The foreign ministry held its traditional Africa Day today, and annual event that this year coincided with the 41st anniversary of creation of the Organisation of Africa Unity, which became the African Union in 2002.
Minister Mogherini gave the opening speech and Under-Secretary Mario Giro closed the event. Invited guests included the Mission Heads of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, scholars, scientists and persons linked with cultural spheres and the African continent.
Science cooperation for sustainable development
The event, dedicated to the theme Science Cooperation for Sustainable Development, falls within the framework of the Italy-Africa Initiative, a programme launched by the foreign ministry in December 2013 to strengthen relations between Italy and a continent in rapid expansion that offers major opportunities to our country’s productive system.
The decision to focus on science cooperation was the result of a belief that sponsoring and reinforcing local level scientific research can ensure long-term sustainable development. Italy intends to make its contribution by organising sector encounters aimed at facilitating exchanges of information, knowledge and peer-to-peer contacts.