On the final day of the Milan segment of the Conference of Ambassadors, the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, chaired—on behalf of Minister Tajani—two events devoted to the internationalisation of the Italian university system and to cooperation between finance and diplomacy in support of investment attraction and growth.
At the event “Italian Universities Abroad”, organised with and hosted by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the Undersecretary underscored how the internationalisation of universities constitutes a strategic instrument of growth diplomacy, as does the attraction of international talent. Tripodi recalled the increase in scholarships for international students, with particular focus on the African continent within the framework of the Mattei Plan and highlighted the value of initiatives such as the Università Cattolica’s Africa Plan and E4IMPACT, which are able to combine education, development and opportunities for Italian enterprises.
“Internationalisation means projecting the Italian university system onto the global stage, bringing together culture and the economy, diplomacy and enterprise,” the Undersecretary stated.
At the subsequent event, “Finance and Diplomacy for Italy’s Growth”, held at Palazzo Mezzanotte in collaboration with Borsa Italiana, Tripodi emphasised the central role of private finance as a natural ally of growth diplomacy.
She also dwelt on the solidity of the national macroeconomic framework, the improved assessments by credit rating agencies and the importance of foreign direct investment for the competitiveness of Italy’s productive system. Reference was also made to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Borsa Italiana, ELITE and the Italian Trade Agency, as well as to the contribution of the financial instruments of the Export Plan—implemented with SIMEST, SACE and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti—in support of exports and the internationalisation of Italian companies.
“Finance is an essential infrastructure of growth diplomacy, capable of transforming savings into productive investment and development,” Tripodi stated.
In closing, the Undersecretary reiterated Italy’s support for greater integration of European capital markets as a strategic lever for growth.