At a meeting in Rome on Wednesday, deputy foreign minister Emanuela Del Re underlined Italy's commitment to the Horn of Africa and unveiled a new Italian research network for the Sahel region, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Del Re reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to the Horn of Africa while announcing the launch of the Network of Italian Universities for the Sahel and her intention to soon convene a first meeting with the universities and the research centres operating in the area," said the statement.
Del Re made the remarks at the second meeting of the University Network for the Horn of Africa, which was hosted by the foreign ministry, the statement said.
Forty institutions including universities, centres for the study of international relations, Italian and African organisations are taking part in the network, which was formed in January.
Wednesday's meeting reviewed and selected the priority sectors on which to focus the new Sahel network’s activities, especially in the area of health, the environment, the agribusiness, and new technologies
The guest speakers at the meeting included the Somalia National University's Rector, Mohamed Ahmed Jimale, whom the assembly appointed the Network’s Honorary Coordinator, who will be assisted by an Italian University to be identified.
