During a meeting on the sidelines of the G7, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and African Development Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina discussed joint projects to be implemented under the Mattei Plan. The main initiatives launched included the establishment of a special multi-donor fund to support the Mattei Plan for Africa and the Rome process for migration and development. This fund aims to attract international partners and leverage initial commitments of approximately $130 million from Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
Another initiative unveiled was a bilateral agreement between Italy and the African Development Bank Group, which includes a co-financing agreement and a trust fund to jointly finance projects in priority sectors such as energy, water, agriculture, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Additionally, Italy has committed to contributing to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa and is exploring ways to catalyze financial activities through partnerships with key African and international institutions.
The joint note released at the end of the meeting highlighted the importance of advancing economic and strategic partnerships with African nations to expand investment flows and promote common commercial opportunities. Furthermore, Italy has pledged its commitment to supporting private sector investment for job creation in Africa through initiatives such as the Africa Growth and Resilience Platform (GRAF).
