Zanetti: ‘Abruzzo is a strategic hub linking the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Europe’

Abruzzo, “with 130 kilometres of coastline, ports and freight terminals already integrated into European transport corridors, and a recognised manufacturing sector, is a strategic hub linking the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe”. This was stated by Mario Zanetti, Confindustria’s special adviser on the maritime economy, speaking via video link at the third edition of the Sustainable Abruzzo Forum, entitled The Logistics Revolution; an event organised in Pescara by Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico and the Imprese per la sostenibilità network agreement, under the high patronage of the Region.

The blue economy and logistics, Zanetti added, “are pillars of the country’s industrial policy: they generate growth, competitiveness and territorial cohesion. The logistics sector is worth 205 billion euros, accounting for 9 per cent of GDP, whilst 60 per cent of Italian imports and exports are transported by sea. A single mosaic serving ‘Made in Italy’.” It is against this backdrop that Abruzzo’s role must be understood. “For Confindustria,” concluded Zanetti, “port reform, intermodality, digitalisation, sustainability and skills are strategic priorities. Only by fostering collaboration between businesses, institutions and local areas can we strengthen the competitiveness of our production system.”

Following the opening of the meeting by Lorenzo Dattoli, president of Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico, the forum focused on a key point during the first session, which was devoted to the national context: the transition in logistics cannot be tackled with ideological approaches or one-size-fits-all solutions, but rather with a flexible mix of technologies and industrial models capable of balancing environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and the specific characteristics of the Italian production system.

During the conference, there was also discussion of the Welfare on the Road project: according to Confindustria’s report, the shortage of drivers in Europe is estimated at 444,000 in 2025, with this figure projected to rise to 745,000 by 2028 if no targeted measures are taken; in Italia, the shortfall already exceeds 2,000. In a sector under intense pressure, the quality of working conditions throughout the supply chain therefore becomes an industrial issue as well as a social one. For Abruzzo – a manufacturing region and logistics hub in the central Adriatic – it was emphasised during the forum that this means recognising that the competitiveness of supply chains also depends on the ability to make the working conditions more dignified, safe and efficient for those who, every day, ensure the continuity of supplies.

“Mobility and logistics,” said Dattoli, “are no longer sector-specific issues, but infrastructure that is crucial to the competitiveness of our production system. For a manufacturing region such as Abruzzo, investing in innovation, sustainability and the integration of supply chains means attracting development and consolidating our presence in the markets. The real challenge is to transform the leadership of large companies into a shared asset, capable of involving SMEs as well. To be truly effective, the transition must be accessible, inclusive and supported by concrete measures. This is how we can strengthen the region’s competitiveness at both national and international level.”