International geopolitical issues on the one hand and development prospects at a local level on the other. While the world is wondering about the medium and long-term future, the La Spezia port community is dealing with much closer horizons, which range from infrastructural investments for which the wait must end as soon as possible to imminent deadlines such as the deadlines within which express their interest in parts of the Enel area and the end of the mandate of the president of the Port System Authority. Topics that we discussed with the president of the La Spezia freight forwarders’ association, Alessandro Laghezza.
After a positive end to 2023, the terrorist attacks in the Red Sea have once again complicated the economic situation for the port of La Spezia. How has traffic been going in recent months?
“Today the trend is that of a slight recovery, compared to a particularly difficult first quarter of 2023. This shows that, despite international crises, the logistics system is resilient: when an important passage such as Suez stops, ships have found alternative solutions. With some delays, some vicissitudes and higher costs, but the containers arrive. However, volumes are not only affected by the crisis in the Red Sea, but also by geopolitical uncertainty at an international level and macroeconomic data: expectations of a drop in inflation and a cut in interest rates have in fact slowed down the great post-Covid euphoria, which in part was also unmotivated and which had led to the launch of fiscal instruments of dubious usefulness such as the superbonus. All without forgetting that in the last 30 years Italy is the country that has grown the least after Haiti: now that the post-Covid bubble is over we are once again dealing with the usual problems”.
In the movement of traffic, Africa is confirming that it can play an important role in the future of goods.
“Yes, North Africa is carving out an important role for itself. Ports like Tangier are standing out as very productive, particularly for growing traffic such as that of cars. Morocco and Egypt will see development projects carried out by the most important companies.”
Staying closer, there are also prospects within the former Enel area, where in recent days the secretary of the port associations Salvatore Avena hoped for an interest from Lsct. What is his position?
“Avena spoke in a personal capacity. My position, as president of the Freight Forwarders and vice-president of Confindustria is different. There are also other logistics operators interested in the opportunities that present themselves in the Enel area and I don’t think that naming a possible entity would do any good in a public procedure that is still underway. Furthermore, there could also be interest from production sectors, as well as port system operators”.
Speaking of Lsct, now should be the time to launch the tender for investments in the third basin. What is your impression?
“The trust has always been there, but the operators are waiting for concrete signs such as the launch of the tender and the start of works. Also because a new pier for goods has not been built in La Spezia for 30 years. The latest expansion concerned cruises. There are development projects in the other ports too: in La Spezia we could be ready sooner, but we have to start immediately.
In recent months the port community has raised a cry of alarm over the cancellation of customs corridors announced by the Customs Agency. What news is there on this?
“For ten years the port of La Spezia was able to take advantage of customs corridors which allowed the customs clearance of goods in Santo Stefano. After the communication from the Customs Agency, the companies involved turned to the TAR, which suspended the application of this provision. We always talk about the Spezia System, as a homogeneous whole made up of public and private, but recently, after having been a dynamic element for our economy, at central level the Customs are struggling a little more”.
At the end of 2024, the mandate of the president of the Port System Authority Mario Sommariva will expire. What do you think of his work and the names that have emerged for the future?
“I express appreciation for the work carried out by the president Sommariva and the general secretary Federica Montaresi in these years. I have always thought that four years of mandate, also due to Italian delays and deadlines, are not enough to complete ongoing projects. Even less if we consider the freezing of the pandemic period. I therefore hope that there will be continuity in the future so that the president can complete his plan, shared and appreciated by the city. There is the unknown of the port reform being discussed at parliamentary level, which could lead to a commissionership. We will see. Then there are the ambitions of other exponents of the economy and institutions for a top-level role: in the future it would be nice to have someone from La Spezia at the helm again, but for now continuity is better”.
In the twentieth century, Spezia was the city of the Navy and Defense. How do you see the city of the future?
“I see it as the city of the sea. The province of La Spezia is the one in which the blue economy has the highest incidence. For this reason it must take possession of its sea front and fully experience its beauty. When we talk about the landfilling of Viale Italia my eyes shine, I believe it is the only work that can change the face of the city. In 2050 I see La Spezia overlooking the sea, with gardens and palm trees that do not stop at Passeggiata Morin alone, but also with the possibility of bringing together the different souls of the economy, such as the military, the port and the shipyards of nautical. But there is also tourism and livability and for this reason we need to be ambitious and aim to have a more direct view of the sea, while the works to make the port more sustainable will soon be a reality, both on the mercantile and cruise fronts”.
Tags: Laghezza Strategic Enel area Lsct Adsp president Sommariva worked hope continuity
