Positioning WhyAfrica at the heart of EU-Italy-Africa relations

Positioning WhyAfrica at the heart of EU-Italy-Africa relations

Africa has become a critical partner for Italy and the European Union (EU).

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.

Last week Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in the presence of several African representatives, announced a collaborative plan to convert €235 million of African debt into local development projects in Africa.

After the summit, held at the Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, Minister Meloni said that the goal of the initiative is to reduce the external debt burden of low-to middle-income African nations by more than 50%.

Italy’s Mattei Plan  

This initiative builds on Meloni’s Mattei Plan, announced late last year when WhyAfrica visited Rome, and the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, another initiative in support of Africa’s development.

The €5.5-billion Mattei plan aims to support a range of sectors in 14 African countries and to strengthen trade relations between Italy and the rest of Africa.

The EUs Global Gateway Plan

The Global Gateway plan is the EU’s response to competing global initiatives, most notably China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The key objective of this plan is the mobilise €300-billion in public and private investments by 2027 to build infrastructure in partner countries.  

During the summit last week, Meloni and Von der Leyen outlined several deals that includes financing for the Lobito Corridor which links the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic coastline with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

When in Rome

During my visit to Italy earlier this year several summits were being held in Rome focusing specifically on Africa and its critical minerals and energy potential.

It also coincided with a visit to Rome by King Charles III who then attended an important discussion about investments in Africa. I was lucky enough to shake hands with King Charles and Queen Camilla and posted a video on WhyAfrica’s YouTube channel https://studio.youtube.com/video/P8qLm27pjCo/edit

WhyAfrica and EU-Africa deals

WhyAfrica likes to be on the ground and close to the action wherever it concerns Africa, and there is a lot of action happening on this front in Europe, the USA, China and Russia.

Italy and Europe’s drive into Africa aligns with WhyAfrica’s aim of providing on the ground intelligence and insights into Africa’s economic and developmental dynamics.

Africa hosts large deposits of minerals essential for the global energy transition, yet lacks the infrastructure needed to unlock these great resources at scale.

Through its research, on the ground site visits, its WhyAfrica overland expeditions and road trips through Africa, field engagement and expertise, WhyAfrica is ideally positioned to assist investors, policymakers and businesses identify opportunities and navigate local complexities in a range of economic sectors.

Image: King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their visit to Rome, Italy, earlier this year. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica

Positioning WhyAfrica at the heart of EU-Italy-Africa relations