During meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi and with President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale, President Chapo reviewed ongoing initiatives and discussed security, development and economic ties.
Why it matters: The meeting between Meloni and Chapo marked the 50th anniversary of Mozambican independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations, reaffirming the importance of the bilateral partnership.
- It provided an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to implementing the numerous joint initiatives outlined in the Mattei Plan, encompassing energy access, sustainable agriculture, vocational training, digitalisation, and healthcare services.
The state of play: The trip comes as Cabo Delgado — a resource-rich region affected by a jihadist insurgency — remains central to Italy’s strategic engagement under the Mattei Plan.
- The two leaders reiterated their common commitment to strengthening the security framework in the northern provinces of Cabo Delgado.
Bilateral cooperation expands. To mark the occasion of twofold anniversaries, Rome and Maputo signed new agreements on judicial cooperation, civil protection, and digital transition.
- Cooperation now spans energy access, sustainable agriculture, vocational training, digitalisation and healthcare — the Mattei Plan’s priority sectors.
Energy, trade and the Eni factor. The two leaders also agreed to work on intensifying trade relations, given the complementarity of the respective economic fabrics and “in light of the central role played by ENI in the exploration and production of liquefied natural gas for Mozambique’s development,” Palazzo Chigi explained in a statement.
- Eni’s long-standing role looms large: active since 2006, it discovered major gas fields in the Rovuma Basin and led Coral South, the basin’s first LNG project.
- Italy’s political attention has been steady, reinforced by Meloni’s visit to Mozambique in October 2023.
Agriculture at the centre. Italy is positioning Mozambique as the leading test case for long-term, sustainability-oriented agricultural cooperation under the Mattei Plan.
- The Mozambique Agro-Food Centre (CAM) stands out as the flagship project, designed to integrate value chains and attract investment through public-private partnerships.
- Zoom in: Maputo agribusiness forum On 15 September, Maputo hosted the Italy–Mozambique Agribusiness Forum, organised by the Mozambique-Italy Chamber of Commerce with support from the Italian Embassy.
- The forum took place during Italy’s Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida’s visit.
- It served as a conduit for Italian companies seeking partnerships with local producers and institutions, helping position them within Mozambique’s emerging agribusiness landscape.
(Photo: governo.it)
