Mattei Plan: Italy launches second Italia-Africa Summit, to be held in Ethiopia on 13 February

Italy will hold the second Italia-Africa Summit at the level of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 13 February, as announced by President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni during her beginning-of-year press conference. This confirms Italy's strengthening of strategic relations with the African continent and the consolidation of the objectives set by the Mattei Plan for Africa, which was launched in Rome in January 2024.

This two-yearly event will be held in Africa for the first time and will take place in conjunction with the African Union Summit, on the eve of the African Union Heads of State and Government Assembly. As part of the proceedings, President Meloni, as guest of honour, will deliver an address to the opening plenary session of the Assembly, scheduled for the morning of Saturday 14 February.

Two years on from its official presentation, this initiative represents a new milestone in Italy's commitment to fostering structured political and economic partnerships with African nations, by strengthening cooperation on sustainable development, infrastructure, energy, education and training, healthcare and agriculture, in line with the strategic pillars of the Mattei Plan.

The summit will also provide an opportunity to review the progress made by the Plan, whose aim is to strengthen Italy's presence on the continent through system-wide missions, political dialogue and joint projects, as well as to identify together the operational priorities for the coming years.

Addis Ababa, 27/07/2025 - The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, in the margins of the United Nations Food Systems Summit.

Rome, 29/01/2024 - The family photo of participants at the first 'Italia-Africa. A bridge for common growth' Summit.