ContextIntroductory remarks by Fabio Panetta, Governor of the Bank of Italy, at the conference "Laying the goundwork for jobs in Africa: core infrastructure and business environments", organised by the Bank of Italy, Rome, 4 March 2026.
Why it mattersStresses that business rules and institutions matter as much as roads and power for creating jobs in Africa.
Problems raised
Africa's young people need jobs.
Protectionism and geopolitics add uncertainty.
Infrastructure without regulatory certainty fails to attract funding.
Solutions proposed
Strengthen infrastructure and human capital.
Combine physical investment with regulatory reform.
