Italy, fostering structural commercial integration.
- Multilateral partnerships: Initiatives highlighted during the hearing include joint interventions with the Africa Finance Corporation, targeting strategic infrastructure projects such as the Lobito Corridor.
- Business matching and training: Beyond financial backing, Sace has supported over 1,000 export contracts, organized 14 business-matching events connecting 600 Italian companies with African partners, and trained roughly 500 firms through its Africa Champion program.
Why it matters: The Mattei Plan is increasingly evolving from a political vision into a concrete economic infrastructure.
- By leveraging Sace’s financial muscle and localized task forces — anchored by regional offices in Egypt and Morocco — Rome is successfully converting diplomatic strategy into durable commercial ties, securing critical supply chains and new markets for Italian enterprise in Africa.
