“Mediterranean, potential still to be achieved”

Genoa - What geographical area within the Mediterranean basin, based on your experience, is growing the most?

The Eastern Mediterranean economies and the trade opportunities among them demonstrate considerable growth potential which is yet to materialise fully. In addition to Turkey (where containerised trade and Ro-Ro traffic seem to be growing at double figure rates, gaining shares even on commodities traditionally traveling by road), positive signals come from Tunisia and Morocco, while we all hope that peace, stability and reconstruction for Syria and Libya will soon become a reality. The development of more (and better) railway and road infrastructures will bring the area of the Mediterranean closer and will make it more accessible to its neighbouring countries as well as those on the Black Sea shores.

What dangers does the US-led tax policy present for the economies of the Mediterranean?

Protectionist and authoritarian policies are certainly not a factor for growth in international trade. These actions lead to higher costs in the protected commodities which is to the detriment of local companies and consumers, and minimise incentives for businesses to boost production efficiency. In a world where cultural distances and consumption habits tend to conform, it is anachronistic to try to have more protectionist policies. I do not think it can be a serious, long-term economic strategy, it seems more like an action aimed in the search (or rentention) of electoral backing. In this scenario, however, the Mediterranean countries can benefit from greater competitiveness and gain market position by concentrating on East / West trade.

What economic policy should Italy undertake to benefit from traffic originating in North Africa and the Middle East?

Italy must head in a more business-friendly direction! The state’s work should focus on providing clear and current regulations, to implement them in a short and well-defined timeframe, to promote commercial and intellectual exchanges. The companies do not need short-term incentives but support, quickness of action and access to international markets. The unlimited and sometimes obstinately short-sighted protection of small, specific interests, limits growth and impoverishes the whole country. The upgrading of infrastructure is essential for connecting people and exchanging goods. Without infrastructure, our businesses are confined to a territory without any growth potential and without the possibility of benefiting from the value generated by international trade in which we have a significant “geographical” advantage: this is how we miss out on development and growth. We need clear and uniformly applied rules, to discuss and plan the country’s infrastructural needs with a strategic vision and to quickly and fully proceed with works that have already been planned: we cannot always and constantly question everything ... so as to never actually do anything! Once the Third Tunnel is complete, Genoa can become the main trade gateway for everything that passes through the Mediterranean, destined for Italy and central Europe.

How much more can maritime traffic grow in the Mediterranean?

If trade is a growth indicator, growth in the Mediterranean cannot be separated from the political stability of the nations that surround it and from their ability to efficiently use sea transport and intermodal connections. In Trieste, for example, an efficient alternative was opted for to substitute road transport on the trade routes connecting Turkey with Central and Northern Europe, generating value and jobs in Italy. A more supportive national policy for ship-train-truck multimodal transport, could help Italian ports expand their market reach, broaden their European vision and make them accessible to a trade community much larger than the one they can serve today (I underline, while creating value and well-being for the territory).

How does your company relate to the new challenges of the market?

“IMT is going through a new phase of opening to the market, including reorganization and infrastructural upgrading. The works to fill the water space between Molo Canepa and Molo Ronco have resumed. By 2019 the first consignment of works will be completed, which will allow access to all 700 meters of quay at Molo Ronco, to which will be added the 400 meters of the Canepa Ponente dock and the 275 meters dedicated to rolling stock at Ronco Ponente quay. By 2020 the entire terminal will be operational, and able to exploit its full capacity, 365,000 square meters which will be put to use as befits our final operational layout; by then the order of 3 additional quay cranes will also be delivered, inreasing capacity and production speed. In the meantime, always focusing on taking care of the customer’s needs, the traditional services of loading and discharging of cargos have been complemented with intermodal transport services (over 20 weekly departures to and from Dinazzano, Segrate, Vicenza and Brescia) and road transport services. The railway node is another strategic point in the future lay-out and will be reviewed, bringing six lines of tracks for the use of RMGs (rail mounted gantries): this has always been one of our strong points. The lashing, filling, emptying and storage services are conducted directly and within the terminal (therefore “on site” and without any transfer costs or risks, operating as a one-stop-shop). To facilitate the prompt and efficient delivery of containers suitable for loading, we have just launched a quick service for the maintenance and repair of empty containers inside the terminal (again, “on site” and without delays and costs of transfer to the depot). The improvement of timeframes and service methods to accommodate the needs of cargos and customers alike is also achieved through the company’s investments, partly already completed, the renewal of our equipment (among others, new service area vehicles, crane revamping, new tractors and port trailers) and lastly through the strengthening of our workforce with the recruitment of 16 young workers. The terminal, which is traditionally well-connected to the main Mediterranean ports, West Africa, South-East Africa, the Gulf, the Middle East, India-Pakistan, North Africa, has recently been fortunate to add a new MSC service which, while further reinforcing the East Med links, operates with a special and beneficial focus on Turkey and the Black Sea, as well as global links via Gioia Tauro and Piraeus”.