AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi recently received a delegation from Guinea led by Ismael Nabe, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, assisted by Ambassador Animata Kobélé Keita.
The Minister identified agriculture as the priority sector for the Government, focusing on strengthening capacities and particularly stabilizing young people in local rural communities. Great appreciation was also expressed for the Italian Cooperation project PAGUITA, for which the Minister assured, at the Director’s urging, the finalization of the underlying agreement, a priority highlighted during the recent system mission of the Cooperation carried out in the country two months ago.
The Minister also thanked Italy for its commitment to supporting the National Health Plan and hoped for the initiation of collaboration between the private sectors of the two countries, to benefit from the know-how of Italian companies, including through PPP (Public-Private Partnership) formulas. The Minister proposed the formation of a Joint Cooperation Commission to identify common strategies, keeping in mind that the areas of interest for Conakry are agriculture, health, and education.
The AICS Director mentioned, beyond the support (with a 20 million euro loan) to the health system, regional initiatives involving Guinea in migration (with the IOM), human rights (with the UN High Commissioner), agricultural production in the Senegal River basin (with the regional organization for the development of the watercourse), youth health (with UNFPA), and also anticipated that the 2024 programming will focus on the sectors identified as priorities in the country’s strategies.
Minister Nabe mentioned the grand Simandou project, valued at 20 billion dollars, involving a railway and a port on the Atlantic, primarily intended to transport iron extracted from the mines in the country’s interior but also to act as an economic development driver. Noting that several countries, as well as private investors and mining operators, support the project, Nabe hoped for Italy’s participation within the framework of the Mattei Plan.
