by InTrieste
Regional officials in Friuli Venezia Giulia met with Somalia’s labor minister on Monday to discuss a potential partnership aimed at addressing labor shortages in northeastern Italy while supporting workforce development in the East African nation.
The meeting, held in Trieste, brought together the governor of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Massimiliano Fedriga, and Somalia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Salim Alio Ibro. Also in attendance were regional officials responsible for labor, higher education, research, and local autonomy.
Discussions focused on the creation of vocational training programs, the involvement of major industrial employers in the region, and the development of a cooperative framework designed to respond to the growing demand for skilled workers in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
According to regional officials, the initiative would involve training workers in Somalia before offering interested participants the opportunity to gain temporary professional experience with companies in northeastern Italy. Regional authorities say many local businesses are struggling to fill vacancies, particularly in sectors requiring specialized skills.
Under the proposed model, participants would return to Somalia after completing their work experience, bringing back technical expertise acquired abroad. Officials described the approach as a way to support both economic development in Somalia and workforce needs in Italy.
The discussions also touched on opportunities created by Italy’s immigration policies, including provisions under the so-called Cutro Decree that encourage vocational training programs in countries of origin. Regional authorities noted that the initiative could also align with Friuli Venezia Giulia’s recently adopted legislation on social innovation.
In a later phase, the partnership could expand to include “training the trainers” programs aimed at strengthening Somalia’s educational and vocational training system. Such efforts would seek to develop local teaching capacity through exchanges and pilot projects, with the goal of creating a more self-sustaining workforce development framework over the long term.
