The Deputy Minister Hon. Edmondo Cirielli at the third edition of the Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week in Bari

The Deputy Minister Hon. Edmondo Cirielli at the third edition of the Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week in Bari

Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week: Three days focused on the mentality of the young generations and the need to guide them to change.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, participated in the opening event of the third edition of the “Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week” organized by the CIHEAM of Bari and inaugurated the new Mediterranan Innovation Hub, located within the campus.

The Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week sees, over the course of three days, numerous events focused on the need to transform the mentality of young generations to drive change and innovation in the Mediterranean area, also through sharing experiences and proposals to enhance the role of young people in business innovation processes and thus support the economic system of the countries of origin.
In his speech, the Deputy Minister underlined how the Mediterranean region faces numerous challenges, all intertwined with each other, and how what happens on the southern shore of the Mediterranean also has an impact on Italy and the whole of Europe. The only solution to address the challenges, the Deputy Minister underlined, is through the inter-Mediterranean dialogue. In this, CIHEAM Bari plays an important role, not only as a center of excellence in the field of training and rural development, but also as a facilitator ofinter-exchange between states which overlook the Mediterranean basin.

Italy, added Cirielli, is committed, even with Mattei plan, to take an active part in the change in Africa and the wider Mediterranean, helping to create the new ruling classes and supporting, first and foremost, training activities that look to the young generations.

Furthermore, as part of the Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week, it will be launched the START UP 10 project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which provides for the training of 22 incubator managers from 10 African countries, who will be responsible for taking care of the formation of local start-ups in their countries of origin. The project is aimed at development and implementation of virtuous interventions of international collaboration to the mutual benefit of both African countries and Italy.