2024-02-01 23:32:50
An Italy-Africa summit took place at the start of the week in Rome. Around twenty African heads of state and government traveled to hear the plan of the President of the Italian Council, Giorgia Meloni to encourage the development of the continent. With its “Mattei Plan”, Italy wants to invest in several sectors of the economy to create jobs and curb irregular emigration. By placing particular emphasis on energy production, from which Europe might also benefit.
Diplomatically, the Italy-Africa summit was a success even if the promises must now come true. African and Italian economic players were able to meet on the sidelines of the official program.
An opportunity to be seized, according to Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo, the Minister of SMEs in the Republic of Congo – present in the delegation of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. “ On the economic level, several Italian companies are established in Congo. In the field of food, in the environment, in the processing of raw materials, it is an economic relationship that exists. Through the priorities that the Congo has set for itself, as part of its national development plan, we have decided to strengthen the economic partnership with Italy in these areas. And we came with entrepreneurs and artisans. »
But Italy, which sees itself as “a bridge” between Europe and Africa, places particular emphasis on energy. With one objective: that African production increases so that part of its resources can be exported to Europe. Giorgia Meloni promised that renewable energies would not be left aside, but according to Italian specialist Francesco Sassi, it will be difficult to diversify energy production in Africa until Europe itself has made its transition: “ Italy depends so much on Algerian gas, that at the moment Italian companies are investing more and more in Africa, in countries like Mozambique or the Democratic Republic of Congo, in search of new sources of gas energy, to succeed in getting out of dependence on Russian gas. »
“The Mattei plan” takes its name from that of Enrico Mattei, the founder of the Italian major ENI, very involved in Africa. Interests regarding which Giorgia Meloni preferred to remain discreet during this summit, notes researcher Sofia Scialoja: “ In the enunciation of her various projects, she never spoke of the real Italian economic assets in Africa which are ENI National Hydrocarbons Agency(the Italian national hydrocarbon company) and also others private giants. »
At the end of this summit, Italy announced an envelope of 5.5 billion euros to finance a series of pilot projects in Africa and kick off the Mattei Plan.
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