Strengthening of bilateral relations, migrants, economic cooperation, development of commercial partnerships. These are the themes that are at the heart of the mission that awaits the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in Addis Ababa from tomorrow to Saturday. The prime minister’s visit to Ethiopia is the first by a Western head of government since the end of hostilities in Tigray and the third meeting with Prime Minister Abiy.
The trip program includes an interview with the president of the African Union, Moussa Faki. Soon after, there will be a tête-à-tête meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister at the National Palace, followed by a working lunch. At the end there will be bilateral talks with the President of Somalia, Sheikh, before the trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abiy scheduled for the following day. The meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, underlined by Italian sources, represents an important step in the strengthening of bilateral relations between Italy and Ethiopia and a concrete sign of the historical and solid ties between the two countries, in addition to being an opportunity to consolidate relations in the Horn of Africa. Italy is engaged in Ethiopia to support the peace process and social and economic recovery, aware of the centrality of Addis Ababa for regional stability.
Furthermore, Italy supports Ethiopia in its program of economic reform and transformation, making available the experience of Italian companies and encouraging their re-engagement in the competent courts. Meloni’s visit will also be followed by a business mission led by a government official. A sign, it is explained, that demonstrates Italy’s interest in establishing cooperation with African countries on an equal footing, accompanying African partners on the path of institutional strengthening and socioeconomic growth, through professional training and the development of human capital .
Meloni’s visit to Ethiopia is also an opportunity to deepen partnership opportunities in the economic area linked to reconstruction, development of public and infrastructural works and investments at an interregional level, including in the energy sector. Reinforcing dialogue and the stability and integrity of Ethiopia is a priority in the national interest, also in curbing illegal migration and human trafficking. Ethiopia, remember, is among the beneficiary countries of the Flows Decree of 2022 and represents a junction for the flows that cross the eastern borders towards Sudan to Libya and from there to Italy. There are 823,000 refugees and 4.2 million displaced people in the country.
In this regard, on May 24, Italy will co-host the International Donor Conference on Humanitarian Challenges and Emergencies in the Horn of Africa with the United Nations in New York. An opportunity that confirms the solid Italian attention to the Global South and the African continent. Italy, it is assured, remains ready to play its part, increasing its commitment to development cooperation for humanitarian emergencies specifically for Ethiopia and Somalia. The issue of food safety is another sector in which Italy is strongly committed and wants to make its contribution by sharing its deep experience in the sector.
Rome will host the ‘Momento de Stock’ food systems summit from 24-26 July. In terms of economic cooperation, Italy and Ethiopia have a solid commercial partnership. Trade reached 276 million euros (+17.7%) in 2022 with Italian exports equal to 180 million (+2%) and imports equal to 96 million (+65.4%). The main sectors in which Italian companies operate are: infrastructure and transport, agricultural machinery and industrial vehicles, textiles, energy, telecommunications, agribusiness, mining.
Internationally, Italy is the 16th destination market for Ethiopian exports and the country’s 15th supplier. Ethiopia is one of the 11 priority African states for Italian Cooperation and one of the biggest beneficiaries of Public Development Assistance. More than 60 development initiatives are under way in the country, with a total value of around 265 million euros. Meloni will also visit the Instituto Italiano Galileo Galilei, the largest Italian school abroad with around 900 students.
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
