Week of Italian Cuisine in the World – Celebrating Collaboration, Culture and Development in Zanzibar
The 10th edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, hosted at the Beach House in Zanzibar on November 21, 2025, was far more than a celebration of gastronomy and cultural heritage. This year’s event highlighted the deeper purpose behind Italy’s presence in Tanzania and Zanzibar, showcasing the meaningful contributions of Italian enterprises, training institutions and NGOs operating across the region.
During the ceremony, the Italian Ambassador to Tanzania, Giuseppe Sean Coppola, emphasized how international cooperation and vocational training are essential tools for local development. He underlined the longstanding commitment of the Embassy of Italy in Dar es Salaam and the Italian Consulate in Zanzibar, led by Consul Stefano Totisco, in promoting bilateral partnerships in key sectors such as tourism, culture and education. These institutions play a crucial role in supporting long-term initiatives that help strengthen professional skills in hospitality, tourism and related industries.
Italian Ambassador to Tanzania
Giuseppe Coppola
Italian Consul to Zanzibar
Stefano Totisco
Thanks to this cooperation, local students and professionals benefit from targeted training pathways, meaningful upskilling opportunities and access to new employment prospects. Italian organizations such as R.O.S.A. complement these efforts by providing capacity building through innovative education, digital literacy and ICT skills development.
For decades, Italian businesses, training centres and non-profit organizations — under the guidance of the Italian Embassy — have contributed to sustainable social and economic development among communities in Tanzania and Zanzibar. R.O.S.A. is proud to join this network of committed Italian partners, including institutions like ENAIP Veneto, working together to empower youth, create job-ready human capital and support the emergence of future local leaders and entrepreneurs.
As a recognition of these shared values, the ReCoding Africa TTT Program – Training Teachers for Tomorrow team was invited by Ambassador Coppola to attend this year’s edition. Participating in this important event was a meaningful culmination of the success of our program and a testament to the strong bond between Italy and Tanzania in the fields of education, innovation and community empowerment.
A Longstanding Italian Presence in Tanzania and Zanzibar
The Italian community has played an active role in Tanzania for decades. Today, more than 3,000 Italian citizens reside in the country, with a particularly vibrant presence in Zanzibar, where hundreds of Italian entrepreneurs, hospitality professionals and NGO workers contribute to the local economy. Italian is one of the most spoken European languages on the islands thanks to years of cultural, social and economic exchange.
Italy’s diplomatic presence also has a long history. The Embassy of Italy in Tanzania, established in the 1960s following Tanzania’s independence, has been a consistent promoter of cooperation in education, tourism, heritage protection and vocational training. The Italian Consulate in Zanzibar, reactivated to strengthen ties with the island’s dynamic tourism and business community, continues this mission by facilitating partnerships, supporting Italian citizens and promoting development initiatives.
Together, these institutions have helped shape decades of collaboration, creating bridges between Italian expertise and Tanzanian potential.
R.O.S.A. is honored to contribute to this shared vision, working alongside Italian and Tanzanian partners to build equitable access to knowledge, digital skills and opportunities for all.
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R.O.S.A. continues to deliver free ICT education across Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam through the Cisco Networking Academy and the IBM SkillsBuild Platform. With the support of partners like the Cisco Foundation and IBM, we can fulfill our mission of building a more connected, equitable, and digitally empowered world.
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