“Italy: Bridge between Africa and Europe (The Mattei Plan)” thematic conference as part of the BMT – Mediterranean Tourism Exchange  

“We see at the center of this meeting the contribution that the Italian government, the contribution that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wanted to make with the Piano Mattei and therefore today we are confronted with this reality because we are in favor of creating the conditions for greater solidarity with the African people, because we know that the future sees them as protagonists.” This is how the President of FEDERAGRI (Italian Agriculture Federation), Gianfranco Grieci introduced the work of the Thematic Conference promoted with the participation of international authorities as part of the Mediterranean Tourism Exchange: “Italy: Bridge between Africa and Europe (The Mattei Plan)”. 

“The commitment put in place,” said Grieci, “is for collaboration and development towards these countries in the spirit of the Mattei Plan with professionalism with respect to new technologies, but above all with respect to cultures. It is evident that each of us has his own culture, his own roots, like all the peoples of Africa. We work with the involvement of society and the population to train businesses, industrial systems, for socio-economic development, the creation of new, clean energy and higher levels of health conditions for populations, therefore with the need to carry out professional training activities for farmers and the people in general.” 

“An economic and financial asset of 5 and a half billion euros is Grieci ready, which the Italian government is preparing to disburse over the next 4 years through a series of projects and calls for proposals for an alternative system.” 

“Italy is committed to ensuring the socio-economic development of Africa why does it think it is a good Samaritan?” he asked, answering “It is not exactly so”, in his speech at the conference the Deputy Minister of Esteri Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli. 

“If Italy is doing well economically, even neighboring countries are able to have a strong socio-economic response. In Cirielli the same way, imagine a large continent with 60% of the planet’s arable land, 60% of the resources and raw materials that in 20 years will have a doubling of its population, reaching several billion, perhaps 3 billion people, who have a very young population, how important it is for better or for worse.” 

“If we Europa and Italy develop Africa on a socio-economic level,” the Deputy Foreign Minister specified, “we have a great opportunity because we create a large market, which is not only for consumers, but also for production, where, moreover, at the beginning Italian companies can also play their part in the game of free market. conversely, if a continent fails from a socio-economic point of view, there is a negative rebound on Europe. The socio-economic and geopolitical weight of Africa that I have just outlined gives the measure of the damage that could come if things do not go well. 

We have a moral duty, and Italy feels it more than others because we have a cultural, human abundance, linked to its traditional values, of the idea of the community itself, for thousands of years that especially the Italian peninsula has had a deep relationship with Africa. Everywhere I go in Africa they remind me that for them we Italians are different Europeans, different Westerners, they see us much closer to them than everyone else. I think that’s also true.” 

“Mattei,” said Deputy Minister Cirielli, “was a great patriot who in the post-war period launched the idea of a different kind of cooperation with Africa, he supported precisely this: we have a thousand-year tradition of relations with Africa, and since it is rich in raw materials, in energy resources, we take these resources and it is right that we do not leave money alone. We have to leave something to the young African generations. This is not only a good thing, but it is being fair. 

The Mattei Plan is a great infrastructure plan, because we know that infrastructure brings wealth, and a great plan to enhance the most important resource, which is man. That’s why we’ve put training at the center.” 

 Attended the conference:

• Gianfranco Grieci – National President of Fagri Speeches: 
• H.E. Giuseppe Gambardella – Consul General of Benin in Naples 
• H.E. Mfawa Omini Abam – Ambassador of Nigeria to Italy 
• Hon. Sen. Abubakar Kyaricon – Federal Minister of Agriculture and Food Safety 
• H.E. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo – Ambassador of Tanzania to Italy 
• H.E. Maria del Fatima Jardim – Ambassador of Angola to Italy 
• H.E. Amine Laghidi – International Expert and President of several African and Moroccan Organizations 
• Prof. Claudio Fava – President of the Fagri Technical and Scientific Committee 
• Sen. Patrizio La Pietra – Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry 
• Hon. Edmondo Cirielli  – Deputy Minister of Esteri Affairs and International Cooperation

Moderates: Nadia Pedicino – Journalist 

The article “Italy: Bridge between Africa and Europe (The Mattei Plan)” thematic conference as part of the BMT – Mediterranean Tourism Exchange   first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.