The African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings this week highlighted growing collaboration between Italy and Africa under the Mattei Plan, a strategy focused on trade, development, and long-term investment.
On Tuesday, May 27, a panel discussion brought together officials from the African Development Bank, the Italian government, and private sector partners to assess the plan’s progress. Italy has selected the Bank as its main financial partner for the initiative.
The Mattei Plan is backed by the Rome Process Financing Facility, a special fund set up to co-finance development projects across Africa. Key focus areas include agriculture, energy, climate, and industrialization.
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The goal is to drive economic growth, create jobs, and reduce migration by tackling root causes.
The plan represents a shift from traditional aid to shared investment in strategic sectors. Speakers at the panel emphasized the need for long-term partnerships that benefit both Africa and Europe.
Angola and the Republic of Congo shared updates on how the plan is helping their economies. Angola is working to grow its agricultural sector and reduce its reliance on oil.
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A major project, the Lobito Corridor, aims to connect several African countries to global markets through improved rail infrastructure.
Congo has made agriculture central to its national development plan and sees the Mattei Plan as a key tool to boost food production and energy access. Officials from both countries called for more investment to meet their goals.
Italy is also expanding the plan to include partners like the United Arab Emirates and the European Union’s Global Gateway.
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Italian officials said the plan is focused on business and mutual growth, not charity.
