BRUSSELS, Belgium 

A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Government of Italy, regarding aid to be sent to the areas hit by the earthquake in Italy last year.

The MoU was signed QFFD Director-General Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari and the extraordinary commissioner of the Italian government for reconstruction Vasco Errani, in the presence of Qatar’s ambassador to Italy Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki and the adviser at the Italian Foreign Ministry Simone Petroni, at the headquarters of the Council of Ministers in Rome. This is part of the three agreements signed during the recent visit of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Angelino Alfano in Doha, in the fields of politics, investment and military.

The MoU ensures a donation of €5.6m to be made to rebuild the areas damaged by the earthquake in 2016, predominantly focusing on the education sector and school buildings, which is in line with Qatar’s priorities in providing foreign aid. The QFFD, through the extraordinary commissioner of the Italian government for reconstruction, will allocate a contribution to the construction of a school complexes in the municipality of Macerata. The initiative will cover the rehabilitation process of a kindergarten, primary school, first level high school and a 330 square metre gymnasium.

Qatar was among the first countries to provide support for the Italian government after the earthquake, highlighting the strong and growing spirit of cooperation between Qatar and Italy.