Rome: Israfil Mammadov, CEO of the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), recently announced that the fund's investments in Italy have reached a significant milestone, totaling USD 3 billion. Mammadov made this statement while participating in the FII Priority Europe Forum in Rome, held from June 17 to 19, as part of his working visit to Italy. The forum, organized by the FII Institute with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia as its Founding Partner, was themed 'Europe Reimagined: Capital, Sovereignty and Strategic Autonomy.'

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the FII Priority Europe Forum concentrated on enhancing Europe's strategic autonomy in key sectors such as energy, technology, security, and finance. The event served as a platform for leading global investors, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the role of capital in bolstering the continent's long-term competitiveness.

Mammadov contributed to a panel discussion titled 'Who Will Finance Europe's Next Build-Out?', where he highlighted the availability of long-term investment capital and the challenge of channeling it towards high-quality projects that meet institutional standards. He emphasized SOFAZ's investment strategy, which focuses on stability, asset quality, and long-term horizons. Italy stands as SOFAZ's fourth-largest investment destination globally, with substantial investments in the country's transport and energy infrastructure.

Throughout his visit, Mammadov engaged in meetings with government officials, private sector representatives, and sovereign wealth funds. These discussions centered around investment opportunities, shared interests, and potential future collaborations, reflecting SOFAZ's ongoing commitment to strategic investments in Italy.