Southern Lazio: deadline for businesses to join the Free Trade Zones extended to 7 October

Businesses in the provinces of Latina and Frosinone have until 7 October 2026 to apply to set up operations in the future enclosed customs-free zones in southern Lazio. Following the Decision of 7 July 2026 by the Directorate for Economic Planning, European Funds and Natural Heritage, published in the BURL on 9 July, the Lazio Region has decided to reopen the application period following the expiry of the public notice last April. The initiative, which followed a high level of participation in response to the first published decision, confirms the business sector’s interest in a scheme designed to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and attract new investment.

The Decision clarifies that the reopening of the deadline is intended to allow for the submission of further expressions of interest, whilst confirming the full validity of all those already duly received by the Regional Administration. The Chair of the Senate’s 5th Committee on the Budget and Economic Planning, Nicola Calandrini, expresses his satisfaction: ‘The support and interest shown by businesses confirm the validity of a measure in which we have believed from the outset,’ says Calandrini – “The amendment I tabled to the 2026 Budget Bill has made it possible to introduce the regulatory framework for the establishment of Customs Free Zones in the provinces of Frosinone and Latina. This is an important tool for supporting development, attracting investment and strengthening the competitiveness of the production system in Lower Lazio. I would also like to thank the President of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca, and the Regional Councillor for the Budget, Economic Planning, Agricultural Policies, Hunting, Fisheries, Parks and Forests, Giancarlo Righini, for the collaborative institutional work carried out throughout this process.”

The interest shown by the business community confirms that Customs Free Zones are a tool capable of meeting the needs of companies operating in international markets, thanks to the benefits arising from the suspension of customs duties, VAT, excise duties and other taxes associated with import operations until the goods are released for consumption, the possibility of carrying out industrial processing, transformation, assembly, packaging and logistics activities under a special customs regime, as well as the simplification of operations and the increased attractiveness for investment in manufacturing, logistics and commercial investment.

“For Lower Lazio, this represents a strategic opportunity designed to enhance the port of Gaeta, the hinterland areas, the industrial estates and the region’s entire logistics system, thereby strengthening its role as a natural hub for trade in the Mediterranean,” Senator Calandrini goes on to explain. The outcome of the call for proposals represents a significant step forward in the process of establishing the Free Trade Zones of Southern Lazio, demonstrating that the business community has recognised the potential of a tool designed to strengthen the internationalisation of businesses, encourage new productive investment and boost the region’s appeal, laying solid foundations for the next phase of establishing and developing these tools to accelerate commercial development. These tools constitute an economic infrastructure set to be one of the main drivers of development for the coming years across the whole of southern Lazio.