The Italian Ambassador to Mali, Stefano A.
Dejak, met today with the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Malian government, Moussa Alassane Diallo: this was announced in a press release from the Italian Embassy in Bamako.
The meeting focused on commercial and industrial development prospects for two products of which Mali is the largest producer in West Africa: cotton and fruit (especially mango).
For both of these, however, there are no industrial and commercial actions to enhance their export, the communiqué continues, recalling that the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invested 3.5 million euros in a project to encourage, through the involvement of Italian companies, the marketing of Malian fruit.
There is great potential for job creation in both the fruit and textile sectors in a country where the population explosion risks finding no alternative to illegal migration or enlistment in jihadist groups.
Following the launch of a textile industry development initiative by the Malian side on 8 February, just as the 40th edition of the 'One Milan' textile fair was taking place in Italy, the Malian Minister of Trade and Industry is now intent on developing the necessary financing to inaugurate new textile factories in Bamako and Koutiala as soon as possible, according to the statement.
The initiative benefits from the High Patronage of the Resident of the Republic of Mali and the support of the Malian company 'Elegance italo-malienne', led by Toumane Bagayoko who specialises in tailoring studies and contacts in Italy, supported by the National Association of Cotton Producers (Cmdt) of Mali.
The development of the Malian fruit trade, on the other hand, makes use of the relations developed since the opening of the Italian embassy in Bamako in 2021, with four delegations of Malian entrepreneurs at the annual MacFrut 2022-25 fairs and two delegations of Italian entrepreneurs (January 2023 and February 2025) having already visited Mali.
Minister Diallo emphasised the importance of the development of these two sectors for job creation, especially for Malian youth and women, and hoped for a growth in trade between Mali and Italy.
Ambassador Dejak, in turn, expressed the hope that the joint Italian-Malian initiative in these sectors would soon give rise to further development of productive trade relations for both countries, the communiqué concluded.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
