The Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Vincenzo Amendola, visited Tunisia today, where he met the Minister of Development, Investments and International Cooperation, Yassine Brahim, and the Minister of Energy and Mines, Mongi Marzouk.
During the visit, the government representative reiterated Italy’s willingness to support Tunisia in all areas of bilateral cooperation.
The main subjects discussed were the strengthening of commercial ties, the launch of new cooperation and development initiatives, and progress in the dialogue regarding the submarine electrical interconnection between Italy and Tunisia (ELMED).
Mr Amendola stressed the great significance – in terms of increased Italian investments and positive media exposure for Tunisia – of the bilateral Business Forum of 8 – 9 May in Tunis, which will be attended by a large delegation of Italian businesses and operators, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni.
The Undersecretary also remarked on the strong support of the Italian Government for the relaunch of the country’s economy, and its readiness to act as a spokesperson for Tunisian demands in Europe. This is the background, said the Undersecretary, to the Migration Compact initiative launched a few days ago, which provides for a strengthening of European policy on migrants based on a new dialogue with countries in the Mediterranean area.
As part of the celebrations of the 60 years of “Il Corriere di Tunisi”, the only Italian newspaper in the Arab world, Undersecretary Amendola subsequently attended the conference entitled “Building a Mediterranean political identity after the 2011 revolutions”, organised with the cooperation of the Italian Institute of Culture and the Italian Embassy in Tunis. The event was attended by many members of the Italian community in Tunis, as well as leading figures from the world of culture, politics and the press from both countries, including the director of “La Stampa”, Maurizio Molinari.
