‘The ZES is a good thing, but we need a plan for logistics and infrastructure’
Leopoldo Destro. Vice-President of Confindustria for Transport, Logistics and the Tourism Industry. We need a policy on key factors that enables the South to compete with all European regions
<signature-block class="conParagrafo_R21">Nicoletta Picchio
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The aim: ‘To turn the geographical location of Southern Italy into an industrial competitive advantage for the South and for our entire country. Southern Italy must become not merely a transit hub, but a place where goods generate industrial transformation, added value and skilled employment’. Therefore, ‘we need a medium-term industrial plan for infrastructure and logistics, to be regarded as a strategic productive investment for the country’s competitiveness. Every delay in infrastructure development in the South imposes a cost on the entire Italian production system; yet the South represents an opportunity. Every efficient connection, on the other hand, generates greater competitiveness, more exports and more jobs. This is a key factor in attracting investment and talent.”
Leopoldo Destro, Confindustria’s vice-president for Transport, Logistics and the Tourism Industry, is finalising a paper on transport and logistics which he will present to the Italian government and in Brussels this autumn. In mid-June, the country’s infrastructure challenge was the focus of the Transport and Logistics Forum, organised by Confindustria. Now is the time to act: logistics is not a cost, but a driver of growth – for the country as a whole and, above all, for the South, which must bridge the gap with the North and become a driving force for Italia’s development.
In recent years, the South has grown faster than the rest of Italy: not only thanks to the NRRP, but also thanks to the effects of the single SEZ. Is this a policy worth continuing?
The Single ZES is working and must be maintained. It is delivering significant results: over 9 billion in direct investment, a total economic impact of more than 59 billion, and the creation of 71,000 jobs. But this is not enough. The latest Istat report on freight transport still shows a strong concentration of logistics in the north. More than 60 per cent of goods transported by road originate in the north, compared with 11 per cent in the south. For rail transport, the difference is even more marked: more than 50 per cent of freight flows originate in the north, compared with 3 per cent in the south. A structural plan for intermodal logistics is needed to reinforce this entrepreneurial drive and enable companies to spread across the country, thanks to a supportive infrastructure system. Otherwise, the SEZ will remain a half-hearted effort.
The export figures for the south for the first quarter of 2026, which fell by 1.1 per cent compared with a national increase of 1.3 per cent, are a clear indication of this disparity.
