Held at Parco dei Principi Hotel in Rome and organized in partnership with the International Italian-Latin American Institute (IILA), the event was opened by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who highlighted in his speech the importance of political and economic collaboration in the current global context.

The Italian Foreign Ministry stated that this initiative seeks to “take advantage of the deep historical, cultural, and economic ties that unite Italy and the region, and promote multi-level cooperation, leading up to concrete results.”

Also attended by representatives of regional organizations and banks, the meeting takes place this year under the theme “Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean: A Growing Alliance,” and focuses discussions on strengthening ties in the interest of sustainable economic growth, energy, culture, security, and education.

Two thematic sessions dedicated to strengthening the economic and trade alliance and energy cooperation as a common strategic axis will be held on the first day. The issues “Economic partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean to boost growth and free trade,” and “Energy cooperation as a cornerstone of the Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean partnership” will be under discussion.

Tajani emphasized that this year’s edition takes place amid a geopolitical landscape that “poses increasingly complex challenges,” with “changes in global trade relations.”

This Conference is held just a few days before the 4th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU), to be held in the Colombian city of Santa Marta on November 9-10.

jdt/iff/mem/ort