The CGIE (General Council of Italians Abroad) – Continental Commission of English-speaking countries – held its latest meeting in Johannesburg from September 21 to 23, 2018. After Melbourne in October 2017 and Toronto in May, earlier this year, the Commission decided to hold its latest meeting in South Africa. “Proof”, said the Ambassador of Italy to Pretoria, Pier Giovanni Donnici, during the opening remarks – “of a community that is active and deeply rooted in this country, though it has never cut its ties with Italy either”
The Commission dealt with several themes of general interest for the communities of Italians abroad: from proposals on how to update and reform the Com.It.Es (Committee for the Italians Abroad) and the CGIE, to the promotion and dissemination of the Italian language, to concerns regarding Italians voting abroad and matters relating to citizenship laws. Particular attention was given to the question of Italians living in South Africa: from the political and economic situation in the Country and the activities carried out by the Diplomatic Consular network.
The meeting was attended by Senator Francesco Giacobbe and the Hon. Nicola Carè, both elected to the Africa-Asia-Oceania-Antarctic region. Mr Luigi Maria Vignali, Director General at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations and Co-operation, for the Italians Abroad and Migration Policies section, called this Commission meeting “an indispensable moment to look at the CGIE and the various Italian Institutions, to compare Notes and find points of convergence. “We firmly believe”, he emphasised, “in supporting the Italians that live in South Africa with a revitalisation of the Consular presence in this vast country as well as with concrete contributions to the excellent welfare and assistance entities that carry out real assistance in this country through various associations and organisations”.
Ambassador Donnici highlighted the significant importance that Italian communities abroad represent for Italian exports, especially by communities like the South African one, made –up mainly of entrepreneurs that drive the Made in Italy product range; “a market that has grown”, the Ambassador commented, “by 18% in 2017 and by 25% just in the first seven months of 2018 alone: so, paying attention to the needs of our Italian communities abroad should come as an appropriate response, not just in terms of gratitude for the sacrifices made by our Italiam Immigrants, but also as a proactive choice for the future benefits all this will have for our country, overall”.
Director General Vignali, together with the Parlemantarians that were elected to represent the various countries abroad and the members of the Continental Commission, met all the major players on the Italian scene in South Africa, discussing, with them, the developments of their joint actions with a view to a system.
