The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) will participate in the 28th Mediterranean Archaeological Tourism Exchange (BMTA), scheduled to take place in Paestum from October 29 to November 1, 2026. At the heart of the Agency’s presence is the concept of cultural heritage as a field for cooperation, training, and local development—a space for dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean. This initiative aligns with the European Union’s “Pact for the Mediterranean” and its corresponding 2026 Action Plan, with a particular focus on the relationship between heritage protection and promotion, the development of skills, sustainable tourism, and community engagement.
“Cultural heritage is one of the areas where cooperation among Mediterranean countries can yield concrete results. Protecting it also means investing in skills, territories, and communities—creating opportunities for development and strengthening dialogue between the two shores. It is a field in which Italian Cooperation can offer extensive experience and well-established partnerships,” states Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
“At the BMTA, we aim to demonstrate how the protection of cultural heritage can translate into training, professional expertise, institutional capacity, and opportunities for local communities. The initiatives supported by AICS in partner countries integrate conservation, research, sustainable tourism, and territorial development; this is the operational dimension we bring to the discussion on the Mediterranean,” explains AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi.
On October 30 at 3:00 PM, an institutional panel titled “Cultural Heritage and Cooperation: Partnerships for Shared Development within the Framework of the Pact for the Mediterranean” will bring together representatives from Italy and partner countries. The session will be opened by Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli and AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi. Among the speakers will be Lira Pipa, Deputy Minister of Culture. Ministry of Culture and Sport of Albania; Marinela Prifti, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Sport of Albania; Angelo Piero Cappello, Director General of the Mission Unit for Cultural Cooperation with Africa and the Mediterranean at the Ministry of Culture; Ana Pires, Head of Unit for the MENA region (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Iran) at the European Commission (DG NEAR), joining remotely; Adnan Al Sawair, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA); Ahmed Ghoneim, Director of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
On October 31st at 3:00 PM, a technical panel titled “Heritage in Action within the Mediterranean Pact: Skills, Communities, and Innovation for Sustainable Tourism”—moderated by Andreas Steiner, Editor-in-Chief of *Archeo*—will focus on practical, field-based experiences. The discussion will delve into topics such as conservation and restoration, specialized training, research, site management and accessibility, the strengthening of local capacities, and the long-term sustainability of interventions. Speakers will include experts from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), as well as representatives from universities and organizations involved in programs across partner countries.
Initiatives supported by the Italian Cooperation in Albania, Jordan, Libya, and Palestine will provide a concrete framework for this dialogue. At the AICS stand, a variety of materials—including images, videos, and workshops for students—will help illustrate these projects. The theme of mosaics will serve as a central thread: a shared Mediterranean heritage through which we can explore the protection and recovery of cultural identities, training, craftsmanship, creativity, cultural tourism, and local development.