Deputy foreign minister Emanuela Del Re has wrapped up a two-day visit to Burkina Faso - one of the world's poorest countries - where Italy wants to strengthen security, economic and development ties, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.
"Security, development cooperation, the environment, and economic cooperation are our main areas of interest,” Del Re said after a meeting with Burkina Faso's president Roch Kabore, according to the statement.
“The recent opening of our Embassy marks a new important phase in our bilateral relations and opens important perspectives for strengthening our partnership,” said Del Re.
During her visit to the Sahel nation, Del Re met other top officials including Burkina Faso's foreign, security, trade, agriculture and health ministers as well its minister for trade and crafts and minister for women, said the statement.
“The human relationship between Italy and Burkina Faso derives above all from the presence of Italian NGOs here and from the laborious presence in Italy of the largest Burkinabe Diaspora of Europe,” said Del Re after meeting local representatives of the Burkinabe people.
Del Re also met Italian non-government organisations operating in the country including members of the Comunità di Sant’Egidio Catholic charity, according to the foreign ministry. She also visited the Shalom educational centre which hosts a university that trains youths from Burkina Faso and sub-Saharan Africa for the agri-food sector, as well as law and social communications.
Last week, Kabore received the credentials of the first Italian Ambassador in Ouagadougou, according to the foreign ministry.
