(Adnkronos) – The effect on Africa’s food security and agriculture of the over-three-month old US-Israel war on Iran and resulting Gulf crisis was a key focus of talks in Rome late on Thursday between Italy’s deputy foreign minister Edmondo Cirielli and UK international development minister, Jennifer Chapman, according to a foreign ministry statement.
Cirielli and Chapman looked at opportunities to explore key shared priorities in development cooperation, with a particular focus on Africa and the opportunities offered by Italy’s 5.5 billion euro Mattei Plan to accelerate the continent’s economic develpment through equitable partnerships, said the statement.
The ministers assessed the impact of the current geopolitical tensions on development policies, especially the potential repercussions of the Gulf crisis on food security and “the agri-food resilience of African countries”, the statement said.
Cirielli underlined Italy’s commitment to strengthening food systems in partner countries, including through its support for the United Nations agencies based in Rome (these include the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Food Programm and the International Fund for Agricultural Development) as well as cooperation with other international organizations and financial institutions, the statement noted.
Cirielli also outlined several Italian initiatives in support of the coffee supply chains in East Africa, developed in partnership with the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and countries in the region, highlighting potential areas for collaboration and co-financing, the statement continued.
Wrapping up their talks, Cirielli and Chapman reaffirmed their governments’ shared commitment to education ahead of the 5th Replenishment Conference of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), which will be co-hosted by Italy and Nigeria in Rome this autumn, bringing together heads of state, government ministers and civil society leaders.
