AC MILAN AT THE CENTRE OF AN INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM TO FOSTER SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

In alignment with the objectives of the Mattei Plan for Africa, a strategic initiative of diplomacy, cooperation and investment by the Italian Government, AC Milan is launching a collaboration with the Democratic Republic of the Congo through its Ministry of Tourism. Leveraging role of the Club and the impact-generating capacity of its Foundation, AC Milan will be at the heart of an international platform aimed at supporting the socioeconomic development of the African nation.

On an economic level, the agreement will favour the attraction of new investments and the creation of business opportunities with Italian and international stakeholders. It will also support the Democratic Republic of the Congo's strategy to boost international tourism. In this context, the Ministry of Tourism of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will become the new Premium Partner and Official Tourism Destination Partner of the Club, the goal of highlighting the unique features and biodiversity of the largest country in Central Africa.

On the social front, with support from Fondazione Milan - which has invested over €12 million since 2003 in solidarity projects worldwide - the collaboration will promote a series of concrete actions for the benefit of local communities, starting with the regeneration of a sports facility serving younger generations, up to the construction of a school in Boma, in partnership with the well-established Fondazione Mama Sofia, founded by Zakia Seddiki Attanasio, wife of the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Luca Attanasio.

The new partnership will also serve as the foundation for the first AC Milan Academy in the country. Through the AC Milan International Academy project, the Rossoneri Club will promote the well-being of young athletes in a safe and healthy environment, guaranteeing a lasting positive impact in a region where passion for the Rossoneri colours runs deep. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, AC Milan is the most supported Italian club and ranks among the world’s top ten clubs, with an estimated 17 million fans.

In the early part of the new sporting season, a delegation from the Rossoneri Club, led by Chairman Paolo Scaroni, will undertake an institutional visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to mark the concrete launch of the projects. On this occasion, AC Milan will also organise a meeting to foster synergies between representatives of local institutions, the Italian Embassy in Kinshasa and companies forming the economic fabric of both countries.

Paolo Scaroni, Chairman of AC Milan and Fondazione Milan, said: "As a Club, we have chosen to take part in starting an innovative collaboration that aims to contribute to the development plans of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the economic and social spheres, in continuity with the Italian Government's vision of international cooperation and in line with the objectives of the Mattei Plan for Africa. To do this, we want to make use of the role of AC Milan and its Foundation as institutions capable of raising awareness while also generating tangible impact, alongside companies and charities rooted in the territory. I would like to thank the Congolese government, with whom we are embarking on this new journey, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Farnesina for their support and for having helped us in identifying and engaging with the most authoritative organisations active in the area.”

H.E. Mr. Didier M'Pambia Musanga, Minister of Tourism of the DRC, added: "This partnership goes beyond usual club sponsorship; it aligns with His Excellency President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi's strategy to reposition the DRC on the international stage as an undisputed leader on the African continent. This is being pursued through active diplomacy - as recently seen at the United Nations Security Council - and through the promotion of our culture, our vast tourism potential, investment opportunities, and the talents of our youth. A National Soft Power Commission has been established for this purpose. The agreement with AC Milan, based in Lombardy - one of Europe's wealthiest regions with an annual GDP of €952 billion - opens up prospects for a win-win collaboration."