As announced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 leaders’ summit in Borgo Egnazia, the groundwork was laid for the launch of a financial instrument – the Growth and Resilience Africa Fund, also known as “Graf” – dedicated to investing in projects promoted by private entities as part of the implementation of the Mattei Plan for Africa, alongside the funds recently set up in cooperation with the African Development Bank for financing sovereigns.
The new financial instrument has in fact been reinforced by the signature of the CEO of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Dario Scannapieco, and the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, which will enable the two institutions to invest up to 400 million euro over five years. The platform aims to accelerate the implementation of new initiatives promoted by the private sector on the African continent by creating a single access point for investment opportunities.
The resources invested, amounting to a maximum of EUR 200 million from each institution, will be channelled into the African economic fabric through funds operating on the ground, in sectors ranging from food security, to supporting the growth of local small and medium-sized enterprises, to sustainable infrastructure.
In the area of financing to private entities, the Graf is in addition to the Plafond Africa’, envisaged by Decree-Law 89/2024 of 29 June, which allows Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to grant loans, up to a limit of 500 million euro, from its own resources, to companies operating in Africa in order to support initiatives and projects promoted under the Mattei Plan.
These two additional instruments complete the financial architecture designed to support the implementation of the Mattei Plan for Africa, strengthening the strategic partnership with the African Development Bank.
(Associated Medias) – All rights are reserved