Culinary Bridges and Skilled Horizons

This post is part 21 of 23 in the newsletter of October 2026

Giuseppe Pantano on the Power of Food, Training, and International Cooperation YAOUNDÉ

By Giuseppe Pantano, ICC Chair for Italy Malta San Marino – Cameroon

In a compelling address delivered to members of the Cameroonian government, the Diplomatic Corps, and international partners, Giuseppe Pantano—President of the Rotary Inter-Country Committee for Italy, San Marino, Malta, and Cameroon, and Provincial President of Confartigianato Persone ANAP Siracusa—presented a vision where gastronomy, vocational training, and cross-border partnership intersect to create real economic dignity.

Reflecting on his deep personal and professional ties to Central Africa, Pantano detailed how food and targeted skills development can serve as powerful tools for diplomacy, youth empowerment, and cultural exchange between Europe and Africa.

Gastronomy as a Tool for Dialogue and Development Pantano’s approach to cooperation goes well beyond traditional diplomatic channels. Named an “Ambassador of Mediterranean and Italian Cuisine” in 2019 for his initiatives across Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, he views local food systems as essential drivers of social impact.

Central to his address was the role of local agriculture and the central place of African women in economic life: Empowering Local Value Chains: Recognizing rural women as the primary guardians and processors of key staple crops, particularly cassava.

Cultural Fusion: Bridging culinary traditions by pairing local ingredients with Italian techniques—such as utilizing cassava flour for crêpes or combining indigenous produce with classic Italian ragùs.

The “Cucina dal Mondo” Initiative: Spearheaded during Pantano’s tenure as President of the Rotary Club Yaoundé Étoile (2018–2019) to promote global understanding through shared culinary heritage.

“For me, cuisine is much more than simply food. Cuisine is culture, dialogue, knowledge, and friendship. It is an extraordinary tool for bringing peoples closer together—not by replacing one culture with another, but by bringing them together to create something new.”

From Kitchens to Skilled Trades: Scaling the Cooperation Model Beyond gastronomy, Pantano highlighted the success of an ongoing initiative that has allowed young Cameroonians to travel to Italy for specialized professional training in hospitality and catering. Developed in close coordination with the Embassy of Italy in Yaoundé, Commercial Attaché Mrs. Siri, former Italian Ambassador Scammacca, Venerable Friend Mbombock Loga Mahop, and Professor Maurizio Franzò of the Archimede Institute in Ispica, the project offers concrete career pathways for young professionals.

Building on these results, Pantano outlined an ambitious next step through his role with Confartigianato Persone ANAP Siracusa: expanding this vocational pipeline into other technical sectors