ROME -- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has started a three-day state visit to West Africa, on which he is to visit Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. He has called the destination a "strategic" one, and the visit marks wider efforts towards the production and distribution of energy, petrol, gas and railways.

 In recent years Renzi has made moves to strengthen relations with African countries as part of a development cooperation attempt, making three African visits in the same number of years. The current trip follows on from visits to Angola, Mozambique and Congo-Brazzaville in 2014 and to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.

 The Prime Minister has always stressed that the African continent represents one of the most important areas in terms of economic interest, both for Italy and for Europe. Speaking at the La Valletta European summit on migration, Renzi indicated that "putting Africa at the centre of the European initiative" should be a main objective.

 In 2014 law 125/2014 was passed, strongly supported by Renzi's government, that laid out plans for an Agency for Cooperation and Development. 

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