(ANSA) - ROME, DECEMBER 15 - "Africa awaits Europe and Italy, but with a view to collaboration and not predatory": declared Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking at the public meeting this morning 'The rhythm of Africa and the strategy of the Middle East' organized by Assafrica & Mediterraneo at the Rome headquarters of Confindustria.
Hoping for a strengthening of the role of the embassies, the minister spoke of bilateral commercial exchanges, with travel linked to industrial policy "to see which sectors require an Italian presence. We will organize the greatest number of missions", he announced, speaking of the importance of the stability of the 'Africa, "a continent which in 2025 will have between 2 and a half and three billion inhabitants" who will migrate "if there are no solutions to the problems".
Tajani said he aimed "to internationalize our businesses, to create joint ventures together with the Made in Italy ministry. We need raw materials", he recalled, referring to lithium, the price of which "is decided by China".
It is therefore possible to "work with Africa for extraction" and transformation on the continent with local labour, to then proceed with purchases "at market prices".
"We want to contribute to the formation of a modern African ruling class that can learn our know-how, using it in the country of origin", added the minister, citing the project of university scholarships - also online - given to the best African students to allow them to study in Italy .
Niger has already been given "ten telematic scholarships, but we are ready to do it with all of them to promote growth", she concluded.
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