La Blue Economy in Italy it is in full health, but has to face the new challenges of Chinese competition and technology. The economics of the sea was discussed yesterday in Genoa on the occasion of the Genoa Shipping Week, in a round table attended by Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking, entitled "The relaunch of maritime companies between generational transitions and new forms of financing". In the Ligurian capital, which has a leading role in port activity and which seeks redemption right on the sea routes after the injury of the Morandi Bridge, a positive state of the art has emerged: the economy of the sea, considering the entire supply chain that embrace, it produces an added value for the entire country of over 45 billion euros, of which 5 only in Liguria. Liguria is the first region for impact on the economy: it generates an import-export of 10,4 billion, but the area served by its ports (the entire North West) generates over 87.
But it is the entire port network of the country that has made progress in recent years, according to data presented by Massimo Deandreis, head of Intesa Sanpaolo's Southern Studies and Research Service: in 2018, Italian ports handled 491 million tons of traffic, a growing figure, just as Italy is growing in all the international indexes relating to logistics performance. Between 2014 and 2018, container traffic in Italy increased by 3,7%, reaching 10,6 million TEUs (acronym for twenty-foot equivalent unit, is the standard measure of volume in container transport, equal to 20 feet), and in particular the container traffic of Genoa (1st for container traffic in Italy, with 25% of the national share, and 12th in Europe) grew, in the period, by 20%, even if in the first months of 2919 is recording a decline of 4,4% compared to the same period a year ago.
The central theme that emerged in the meeting is Chinese competition: the center of gravity of maritime trade is moving more and more towards Asia. China, which with the Silk Road agreements will get its hands on the ports of Genoa and Trieste, while in Liguria it has already invested half a billion in the port of Vado Ligure in 2017, carries out trade in the Mediterranean for 536 billion euros, equal to over 7% of its GDP. Beijing has become the EU's second largest trading partner, the first in terms of imports: today in the world it has an 18% share of the total world trade in manufactured goods (in 2008 it was 13%), much more than Germany, which fell to 10%, more than double the USA, while the Italy is just under 5%.
To meet the challenge, the roundtable launched the need for a port system 5.0, namely: structures dedicated to the international development of the port; structures dedicated to the development of intermodal traffic (the theme is connected with that of rail transport and strategic corridors such as the Third Pass, precisely in Genoa, and the Tav) and connection with local transport networks; constant and consolidated relationships with universities and research centres; boost on innovation and startup, on the model of PortXL, the first startup accelerator in the maritime sector and already operational in Singapore, Rotterdam and Antwerp. Finally, a plan for the development and attraction of investments (foreign and Italian), which also includes financial and bureaucratic incentives.
“We strongly believe in the initiative promoted by Assagenti – commented Francesco Velluti, Marketing and Network Manager of Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking – which for an entire week is focusing everyone's attention on the nautical sector. Our company is the first bank for private customers, always attentive to the world of entrepreneurs, with which it will be possible to strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones, through meetings conducive to the establishment of personal and professional relationships. We are proud to be able to accompany such a prestigious event, which talks about the city, the activities related to shipbuilding and navigation: these opportunities allow us to further strengthen the link with an environment full of success stories, entrepreneurial skills and great determination . All values in which we fully recognize ourselves”.
