"Empowering Africa, Empowering Italy" - Meloni Unveilsblockchain an Africa-forward Economy Blueprint
Meloni proposes strategy for bolstering the African economic landscape
Hop on the social media bandwagon and join the discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, E-Mail, Print, or Copy Link to find out more about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's innovative strategy to strengthen Africa's economy and curb illegal immigration to the EU.
During a high-stakes summit on Friday, Meloni hosted EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen alongside African Union (AU) dignitaries in Rome. Their objective? To fortify African economies, thus quelling the migratory exodus to the EU. Meloni stressed that the plan centers on "empowering Africa, empowering Italy" by helping African nations tackle the underlying issues that drive young folk to risk their lives with criminal outfits, crossing the treacherous Mediterranean for a better life in Europe.
Simultaneously, von der Leyen emphasized the need to preserve Africa's potential workforce, talents, and entrepreneurs on the vast continent.
Meloni's far-right party, Fratelli d'Italia, has made it their mission to quell irregular migration. The Italian Prime Minister has launched a €5.5 billion initiative, dubbed the Mattei Plan, for 14 nations to support a slew of sectors - from energy to healthcare. A few nations poised to benefit include ethnically diverse powerhouses such as Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. Meloni's strategy also aims to synergize with the EU's Global Gateway offensive – a far-reaching investment initiative that seeks to counter China's escalating influence on Africa.
Among the plans unveiled on Friday, investing heavily in revamping the Lobito Corridor – a trans-African railroad – and the intercontinental communications system, Blue-Raman, are top priorities. Notably, AU chairman Mahamoud Ali Youssouf lauded these investments, especially the Lobito Corridor, which he believes will significantly enhance intra-African trade and commerce. Furthermore, the Mattei Plan aims to fortify Italy's ongoing trade negotiations with African nations in the energy sector, as Italy grapples with gas shortages due to Russia's assault.
Sources:
[1] ntv.de
[2] AFP
[3] Journal du Cameroun
[4] The Citizen
Enrichment Insights:
- Investment Focus Amount: The Mattei Plan allocates €5.5 billion for the initial investment phase, concentrating on energy, education, and agriculture as priority areas to drive economic development and job creation in Africa.
- Partnership Model: The initiative advocates a move from traditional aid to strategic joint investments, fostering equitable partnerships between Italy and the 14 targeted African nations.
- Migration Addressing: The initiative aims to eliminate the root causes of unlawful migration to Europe by investing in Africa's human capital and creating favorable conditions for indigenous prosperity in Africa.
- Broader Context: The Mattei Plan complies with broader EU endeavors, such as the Global Gateway, which aims to incentivize €300 billion in global infrastructure investments, with €150 billion targeted for Africa.
- Political Context: Meloni's plan aligns with the timing of Italy's citizenship referendum, intended to decrease the residency requirement for non-EU migrants (many of whom hail from Africa) to apply for Italian citizenship from 10 to 5 years. This domestic policy move bolsters the external investment strategy by facilitating integration and addressing legal status challenges for African migrants in Italy.
Participants of the summit, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, discussed the importance of policy-and-legislation in addressing the root causes of illegal immigration and strengthening African economies. This includes the implementation of Meloni's Mattei Plan, which focuses on investment in sectors such as energy, education, and agriculture within 14 African nations.
The global political landscape, particularly in relation to politics and general-news, has highlighted the need for strategies like the Mattei Plan to combat illegal immigration and empower African communities through job creation and equitable partnerships. These efforts align with broader EU initiatives, such as the Global Gateway, and domestic policies, like Italy's pending citizenship referendum, aimed at facilitating integration and addressing legal status challenges for African migrants in Italy.
