The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for development cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, chaired today at the Royal Palace of Caserta the G7 High-Level Event “Investing in Lifelong Learning for Job Creation and Resilience: a Dialogue with Africa”.
With this event, the G7 Italian Presidency intends to provide its contribution to the success of the Year of Education proclaimed by the African Union for 2024, with the aim of enhancing the role of education, particularly primary education, as a driver of growth and employment. The outcomes of the discussions will be reflected in the “Education and Development” section of the Final Communiqué of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Development, which the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, will chair in Pescara from 22 to 24 October.
Deputy Minister Cirielli said: “Education, vocational training and the enhancement of human capital as a driver of growth and development are central to our development cooperation action and a priority for the Italian government.” He highlighted that in 2023 the Foreign Ministry doubled scholarships to train young African talents in Italy. The Deputy Minister concluded: “Strengthening quality, safe and inclusive education systems is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and to address most of the development challenges, ranging from health to climate change, food security and gender equality.”
The event will be attended, among others, by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Francesco Lollobrigida; the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci; the Minister for Family, Birth Rate and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella; the Vice President of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Alberico Gambino; and the President of the National School of Administration, Paola Severino, together with representatives of the African Union and African countries, G7 members, international organizations and civil society.