Italy Strengthens Ties with Comoros
In an exclusive interview with Al-watwan, a few hours after presenting his credentials to President Azali Assoumani, the Italian Ambassador to the Comoros, residing in Dar es Salaam, Giuseppe Sean Coppola, discussed the relations between Italy and the Comoros. He expressed his country's willingness to invest and support the Comoros in several areas, including renewable energy and waste management.
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You have just presented your credentials to President Azali Assoumani and discovered the Comoros. What are your first impressions of the country and its people?
My first impressions are very positive. I had a very interesting meeting with President Azali Assoumani this morning to present my credentials. I also met the Minister of Energy, who is acting as Minister of Foreign Affairs. I am pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the Comorian landscapes. The sea is beautiful and rich in fish. Yesterday, I took advantage of my stay with my family to swim on a beach. The volcanic landscape is impressive. In Italy, we also have volcanic islands, which reminds me a little of the Comoros. I really appreciate the very hospitable character of the Comorians. It is an excellent basis for strengthening cooperation between our two countries.
What pillars currently underpin cooperation between Italy and the Union of the Comoros?
Currently, cooperation is focused on the energy sector. An Italian company built a solar station on the island of Ndzuani a few years ago, with very positive results. Another area of cooperation concerns environmental protection and sustainable development. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2015 between the Italian and Comorian Ministries of the Environment, then renewed in 2022. This Memorandum forms the basis of our bilateral cooperation.
One of my goals in the coming weeks and months is to deepen my knowledge of the needs of the Comoros in order to strengthen our partnership, particularly in waste management. We have already started working together, and I believe that it is necessary to further improve our collaboration in an effective manner. This project is supported by the Italian Ministry of the Environment. In the past, we have also worked in the health sector. Our Honorary Consul, Dr. Grillone Saverio, has been present in the Comoros since 1978. He arrived three years after the country's independence as part of a bilateral cooperation project in the health sector.
Another axis of cooperation exists between the University of the Comoros and the University of Turin, particularly in the fields of life and earth sciences. This partnership aims to protect the marine environment. Finally, an important Italian presence in the Comoros is that of Stefano Cusin, the coach of the national team of the Coelacanths. We are very happy that an Italian coach can contribute to the success of the Comorian team. I wish him and the national team every success. Italy, as a founding country of the European Union, also supports all the initiatives and aid programmes of the European Union in the Comoros.
These ambitious programmes play a key role, and part of the Italian aid passes through the European Union, which makes our cooperation fundamental. On the multilateral level, the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, invited President Azali Assoumani to Italy for the Italy-Africa Summit held in Rome in January 2024. As President of the African Union, President Azali played an important role there. This framework for dialogue between Italy and the African Union, in which the Comorian Presidency had a significant influence, had a positive impact on the cooperation between the Italian Presidency of the G7 and the African Union. It is an important mark of our bilateral commitment.
What are the priority areas for strengthening this relationship?
I think renewable energy is a key sector. Comoros has a huge potential that deserves to be exploited. Another strategic area is the environment, especially waste management and the development of the blue economy. It would also be interesting to explore the tourism potential of Comoros. Italy has a lot of experience in this sector, but to develop sustainable tourism, it is essential to ensure a stable energy supply and good environmental protection. So in the short term, we are focusing on energy and the environment, while tourism and other sectors are long-term prospects.
In July 2019, during a meeting with President Azali Assoumani, former Italian Ambassador Roberto Mengoni discussed several Italian investment projects in the Comoros, including in solar energy, waste management, fisheries and tourism. What is the status of the implementation of these initiatives? Are new projects being considered?
Yes, absolutely. A solar station was built in record time and is working perfectly. This is a private investment by an Italian company on the island of Anjouan. With the Comorian Minister of Energy, we discussed ways to fully exploit the potential of this investment in solar energy. Regarding waste management, we are working in collaboration with the UNDP and the National Waste Agency.
Our goal is to improve waste management in the Comoros through a partnership between the Comorian government, the United Nations and our experts. Other projects are under discussion, particularly in the field of geothermal energy. Italy has great expertise in this area, and we are considering working with UNDP and the Italian Ministry of the Environment to explore this natural resource in the Comoros. Just this morning, I met with United Nations officials in Moroni, and geothermal energy was one of the topics discussed. Finally, we are also interested in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In Italy, they play a fundamental role in creating wealth and jobs. We will examine ways to share our experience and know-how in this area with the Comoros.