Italy-Uzbekistan, from critical materials to nuclear power, 14 three-billion agreements reached

Critical matters, energy, nuclear power. And even one of the main streets in Samarkand will be called 'via Roma'. Giorgia Meloni's first official visit to Uzbekistan was symbolic, as well as 'particularly concrete'. The prime minister brought home agreements that will mobilise over "three billion" in investments in the Central Asian country with which there are "ancient relations" to which she now wants to give a change of pace, as Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also stressed. He escorted Meloni on a blitz lasting less than 24 hours to discover the city, one of the stops on the historic Silk Road.

The time is one of international crises, to which 'collective responses' must be given, the two leaders stressed in the joint declaration that accompanied 14 agreements: they range from agriculture to critical raw materials, from nuclear energy (Ansaldo Energia is on track) to culture (the universities of Pisa and Tuscia are already in the field), but also alternative energies, with new collaborations with the Turin Polytechnic. And memoranda and agreements have also been signed with Sogesid, Cdp, and Danieli (for the metallurgical sector). Samarkand 'is the crossroads between Europe and Asia,' stressed Meloni after an hour of face-to-face talks with Mirziyoyev. A connection that must be 'strengthened', she also emphasised in the statement that came after the European Union also shifted its attention to the area with its summit in early April.

The agreements include an intergovernmental agreement on investment promotion and protection, exchanged with the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan; an intergovernmental declaration on cooperation in the field of critical raw materials, exchanged with the Ministry of Mining and Geology of Uzbekistan. A Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Fields of Migration and Mobility, exchanged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan; a Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Protection, exchanged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan; a Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Cultural Heritage, exchanged with the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Zamin Foundation and the company Sogesid; a Loan Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Climate Fund, exchanged by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti; an Interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding exchanged by the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and Confagricoltura. In the area of research and training, a Cooperation Agreement was signed for the creation of a Tuscia University campus in Tashkent, exchanged by the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and the University of Tuscia; a Memorandum of Understanding on scientific cooperation in the field of alternative energies, exchanged by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan with the Polytechnic University of Turin; a Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Mining Industry of Uzbekistan and the University of Pisa. A memorandum of understanding concerns cooperation in the nuclear energy sector between the Uzbekistan Atomic Energy Agency and Ansaldo Energia; another concerns the metallurgical sector exchanged by the Uzbekistan Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade with the Danieli company. Lastly, a MUE deals with Cooperation in Insurance Support and Guarantee Mechanisms exchanged by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan with Sace.

And on Friday, 30 May, it will be Italy's turn to hold the first summit at leader level with the five Central Asian countries: in Astana, the second and last stop on the mission, the Prime Minister will meet not only the host, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, but also the Presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Sadir Japarov, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The five countries will sign a further joint declaration to push cooperation in an area that remains under Russian influence. But Rome, the Italians never cease to remind us, is already Astana's third trading partner, after Moscow and Beijing. And now it aims to develop its presence, and also its geopolitical role.