Development

The Lazio Region invests 27 million for the Blue Economy in 2023-2025

Lazio leads the Blue Economy in Italy, with record numbers of enterprises and urban and coastal regeneration plans

15 July 2025

Da sinistra, Cristiano Dionisi, Presidente Comitato Piccola Industria di Unindustria, Roberta Angelilli, vicepresidente della Regione Lazio e assessora alla Sviluppo, Enrico Tiero, presidente della commissione Sviluppo economico e Attività produttive del Consiglio regionale del Lazio, Lorenzo Tagliavanti, Presidente Camera di Commercio di Roma.

3' min read

In the two-year period 2023/2025, the Lazio Region has allocated 27 million euro with the aim of strengthening competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation in the region's coastal territories. The figures were illustrated during the presentation of the Report 2025 on Lazio's Blue Economy.

Three main measures

2.5 million euro have been allocated to the Operational Plan for the development of the Blue Economy, for the enhancement of cultural and environmental assets on the beaches, the enhancement of the social inclusiveness of free beaches, the reduction of pollution and the protection of the marine ecosystem, the recovery and reuse of wrecks and pilot projects on desalination
5.5 million euro for the Southern Etruria Law concerning the redevelopment of the coastal municipalities of the Northern Littoral: Montalto di Castro, Tarquinia, Civitavecchia, Santa Marinella, Cerveteri, Ladispoli and Fiumicino;
8.5 million euro for beaches and the start of the bathing season, earmarked for all the municipalities along the Latium coast to make beaches more accessible, ensure the safety of bathers, adopt biological depollution and plastic reduction measures

Littoral Redevelopment

The ranking list for the 10 million euro Coastal Law for the rehabilitation of waterfronts and coastal urban contexts has also been published. Twelve first projects have been deemed eligible and will be immediately financed: San Felice Circeo, Pomezia, Formia, Sabaudia, Fiumicino, Cerveteri, Sperlonga, Tarquinia, Ardea, Ponza, Latina, Ladispoli with the Region's 10 million euro, plus co-financing by the municipalities of 4 million euro, for a total investment of 14 million euro.

Lazio's position in the Blue Economy

"Lazio, with 383 kilometres of coastline, 22 coastal municipalities (including Rome Capital) and 2 island municipalities, Ponza and Ventotene, confirms itself as the first Italian region for the number of businesses active in the Blue Economy with 35,747 units operating in sectors linked to the sea economy. Rome and its province dominate the national ranking with 30,566 enterprises. Lazio is also the fourth region in Italy in terms of added value with 6.7% and third in terms of number of employees with 7.4%," stressed the Vice-President of the Lazio Region and Councillor for Development, Roberta Angelilli.

Law dedicated to the Blue Economy in Lazio

"Lazio was the first Italian region to approve a law dedicated to the Blue Economy, precisely in order to support an economically important sector that integrates logistics with tourism, the enhancement of cultural heritage and landscapes, and interventions to safeguard marine ecosystems. Lazio also has an important Port System Authority for the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, which manages the port of Civitavecchia, Italy's leading cruise port and the second in Europe, together with the ports of Fiumicino and Gaeta," added vice-president Roberta Angelilli.

Lazio's Industrial Plan

"The Blue Economy represents one of the most promising levers for building sustainable, integrated and competitive growth in our region. It is a strategic sector, in addition to being a transversal axis of the Lazio Industrial Plan promoted by Unindustria and shared by the Lazio Region," said Cristiano Dionisi, President of the Small Industry Committee of Unindustria.

Investments and future prospects

"I want to express my appreciation for the new phase of integrated planning on the sea launched by the Lazio Region. The goal now is to transform the Blue Economy into an engine of sustainable development. A commitment is needed to further enhance the sea economy in Rome and Lazio, also by ensuring an adequate level of infrastructure, both physical and digital," said Lorenzo Tagliavanti, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Rome.

Development opportunities

"The Blue Economy represents a concrete and fundamental opportunity for the development of the coastline. As the Lazio Region we are investing significant resources in this sector. In 2024 Lazio was the first Italian region to approve the Operational Plan for the development of the Blue Economy. We have allocated resources for the development of the coastline, with a focus on the Blue Economy and urban regeneration. Among these, I would also like to mention the almost 400,000 euros for the municipalities of the Pontine area that were awarded for their project proposals aimed at promoting development, which were compliant and accepted for funding," said Enrico Tiero, President of the Economic Development and Productive Activities Commission of the Lazio Regional Council.