RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The port complex of Tanger Med confirmed itself as a regional, African, and international leader, setting a new record with over 10.24 million TEU containers handled in 2024, equivalent to an increase of 18.8% compared to 2023. This result consolidates the strategic role of the port as a fundamental hub in global trade, connecting Europe, Africa, and Asia, as reported by the MAP agency.

According to the Port Authority of Tanger Med (TMPA), the result was made possible thanks to the continuous optimization of the maritime ports, the introduction of new equipment, and the upgrading of the facilities, which have improved operational efficiency and reduced waiting times.

Overall, the port handled 142 million tonnes of goods in 2024, +16.2% from the previous year. Tangier Med stands out as a crucial hub for ro-ro traffic and the automotive sector. In 2024, 516,842 TIR trucks were handled (+8.1%), driven by growth in industrial products (+6.8%) and agri-food products (+7.2%). When it comes to vehicles, the port handled 600,872 units (+4%), including 368,843 exported from the Renault plants in Melloussa and Somaca in Casablanca and 170,519 from the Stellantis plant in Kenitra. The strategic importance of the port is also highlighted by the 17,479 maritime berths recorded in 2024 (+3.42%), including 1,217 mega-ships over 290 meters (+13.7%). These numbers reinforce the position of Tanger Med as a reference point for international trade routes, capable of responding to the growing needs of global maritime trade.

Passenger activity also recorded a significant recovery, with 3,047,387 passengers transiting in 2024 (+13%). The “Marhaba 2024” campaign was managed under optimal conditions, confirming the role of the port as an important link between Africa and Europe.

As regards the solid bulk cargo, traffic remained stable with 584,945 tonnes handled (+1%), while hydrocarbon traffic suffered a significant contraction (-22%), reaching 7.64 million tonnes. This decline is due to the transfer of part of the imports to new storage facilities inaugurated in other Moroccan ports.

– Photo MAP –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A delegation from Leonardo led by President Stefano Pontecorvo, is on a mission in Ivory Coast to fully implement the Mattei Plan for the African country. The mission is aimed at illustrating and making available to the government of Abidjan the Italian company’s technologies within a proposed plan.

The delegation participated in institutional meetings, including the Ministers of Agriculture, Interior and Digitalisation. The meetings illustrated the possible technological applications of Leonardo in the agricultural sector, cyber security, digitalization and healthcare.

Through the expertise in the field of cyber security, those of Telespazio and e-Geos and in the geo-information sector, combined with advanced technological solutions, such as the application of Artificial Intelligence, the collection and analysis of big data and the cloud, the company is able to respond to the needs of the Ivorian government, also in the infrastructure sector.

The Italian ambassador to the Ivory Coast, Arturo Luzzi, and the Ivorian ambassador to Rome, Nogozene Bakayoko were also present during the meetings in Abidjan.

As part of the Mattei Plan, in the coming days, a delegation from Leonardo, is expected to visit other North African countries. A visit was already organized in Angola.

– Photo Leonardo press office –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RIYADH (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Saudi capital Riyadh continues to expand its new metro network with the opening to the public of four more stations on the Orange Line (Line 3), the driverless line that combines advanced technological innovation and sustainability, built by Webuild on behalf of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).
With nine stations already opened in January, the gradual opening of the line continues, which at 41 kilometers is the longest of the entire metro network inaugurated last November. Thirteen more stations will be opened during the year, including the Downtown Station, one of the most iconic stations of the network.
The Riyadh Metro network is a global project and one of the world’s largest sustainable mobility infrastructure projects. With six lines stretching 176 kilometers in total, it connects residential and commercial districts and cultural landmarks across the capital.
The Orange Line (Line 3), part of this impressive network, will help meet the urban mobility needs of the growing population, improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, in line with the ambitious goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The four stations open to the public are Dharat Al Badiah, Al Jarradiyah, Al Hilla and First Industrial City.
In Saudi Arabia, Webuild Group has a historic presence, with the first works started in 1966. Currently, it is involved in large-scale projects in the country, such as the high-speed Connector line and the system of three dams and a freshwater lake for Trojena, as part of the NEOM development programme. In Riyadh, the Group is building a mega parking area with 10,500 parking spaces, all underground, and the Sang Villas Urbanization Plan.
Among the works already completed, stands out the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, awarded the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2002 as the best skyscraper in the world for design, over 70 healthcare facilities and the Shoaiba-3 desalination plant, built by Fisia Italimpianti, a subsidiary of the Group specialized in water treatment and desalination. In the sustainable mobility sector, the Webuild Group has contributed to the realization of numerous other metro projects on a global scale, creating models of sustainability and innovation in cities such as Milan, Naples, Rome and, abroad, Paris, Copenhagen, Athens, Doha, Sydney, New York, San Francisco. Added to these projects, the final section of the M4 in Milan and the Thessaloniki Metro, the first in the history of the city and the first driverless metro in Greece, inaugurated in recent months. The Group is currently involved in challenging technical projects, such as the Rome Metro Line C, and the Grand Paris Express, the recently awarded Line 15 West and Line 16, currently being completed, in addition to Line 2 and Line 4 of the Lima Metro in Peru, and the Suburban Rail Loop East in Melbourne, Australia.
-photo Webuild-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, received the President of the Republic of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono, on an official visit to the Quirinal Palace, later entertaining her for breakfast. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, was present.
“For the Italian Republic, your presence here in Rome is an honour and for me it is a great pleasure to welcome you to this palace to reaffirm the friendship that binds Malta and Italy,” said Mattarella, addressing Spiteri Debono. “I am sure that I will continue with you the relationship of friendship, of positive exchange of opinions that I have always had with your predecessors and I am very happy to meet you on your first visit to Italy,” added the Head of State. “You have taken office at a time of great prominence for Malta on the international scene, with its presence on the UN Security Council, with the presidency of the OSCE and with the imminent presidency of the Council of Europe. It is therefore a pleasure to speak with you and also to address the many prospects for further increasing our excellent collaboration. Welcome, President”, concluded Mattarella.

Foto: ufficio stampa Quirinale

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Italy, Germany, Austria, Algeria and Tunisia have signed a joint declaration of intent in Rome on the Southern Hydrogen Corridor, an infrastructure project to transport renewable hydrogen for over 3,300 kilometers from North Africa to Italy, Austria and Germany.

The countries have declared their intention to continue work on the development of the “SouthH2 Corridor” during the first Pentaministerial Meeting, organized at Villa Madama by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto, chaired the ministerial meeting. The event was attended by the Algerian Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, Mohamed Arkab, the State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Philipp Nimmermann, the Director General of the Directorate for Climate and Energy of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Jurgen Schneider, the State Secretary of the Swiss Federal Council for Energy, Benoìt Revaz, the Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia in Rome, Mourad Bourehla, on behalf of the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, and the Director General for Energy of the European Commission, Ditte Juul Jorgensen.

The ministerial meeting was followed by an entrepreneurial forum, in light of the strategic partnership between Europe and Africa. It was opened by Ministers Tajani and Pichetto, which brought together companies from the countries that signed the declaration, and that already showed or are interested in the hydrogen supply project. The forum hosted two sessions, moderated by the Director General for the Promotion of the MAECI Country System Mauro Battocchi and the Head of the Energy Department of MASE, Federico Boschi, provided an overview of “SouthH2”, recognized by the European Union as a Project of Common Interest (PCI), as well as the opportunities created by the new infrastructure for the interested companies.

The event brought together around 130 participants including institutional delegations and representatives of the industrial sector from the countries involved.

“Italy is working towards the objectives of decarbonization and energy independence in a concrete and pragmatic way, pursuing an energy mix in which renewable sources, hydrogen and nuclear energy are adequately developed. Last November 5, we hosted the first meeting of the Global Fusion Energy Group at the Foreign Ministry, in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and today we are adding a further piece to our energy strategy with the development of the Southern Hydrogen Corridor, which will further strengthen the role of our country as a European energy “hub”, Tajani stated.

“This agreement has great political and institutional value, because it reaffirms the commitment to cooperation, aimed at the realization of a decisive work for the future of the energy sector of both continents. Italy is ready with its ‘collaborators’ to play a central role also in the hydrogen sector, a vector project towards a renewable and sustainable future”, underlined Pichetto Fratin

– Photo xi2/Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RIMINI (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Underway at Rimini Expo Centre until January 22, the 46th edition of SIGEP World – The World Expo for Foodservice Excellence. The event, curated by Italian Exhibition Group, is a beacon for international Foodservice, showcasing key sectors such as ice cream, pastry, bakery, coffee, chocolate, and pizza. With participants from 33 countries, SIGEP World 2025 is the largest and most international edition yet: a showcase of technological innovation, with over 40 talks and 60 speakers from around the world, ready to share the latest trends that are revolutionising the industry. Over 3,000 buyers from 79 countries have flocked to Rimini Expo Centre, fostering business encounters and networking opportunities. SIGEP World stands as a crossroads for the Out-of-Home industry, cementing Italy’s position as a leader in international Foodservice excellence.
Saudi Arabia, the Guest Country of SIGEP World 2025
This edition makes its mark with the presence of Saudi Arabia as a Guest Country. The country, set to host Expo 2030, is rapidly emerging as a strategic market in the hospitality and foodservice industry. With its economic growth and demand for innovative technologies, SIGEP World offers exhibiting companies and brands a unique opportunity to forge partnerships with key players in the Saudi market. A delegation of Saudi top buyers, including big names like Barn’s, a coffee shop chain with over 800 locations, Elite Hospitality/Al-Nahla Group, a leading hospitality company, and Al Tazaj, a quick service restaurant chain with over 120 locations, has brought a burst of energy to the event, opening up new horizons for the global Foodservice industry.
The meeting on the Vision Plaza and the statements
On the opening day of SIGEP World 2025, the Saudi delegation from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and the Culinary Arts Commission – Ministry of Culture took to the main stage of the Vision Plaza for the official greeting and welcoming ceremony by the leaders of Italian Exhibition Group, including CEO Corrado Peraboni: “The main goal of SIGEP 2025 was to be an international touchstone. Therès a reason why we called it SIGEP World – it marks the grand finale of our global journey with SIGEP, which has already taken us to Shenzhen and Singapore. This event has truly blossomed on the international stage, as evidenced by this year’s host country, Saudi Arabia, a market brimming with potential for our exhibitors. Wère eagerly anticipating visitors from over 160 countries, making this a truly global event”.
“I am personally delighted to join other delegations at this event: SIGEP World 2025 brings together major companies with shared interests in food safety and agricultural products” remarked Bandar Bin Saleh Alhedayuah, Director General of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia. “This marks a significant starting point for the future of our relations: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as envisioned by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for 2030, holds great potential for future collaboration between our two countries across all food industries and in ensuring the sustainability of these products in all their forms.
According to Francesco Santa, international business development director of IEG – Italian Exhibition Group, “venturing abroad and organising SIGEP World on other continents is likely the most powerful and significant marketing and promotional tool for the event. Hosting a well-organised SIGEP in countries like China or Singapore, which encompass the entire Southeast Asia region, allows us to showcase SIGEP World to the world and effectively means wère organising the world’s most significant trade show in Rimini, giving local exhibitors the chance to attend this event as well. The ultimate goal of organising events around the world, such as SIGEP Asia and SIGEP China, is to promote SIGEP World and attract exhibitors and buyers from two of the world’s most influential markets.
– photo IEG –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALY) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The “smart agriculture” project enters the Mattei Plan for Africa with the signing of an agreement that strengthens the existing collaboration between Leonardo and BF Spa for agricultural and technological development in particular in the African continent.
It was signed by Fabrizio Saggio, coordinator of the Mission Structure for the implementation of the Mattei Plan of the Presidency of the Council, together with the president of Leonardo, Stefano Pontecorvo, and the CEO of BF Spa, Federico Vecchioni. In Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Kenya and, in perspective, with the additional countries identified by the Government for 2025, projects will be launched for the protection of biodiversity and sustainable development, for which financing opportunities will be identified within the Mattei Plan, whose implementation will take place with the full involvement of local entities. The planning and implementation of agro-industrial development projects and related training programs will always be shared at every stage with the countries involved. Furthermore, it will take into account the priority of contributing to the growth path of African partners by offering them technical and management skills through specific training activities.
The president of Leonardo, Stefano Pontecorvo, underlined: “Leonardo with its digital and satellite technologies to monitor crops, soils, water resources from space and to improve land yields can help respond to the security needs of changed environmental scenarios, characterized by climate change, soil erosion and inefficient resource management. Through the company’s skills in the field of cyber security, those of Telespazio and e-Geos, developed in the geo-information sector, combined with advanced technological solutions, such as the application of AI, the collection and analysis of big data and the cloud – he added – the company is able to deliver enabling factors to manage crucial aspects related to smart agriculture and climate transition”.
These skills will be integrated with the agricultural and agribusiness activities of the projects underlying the internationalization of BF Spa, a path managed through the subsidiary BF International Best Fields Best Food Ltd.
“The goal of BF Spa – observed Federico Vecchioni, CEO of BF Spa – is to replicate at a global level, the agro-industrial infrastructure, with the control of the genome – food product supply chain, developed by BF Spa in Italy on over 11 thousand hectares of SAU through the development of modern model farms, BFuture farms. An innovative, sustainable and inclusive agro-industrial farm model that adapts to the needs of each country and community and will represent the largest high-tech agricultural management network ever created in the world”.
BF Educational will be the BF Spa company that, within the model farms, will be responsible for creating training and research paths applied to agriculture and agribusiness with the aim of training the professionals of the future of the reference communities.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Leonardòs press office-

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Defense Ministry continued with its commitment to the civil population in the Gaza Strip. A ship left the port of Monfalcone, and is heading towards Cyprus with over 50 tons of basic necessities collected by the “Confederazione Nazionale delle Misericordie d’Italia”.

As soon as the ship arrives at the port of Limassol, in Cyprus, the humanitarian aid will subsequently be transferred to Gaza.

“Italy also on this occasion shows that it is at the side of those who suffer and will continue to do everything possible to give hope to those who, like in Gaza, are experiencing very difficult times”, said the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, who authorized the initiative. He added, “The Defense Ministry, through the Italian Armed Forces, has once again demonstrated extraordinary competence and great humanity. I heartily thank all those who, with dedication and promptness, have made this intervention possible. It is thanks to them that Italy continues to be a point of reference, a country that believes in dialogue, peace and help for those who are most fragile”.

The Defense Ministry has guaranteed technical and operational support to the activity, with the loading and transport of the humanitarian aid, under the coordination of the Joint Operations Command (COVI). This operation is in addition to a series of initiatives already undertaken by the Defense Ministry in favour of the Palestinian population, including the transportation of basic necessities using Air Force aircraft, health care provided by the Navy’s Vulcano ship, as well as the transfers to Italy of Palestinian children in need of hospital care using Defense air-naval assets.

– Photo press office Ministry of Defense –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A new air route has started operating between Malta and Benghazi in Libya as a result of an agreement between MedSky, a Libyan airline, and Malta MedAir, a company registered in Malta.

The two airlines said that this new route marks an important step towards improving connectivity between Libya and Malta and Europe because it creates opportunities for business and tourism.

The inaugural flight of MedSky Airways, in partnership with Malta MedAir, departed at 9.15 am from Benina International Airport, and arrived in Malta at 10.45 a.m. on Thursday.

The vision of strengthening connectivity between Libya and Europe began with the first flights from Misrata to Malta in September 2022. It then expanded with new routes from Tripoli to Malta and Rome. And now, with flights connecting Benghazi with Malta.

MedSky Airways Chairman Fauzi Ashour Khallefah said that the agreement between the two airlines created a foundation for continuous growth and deep ties between Libya and Malta.

“For sure we are deeply grateful to the Maltese government and to our partners MedAir, and to all the people that helped. There was was no flight from Libya to Europe for a long time. However, with the help of our partners, MedAir and the Maltese Governement, this is the third destination from Libya,” Fauzi Ashour Khallefah remarked.

Malta MedAir Executive Chairman, Paul Bugeja, said that this route will reduce many of the inconveniences of long-term travel, especially for those who travel for particular reasons. “These offer opportunities, both to Maltese who can go Benghazi, as well as to businesses, but more so to Libyans who wish to come to Malta, both from a cultural, medical, educational and business point of view. For us it is a special honour and occasion”.

MedSky Airways, the first Libyan airline to operate to Europe in partnership with Malta MedAir, is planning to fly to other destinations in Europe.

– Photo Medsky Airways –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “We reiterate that Italy wants to be the bridge between Tunisia and the European Union, strengthening collaboration with the European Commission to ensure that the North African country becomes a primary interlocutor”. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, at the end of a meeting at the Italian Foreign Ministry with Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti.

“In the last two years, relations with Tunisia have made a qualitative leap in the economic, migratory and political fields, thanks also to Italy’s efforts to enhance the partnership between Tunisia and the EU”, he added.

“We want to strengthen the economic partnership” with Tunisia, since “1,000 Italian companies operate in the country. This is why we have agreed to organize a new business forum in Tunis”, Tajani underlined. Even “with regard to the energy sector, Tunisia represents a fundamental hub for the growth” of both countries and “presents great potential”, he recalled.

“The agreements with Tunisia are also an example for the rest of the African continent,” the deputy prime minister explained. During the meeting, “two agreements were signed,” one on the mutual recognition of driving licenses, also in light of the need to align with national and European legislation on the management of personal data, and an agreement on the energy transition, with the aim of promoting Italian investments in the production of renewable energy in Tunisia and the development of energy interconnection infrastructures between Italy and Tunisia, in full harmony with the principles and objectives of the Mattei Plan for Africa.

“We also signed a Joint Declaration on development cooperation” between Italy and Tunisia for the period 2025-2027, which includes the commitment by Italy to finance projects of up to 400 million euros. “A constructive and fruitful meeting” between Tunisia and Italy, “a very important opportunity that allowed us to address several common issues, which also concern the international situation. We want our relations to be steadily advanced and stronger”, said Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti.

“We are ready to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between Tunisia and Italy, for which many diplomats have worked in recent years, in the interest of our peoples and the Mediterranean region”, he stressed.

“We will work to strengthen this bond, to share a common benefit, following the win-win principle in various sectors, including education: Italian universities have become a popular destination for thousands of Tunisians who want to come and study in Italy”.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews