Emanuela Del Re, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation met the Ambassadors of African countries today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome. The Deputy Minister set out her vision for relations between our country and the African continent during the course of a very useful meeting, stating that they should be based on teamwork that can capitalise on the great opportunities and resources of Africa such as economic growth and natural resources with special focus on the continent’s human resources and the great input that they can provide in terms of innovation and creativity. Defining Africa as “a strategic continent for the future of the planet” the Deputy Minister noted the importance of the Italian commitment to Africa (Italy is the third biggest investor in the continent) and pointed out the increasing amount of our development aid and diplomacy. Current threats of mutual interest were also discussed such as terrorism, illegal trafficking and climate change, all of which require a joint response.
The meeting gave the opportunity for an informative, concrete exchange of opinions with the heads of the African diplomatic missions, and also to take stock of preparations for the second Italy-Africa Ministerial Conference to be held on 25 October at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
