Italy-EU summit on Africa strategic investments unveils agreements worth €1.2B
Baku, June 20, AZERTAC
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday co-chaired a summit in Rome focused on strategic investments for Africa, announcing EU-Italy shared agreements worth €1.2 billion ($1.38 billion), Anadolu Agency reported.
The two leaders reaffirmed their common ambition to deliver “impactful partnerships, drive high-quality investments, and unlock opportunities for African-led sustainable growth – anchored in mutual respect, long-term collaboration, and shared prosperity,” they said in a joint statement.
The Rome event was attended by African leaders from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia, including the chairperson of the Commission of the African Union.
Key international financial institutions – including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation – participated in the summit.
The European Commission and Italy reaffirmed their strategic partnership under the framework of the EU's Global Gateway strategy and the “Mattei Plan for Africa,” the Italian initiative aimed at working with African countries “to realize a shared vision for sustainable growth, resilience, and mutually beneficial cooperation.”
The leaders reaffirmed their intention to accelerate investments across interconnected sectors, including transport infrastructure, energy systems, agricultural value chains, and trade facilitation – driven by a 360 degree approach that wants to empower local economies and promote inclusive regional integration.
In this context, the EU and Italy jointly welcomed the growing alignment between the Global Gateway and Italy's Mattei Plan, and emphasized the importance of “a coherent Team Europe approach,” including enhanced coordination with international financial institutions, such as the African Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation.
“Today’s summit is a crucial step in the internationalization of the Mattei Plan,” Meloni said in her opening speech.
“We knew when we first launched this strategy that, in order to reach the ambitious goals we had set ourselves, it was necessary to work in synergy with international partners, starting with the European Commission.”
The leaders committed to advancing trilateral cooperation in sustainable agriculture, focusing on climate-resilient value chains like coffee.
A new initiative – under both the Global Gateway and Mattei Plan – will strengthen East Africa's coffee sector through regional integration and the engagement of the Italian private sector.
On the digital front, the leaders underscored the strategic potential of the Blue Raman submarine Cable.
The initiative – co-funded with a contribution of €37 million by the European Commission and supported by Italian digital infrastructure leader Sparkle – will enhance connectivity, stimulate research and innovation, and support technological convergence between Europe, Africa, and India.
That was highlighted as a strong example of strategic investments that can support the emergence of Africa as a key digital actor through the reinforcement of its digital infrastructure.
An agreement was also reached to mobilize private sector investments in key sectors such as digital connectivity, renewable energy and transport in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Besides, the leaders welcomed the establishment of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, a flagship initiative launched under the Italian G7 presidency.
The hub will offer training opportunities to young Africans, promote inclusive access to emerging technologies, and foster cross-continental collaboration in research and innovation in artificial intelligence.
“We have just witnessed the conclusion of very important agreements, bringing over 1.2 billion euros of investment and guarantees to Africa,” Von der Leyen said in her closing statement.
“And they illustrate how we turn political will and common vision into very concrete decisions and most importantly reality on the ground.”
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