An agreement was signed with CDP to define joint sustainable development initiatives in Africa
In the presence of the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and of the President of Eni Emma Marcegaglia, the Prime Minister of Ghana Yaw Osafo-Marfo and Eni's CEO Claudio Descalzi today, in Dormaa East, in the region of Bono, the Okuafo Pa agricultural training center was inaugurated. The center is a pilot initiative of Project Africa which aims to support economic diversification in the agricultural sector through the transfer of skills and support for entrepreneurship. , in particular through self-sustainable agricultural consortia.
During the event, Eni and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, in their role of financial institution for international development cooperation, signed a Cooperation Agreement for the definition of sustainable development initiatives in the business and agro-industrial sectors. The agreement also provides for collaboration in defining mechanisms for accessing credit for local communities and for the use of international funds available for the implementation of sustainable development projects.
The Okuafo Pa campus covers 40 hectares and includes experimental laboratories and agricultural areas; will provide theoretical and practical professional training to 800 students per year in the agricultural, agri-food and zootechnical fields. The training course, developed in collaboration with local universities, provides a practical address for training farmers and a second address for training entrepreneurs.
"Professional training and the acquisition of skills is a precondition for every social and economic development path. Eni intends to play an active role in defining the virtuous paths of sustainable growth in the countries in which it operates, and this project is a concrete example of what we can do if we pool our resources and those of our partners, ”said Claudio Descalzi.
The project, implemented by Eni in collaboration with the government of Ghana, is now enhanced by partnerships with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti which will ensure the identification of the most appropriate credit access mechanisms and with Coldiretti, Bonifiche Ferraresi which will guarantee support in the start-up of agricultural activities.
This initiative is aimed at achieving the objectives of sustainable development (SDG) of the UN 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 1: no to poverty; SDG 4: ensuring equal access to quality education; SDG 5: ensuring gender equality; SDG 6: access to clean water and sanitary facilities; SDG 8: ensuring decent work and stimulating economic growth; SDG 12: responsible consumption and production by adopting sustainable practices; SDG 17: private public partnerships.
This agreement may be the subject of subsequent binding agreements that the parties will define in compliance with the applicable legislation including that relating to transactions between related parties.