The Ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado rank as the major logistics platform in the Mediterranean serving the southern-northern supply chain route across Europe, in particular, land-locked Switzerland, which this year hosts the sixth edition of the Forum, Un Mare di Svizzera, at the LAC Conference Centre In Lugano.
The forum, which has become a leading event for top logistics and intermodal decision-makers, focused upon the drivers behind the establishment of an efficient and resilient chain supply to serve the European manufacturing and consumer industry. Within this framework, the Ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado, strategically located at the heart of the major maritime lanes across the Mediterranean, are fully equipped to consolidate their role as the premier logistics hub of Southern Europe.
"The Ports of Genoa boast a competitive edge in terms of the capability of the terminal operators and the shipping community to accommodate all classes of ships and cater for all key commodity sectors; a full selection of direct liner services connected to over 450 ports worldwide; and, finally, a wide-ranging 3-billion euro major infrastructure investment programme covering 35 projects, with works underway to upgrade both the tangible and intangible assets of the port to improve accessibility by sea, by road and by rail", declared the Government Commissioner Paolo Piacenza during the opening of his presentation. "The new Port Masterplan, currently underway, is set to capitalise upon these strong points and guide us towards the establishment of an increasingly competitive and seamlessly connected logistics platform, a key driver for economic growth in Europe ."
A panel discussion focused on the strategic role that successful public-private partnerships can play in port governance. Juan Pablo Richards of Hapag-Lloyd, Giuseppe Prudente of MSC and Stefano Messina of the Italian Shipowners Association pledged their full support to the Port Authority development plan which dovetails with shipping lines' requirements and investments in fleet expansion and the construction of increasingly sustainable and energy-efficiency vessels. With the completion of the infrastructure programme, the Ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado will be fully equipped to accommodate the ultra-large ships and cater for an efficient onward distribution by land of the growth in volumes towards the port catchment area, both in Northern Italy and in Southern Europe. Massimiliano Cozzani of PSA reported that the direct rail connection from the Genoa Pra' terminal to Basle has been used consistently by the Swiss shippers notwithstanding fluctuations in global freight rates. Gerardo Ghigliotto of Slala announced Nestlé's interest in establishing a dedicated supply chain coffee corridor with the major new technologically advanced silos in the Port of Vado Ligure.
Closing remarks at the conference were provided by the Italian Vice-Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi and Albert Rösti, Swiss Federal Councillor for Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications,. Speakers also included Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano, Marco Bucci, Mayor of Genoa, Raffaele De Rosa, President of the State Council of the Canton of Ticino, Adriano Sala, President ASTAG Ticino and Filippo Lombardi, President of the Lugano International Logistics Forum.
