Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Marta Dassù met today in Rome with Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Adnan Amin, on the occasion of his first visit to Italy.
“The development of renewable energy sources is one of the mainstays of Italy’s and of Europe’s energy strategy, as well as a factor in stimulating economic growth”, Deputy Minister Dassù stated, pointing out that “our country intends to effectively and consistently make the most of its skill in research and development in this field”. To that end, the deputy minister continued, “EXPO 2015, with its focus on nutrition, water resources and sustainable energy, will be a golden opportunity for Italy to work with the rest of the world in advancing the values of sustainable development”.
Director Amin expressed his gratitude to Italy for its driving role since the Agency’s creation, and the hope that the excellent collaboration under way would expand, thanks not least to our country’s recent election to the IRENA Council.
Finally, Dassù and Amin agreed to work together as EXPO 2015 nears, involving Italian firms in fostering the spread of clean energy and technologies throughout Africa, discussing the organization of an initial thematic workshop in 2014.
Created in 2009, IRENA intends to promote the development and application of renewable energies, particularly in developing countries, through the collection and dissemination of technical assistance data and the exchange of good practices. Italy, one of the Agency’s founders, ratified its Charter in later 2012 and has a two-year seat on its Council for 2013-2014.
After his meeting with Deputy Minister Dassù, Director Amin went to the headquarters of the Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE) to take part in the event “IRENA meets the Italian Renewable Energy System”, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of the Environment, where GSE executives and the principal Italian sector associations and research bodies illustrated Italian expertise in renewable energy sources, in addition to the incentive and promotional mechanisms currently in effect in Italy.
