The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, spoke today, on behalf of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, at the first Hamburg Conference on Sustainability, a high-level event that brought together political leaders, civil society representatives and entrepreneurs to address global sustainability challenges.
During his speech, the Deputy Minister underlined Italy’s commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship through the Mattei Plan for Africa, which aims to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth. He then mentioned the project to enhance the coffee supply chain, a sector of great importance for many African economies: through this initiative, Italy aims to introduce new technologies and sustainable agricultural practices, thus providing concrete opportunities for young African entrepreneurs.
The Deputy Minister also presented the ”Digital Flagship” project, implemented in collaboration with UNDP, aimed at creating digital ecosystems in Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Mozambique. He also illustrated the “AI Hub for Sustainable Development” initiative, launched under the Italian G7 Presidency, which aims to strengthen local artificial intelligence ecosystems in Africa, with a focus on crucial sectors such as agriculture, health and energy.
With specific reference to the topic of access to financing for youth enterprises, Hon. Cirielli finally underlined the strategic partnership of Italian Cooperation with the African Development Bank, with which innovative co-financing tools have been activated.