Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Moroccan Government, represented King Mohammed VI on Sunday at the opening of the Italy-Africa Summit in the Italian capital of Rome. He was warmly received by Italian President Sergio Matarella along with the country’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Matarella hosted a dinner reception in recognition of the guests of honor.
The summit will focus on the “Mattei Plan,” a strategy named after politician and businessman Enrico Mattei, which seeks to help African countries to maximize their natural resources while fostering mutually beneficial development.
The Italy-Africa Summit addresses key pillars such as food security, culture and education, energy security, economic and infrastructural development, combating human trafficking and terrorism, and the governance of legal immigration.
The two-day summit, themed “Italy-Africa: A Bridge for Common Growth,” has drawn leaders from both Africa and Europe, including dozens of African decision-makers, top EU and UN brass, and various representatives from financial organizations.