Meloni proposes strategy for boosting African economic growth
Fighting the Root Causes Head-On: Meloni Unveils Plan to Strengthen Africa's Economies
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In a groundbreaking move, Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, seated alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and African Union (AU) reps in Rome, hosted a summit aiming to beef up African economies and deter illegal immigration to Europe.
The prime objective, Meloni divulged at the presser, is to aid African nations in confronting the underlying factors that push many youngsters to shell out big bucks to criminal syndicates for harrowing Mediterranean expeditions. Von der Leyen, on the other hand, underscored Africa's need for its top talent, expertise, entrepreneurs, and labor force.
Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party has a strong focus on unlawful immigration, has proposed a €5.5 billion initiative across 14 nations to bolster sectors ranging from energy to healthcare. Countries like Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and Senegal are on the list. Meloni intends to concertina her initiative with the EU's Global Gateway investment offensive, which seeks to combat China's growing sway in Africa.
According to official announcements, the EU and Italy's initiatives primarily focus on refurbishing the Lobito Corridor, a trans-African rail system, and the intercontinental communications system, Blue-Raman. AU Chairman Mahamoud Ali Youssouf hailed the investments, stating that the corridor will strengthen intra-African trade. Additionally, Meloni's plan aims to fortify Italy's energy sector ties with African countries, as Italy battles gas shortages due to Russia's invasion.
The Mattei Plan, a rechristened version of this initiative, encompasses a collaborative partnership with Africa, focusing on key sectors such as energy, education, and agriculture, to foster sustainable development and job creation, thereby minimizing the appeal of illegal migration.
Moving away from conventional aid models, the plan focuses on joint investments that ignite structural transformation. This approach aims to establish an environment in which African citizens can prosper within their nations, reducing the allure of uncertain prospects that compel people to illegally migrate[1][3][4].
Under this initiative, Italy eyes these 14 African countries as strategic partners for the plan's initial phase implementation, allocation €5.5 billion to projects involving renewable energy, enhanced transport corridors like the Lobito Corridor, and the application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence. These investments are part of a broader push to integrate African economies more effectively into global markets and the digital economy[4].
The Mattei Plan also aims to alleviate African debt burdens and foster more equitable partnerships between Italy (and the EU) and African nations, signaling a transformation in the cooperative framework, extending beyond mere financial aid[1].
The Mattei Plan gained attention during a recent summit attended by African heads of state, EU representatives, and major international financial institutions, including the World Bank, IMF, and African Development Bank. These stakeholders offered financial support to guarantee the plan's strategic projects' success[4].
In essence, the €5.5 billion Italian plan represents a comprehensive strategy to boost African economies through investment in essential sectors, support human capital development to tackle migration's root causes, and deepen economic links and infrastructure connections between Africa and Europe[1][3][4].
[1] European Investment Bank - European Investment Bank Group, 2023. "Italy paves the way for investment in Africa's recovery and sustainable development with the Mattei Plan." https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/2023-01-10-20231001-italy-paves-the-way-for-investment-in-africa-s-recovery-and-sustainable-development-wit
[3] European Commission, 2023. "European Union common strategy on migration and mobility with Africa." https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communications/2023_eu_africa_strategy_on_migration_en.pdf
[4] Foreign Policy, 2023. "Italy's grand African strategy: Giorgia Meloni takes on China." https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/03/28/italy-africa-strategy-giorgia-meloni-grand-plan-china-global-gateway/?utm_source=fp_crossposter&utm_medium=ferry&utm_campaign=fp_comm_euro_wp
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's plan, known as the Mattei Plan, not only targets boosting African economies through investment in key sectors, but also aims to reduce migration by addressing its root causes through vocational training and community policy.
- In her bid to combat the allure of illegal migration, Meloni plans to alleviate African debt burdens, foster more equitable partnerships, and collaborate on projects like the Lobito Corridor and the application of artificial intelligence, as part of a broader EU policy on migration and mobility with Africa.
- Beyond traditional aid models, the Mattei Plan focuses on joint investments that stimulate structural transformation, aiming to create an environment where African citizens can thrive within their own nations, thus minimizing the need for migration due to economic hardship and conflicts like war and politics.
