From 9 to 11 December 2025, the first State Visit of President Francisco Chapo to Rome took place. The mission once again reaffirms the deep friendship between Italy and Mozambique. During the three-day visit, President Chapo met with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and with the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni. In both meetings, the parties discussed the domestic and international political situation, noting broad areas of convergence.
The meetings also offered an opportunity to deepen cooperation between the two countries: three agreements were signed in the fields of development cooperation, justice, and civil protection. The President of the Council used the occasion to reiterate her support for the ASCENT programme (co-financed by the World Bank), which will contribute to expanding access to electricity in rural areas, complementing Mozambique’s national efforts toward energy transition.
Commitment to the agricultural sector was likewise confirmed through the implementation of concrete projects, such as the initiative for the construction of the Manica Agro-Food Centre (CAAM), which will contribute to the modernization of agricultural production, processing, and marketing chains, particularly in central Mozambique. This is one of the flagship projects under the Mattei Plan for Africa.
Both sides also expressed shared appreciation for Italy’s support to the National Programme for the Promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovative Business Ideas (IN4JOB), which promotes entrepreneurship and employability among young Mozambicans, contributing to the creation of skilled jobs and to the strengthening of the ecosystem of start-ups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Furthermore, in the context of support for digitalization, President Chapo and President Meloni reaffirmed their joint commitment to supporting the digital transformation of the Mozambican public administration within the digital initiative of the Mattei Plan, with particular focus on simplifying and modernizing public services, improving efficiency and increasing transparency through the professionalization of civil servants. More details on the bilateral initiatives are included in the joint communiqué released on the occasion of the talks (available for download on this page).
President Chapo also took part in a roundtable with private companies interested in investing in Mozambique to support the country’s industrialisation and economic growth.
