Italy’s Mattei Plan: Strengthening Ties with More African Countries

(3 Minutes Read)

 Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa is taking shape, featuring four key players—BF (formerly Bonifiche Ferraresi), Leonardo, Eni, and Coldiretti—who are pivotal in its execution. These companies are advancing initiatives in agriculture, energy, and technology, collaborating with the Italian government to establish the initial projects.

Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa is taking shape, featuring four key players—BF (formerly Bonifiche Ferraresi), Leonardo, Eni, and Coldiretti—who are pivotal in its execution. These companies are advancing initiatives in agriculture, energy, and technology, collaborating with the Italian government to establish the initial projects. They have also joined Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on significant diplomatic trips to Africa, promoting Italy’s vision of a “non-predatory” partnership model for international cooperation.

Initially proposed by Meloni during her 2022 election campaign, the Mattei Plan was officially unveiled at the Italy-Africa Summit held on January 28-29, 2024. With a budget of €5.5 billion—comprising €3 billion from Italy’s climate fund and €2.5 billion from the Development Cooperation Fund—the plan spans four years, aiming to enhance Italy-Africa relations through sustainable development initiatives.

However, some African leaders have raised concerns regarding the lack of initial consultation. At the summit, Moussa Faki, President of the African Union Commission, remarked, “Madam Prime Minister, we would have appreciated being consulted on the Mattei Plan. Africa is ready to discuss its scope and implementation, but we need to transition from words to action—promises often go unfulfilled.”

Initially focused on nine African nations—Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, and Tunisia—the plan expanded in 2025 to include Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, and Tanzania. Meloni continues to stress that the Mattei Plan adheres to a model of equal partnership, ensuring long-term economic collaboration and mutual benefits between Italy and Africa.

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• BF (Bonifiche Ferraresi): Italy’s largest agro-industrial holding company, managing 11,000 hectares of landwith advanced farming technologies. In partnership with Leonardo, it is integrating satellite and digital solutionsto enhance efficiency across Africa’s food supply chain.
• Leonardo: Traditionally known for its defence and aerospace expertise, Leonardo is applying its cutting-edge technologiesto agriculture, cybersecurity, digitalisation, and healthcare. Through its partnership with BF, the company is ensuring high-tech solutions support sustainable development in Africa.
• Eni: Keen to reshape its image beyond fossil fuel dependence, Eni is spearheading energy transition effortsby investing in agro-energy production. Partnering with Coldiretti, the company plans to utilise agricultural waste and by-products to produce biofuels and biomethane, reducing reliance on traditional hydrocarbons.
• Coldiretti: The first organisation to join the Mattei Plan, Coldiretti launched the “40,000 hectares cultivated for Africa’s rebirth”programme in November 2023. This initiative, in collaboration with BF, Filiera Italia, and Consorzi Agrari d’Italia, promotes food sovereignty, local economic growth, and sustainable supply chains.