The 45th edition of the Rimini Meeting, themed “If we are not in search of the essential, then what are we looking for?” features a vast event spanning approximately 120,000 square meters across 23 pavilions at the Rimini Fair. The program includes 140 conferences with around 450 speakers from Italy and abroad, including 100 international participants.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) is present at the Rimini Meeting with a large international pavilion titled “There is an Italy that Cooperates.” This space is dedicated to showcasing the initiatives of the Italian development cooperation system and its national and international partners, with a particular focus on Africa and the major projects of Italian Cooperation on the continent.
Aligned with the overarching theme of the Meeting, MAECI’s participation revolves around the concept of essentiality, represented through the four elements of Nature: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. These elements are linked, both in content and exhibition design, to specific areas of intervention by the Ministry and the broader Italian system, with an emphasis on development cooperation and emergency response. The installations highlight the new paradigm in Italy’s relationship with its partners, particularly in Africa, reflecting the spirit of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) contributed by organizing the talk “Donne per l’Essenziale” (Women for the Essential), focusing on the crucial role of women in access to water, agricultural development (Earth), energy supply (Fire), and climate change mitigation (Air). The discussion, moderated by Marta Collu, AICS’s gender focal point, included opening remarks by AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi and featured Martina Albini, coordinator of the WeWorld Study Center, Amy Dieng Kebe, gender expert for the Italian Agricultural Program in Senegal, and Valentina Morini, Country Director of LVIA in Mozambique. The event concluded with remarks from the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Giorgio Silli.
In his speech, Director Rusconi emphasized, “Including women and girls, promoting equality, has a decisive impact on the economies of partner countries. Since women are already at the forefront of important activities and sectors, strengthening their awareness and empowerment can unleash further potential, benefiting families, communities, and nations.”
The event is available for viewing on the Rimini Meeting’s YouTube channel.
