Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide stated that in extensive talks with the Supreme Pontiff on Monday, both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration on education, world peace, and bilateral and multilateral engagements.

Shide underscored that the Vatican also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the educational development of the African country.

The finance minister specified that, in the case of the meeting with Meloni, it focused on key bilateral issues that highlighted the growing collaboration between the two nations, with emphasis on Italy’s continued support for economic reforms, energy development, and overall Ethiopian growth.

He stressed the steady increase in Italian development assistance to Addis Ababa in the last few years. He also revealed that the two governments signed agreements in several critical areas, such as green development, urban infrastructure, and macroeconomic reform.

Investment was also a leading theme in the talks, on which the minister underscored that the favorable investment climate in the country represented an opportunity to increase Rome’s involvement.

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