Critical minerals, Tajani: «Working for an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo»

One of the leading foreign policy dossiers, also strategic for the corporate world, is that of critical raw materials. «For the first time, Italy has a real foreign policy for critical raw materials», underlined the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in the message sent on the occasion of the conference: “Export objective: companies and territories of Central Italy, towards the National Export Conference 2026”, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. «We have already signed dozens of agreements in this area, the latest with the United States and Argentina. We are now working on a similar political agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo - added Tajani -, an important African country in the Mattei Plan, rich in critical minerals crucial for our businesses".

After Turin and Bari, Tuesday 6 October it was the turn of Rome and Central Italy. Over 1,200 companies participated in the meeting, which took place at the “Ennio Morricone” Auditorium Parco della Musica. More than 600 meetings were held with the Heads of the Commercial Offices of the Italian Embassies and with experts from ICE, SACE, SIMEST and CDP.

«I wanted to expand the internationalization team with Unioncamere with whom we signed an important collaboration agreement in recent months - recalled Tajani -. And today we are putting a new application of the Export Plan online. A further concrete and operational tool for having contacts, opportunities and tools from the Italian system, for each market of interest, always available in your pocket on your mobile phone."

The minister sent a clear message: «Despite wars, duties, energy crises, Italy's exports continue to grow - he recalled -. In 2025 our exports reached a record 643 billion. In the first seven months of 2026, exports grew by 4.6%, almost double the European average. The 700 billion by 2027 is the goal we are aiming for. I expect a key contribution from Central Italy. With the strongest export growth, +11.6% in 2025, also confirmed in 2026, the direction is the right one!", underlined Tajani.

«Our watchword - underlined the head of the Farnesina - is diversification. The United States and Europe remain fundamental markets, but I wanted to multiply our commitment in all the markets with the highest potential. With Confindustria and over one hundred companies we were the first to go to Argentina and Brazil after the European Union's agreement with Mercosur. We are giving a strong boost to our partnerships with India and Asia, with the Gulf, Africa and the Balkans. We have ongoing and planned initiatives on all continents."