The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the signing of the “Four-Party Agreement for the Promotion of Italy’s Role in Supporting the Development of Digital Ecosystems.” This framework agreement involves the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Department for Digital Transformation, and the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID).
The ceremony began with opening remarks from Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli and Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riccardo Guariglia, who emphasized the importance of digital technology as a lever for development and fostering equal partnerships with other countries.
The agreement sets the foundation for close collaboration on digital development projects, with a focus on public digital infrastructure, technical-scientific training, and the spread of Digital Identity in countries where Italian Cooperation operates.
Among the initiatives to be implemented under the agreement, special mention was made of enhancing digital infrastructure in four pilot African countries under the Mattei Plan—Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique. This effort is currently being designed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The key parties to the agreement—represented by Counselor Angelo Borrelli, AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi, General Director Mario Nobile, and General Director Stefano Gatti—emphasized how the agreement promotes digital skills among young people, digital entrepreneurship, and innovation, with a particular focus on including women, girls, and people with disabilities.
In his speech, AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi highlighted that “digital transformation is a recognized and essential accelerator in the pathways designed by partner countries towards sustainable development. Telemedicine, education, disaster prevention, and the agri-food sector are just a few areas where we can have a crucial impact on the progress of the African continent. Italian Cooperation has already begun working in this new field, but we are aware that we need to move into a new phase, especially under the impetus of the Mattei Plan.”
