While attending the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, together with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, had a bilateral meeting today with the President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review progress of the enhanced collaboration between Italy and the World Bank Group that was launched with the statement of intent adopted in the margins of the G7 Apulia Summit, the aim of which is to create joint development initiatives in African nations in the key areas of the Mattei Plan for Africa, including energy, infrastructure, water and education and training.

During the discussion, President Meloni announced that Italy intends to increase its contribution to the three-year replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), also in order to allow this body, which allocates 75% of its resources to Africa, to boost its support for projects carried out within the framework of the Mattei Plan.