Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, will embark on a two-day mission to Tripoli, Libya, starting Monday evening. The visit is part of the Mattei Plan and includes meetings with Libyan ministers of Economy and of Industry in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
During his mission, Urso will be the keynote speaker at the International Conference on Industry and Technology in Libya. He will also attend the 50th edition of the Tripoli International Fair, which hosts over 100 Italian companies.
This visit comes shortly after the trip of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the Libyan capital. Urso’s mission is part of a broader series of ministerial visits to Africa, which began in April in Egypt and will continue on May 27 in Tunisia.
Urso’s engagement in Libya aims to strengthen economic ties and explore new opportunities for collaboration in various sectors. His participation in the conference and the international fair underscores Italy’s commitment to fostering industrial and technological cooperation with Libya.
The series of meetings and events will focus on enhancing trade relations, supporting industrial growth, and promoting technological advancements. The presence of a significant number of Italian companies at the fair highlights the robust economic interest and potential for increased bilateral cooperation.
The Mattei plan is designed to establish a new partnership with African nations, aiming at sustainable, long-term development to address the challenges of irregular migration. Italy, a primary destination for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Africa, has been advocating for European Union support to manage the influx.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced Italy’s efforts to manage irregular migration by promoting voluntary return programs from Libya and Tunisia, in partnership with key humanitarian organizations.
Speaking to the Italian Parliament, Piantedosi emphasized Italy’s commitment to addressing the root causes of migration by fostering economic and social development in migrants’ countries of origin, through international support and significant investments as part of the Mattei plan.
According to data from the Italian Ministry of Interior released in March, at least 6,560 migrants have illegally arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year until the 15th of March.
Approximately two-thirds of the total migrants arrived from Libya. Analysis of boat departure countries reveals a significant shift from the previous year, with arrivals from Libya to Italy surpassing those from Tunisia.
