Italy Looks to Gulf States to Boost Funding for Its Africa Plan
Italy is planning a business summit in the Gulf region next month to promote its “Mattei” development and migration plan for Africa.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government wants to host Gulf state officials as well as business leaders from both the region and Italy at an event next month, as it seeks backing for the plan from oil-rich countries, according to people familiar with the matter.
The event is currently scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi mid-January, the people said. Firms from industries including telecommunications and infrastructure will be represented, they said, adding that the plans are not yet final.
Italy has already received expressions of interest from countries in the region for investments in the Mattei plan, according to government officials from several countries.
Governments which could be interested include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the people said, asking not to be identified as they aren’t authorized to speak on the matter.
Spokespeople for the Italian and Qatari governments declined to comment. Representatives for other Gulf states didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Matching Funds
One option currently being discussed in early talks would see some Gulf states invest in the plan through the African Development Bank, which in turn would provide matching funds, said the people. The sums involved could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, they said.
Italy moved earlier this year to free up new financial instruments to facilitate investment in the program, Bloomberg News reported at the time.
Meloni has put tackling undocumented migration from Africa at the forefront of her government’s objectives.
As part of that strategy, Rome has been promoting the Mattei initiative, which encompasses its overall vision for the region and is valued at a minimum of €5.5 billion ($5.8 billion).
The program is aimed at boosting investment, professional training and food and energy security in Africa, with the goal of slowing down migrant arrivals by sea.
Meloni’s administration has described its approach as an alternative to Russian and Chinese investment in Africa, and has also looked to present it as a way to bolster NATO’s southern flank in the Mediterranean.
Rome has already signed agreements with northern African countries to slow down migrant arrivals, despite criticism from non-government organizations and opposition parties over human rights concerns.
Italy has also signed a deal with Albania to reroute some asylum seekers there while their cases are evaluated.
That plan, which has been hit by a series of delays, also faces opposition from Italian courts and is currently not operational.
