At Palazzo Biscari in Catania “X Conference of Youth of Southern Italy”

Among the speeches were the Minister of Civil Protection and Sea Policies Nello Musumeci and the Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Tullio Ferrante

The sea is the “card in the deck” that Italy has never played to become competitive again in Europe and in the world. With geopolitical structures in the Mediterranean Sea in continuous change following the Suez Canal crisis, the South can once again be a protagonist. This is provided that there is serious and concrete planning, which has been missing for over a century, and which can leave the “Southern question” behind, focusing on a larger scale. A challenge launched at the Palazzo Biscari in Catania by the Minister of Sea Policies Nello Musumeci, on the occasion of the Due to different characteristics, two systems have developed in Italy: the Northern one, which has turned its interest towards the heart of the continent, and the Southern one, which has set its sights on the Mediterranean Sea. One does not exclude the other, to make Italy a competitive country in the world, placing a “national question” at the centre. An objective of the Meloni government, which has implemented the Mattei Plan to strengthen exchanges and interactions with some countries in the Mediterranean and North Africa.” A political commitment, as underlined by the Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Tullio Ferrante, which aims to «improve interchanges, interconnections and intermodality. There are several funds available, above all those from the PNRR, which will allow us to strengthen the logistics platform of the areas where the most important commercial relationships take place”. An opportunity for the south, which cannot underestimate the lack of adequate infrastructure that makes it competitive. An issue at the center of the conference of the youth associations of builders of Sicily, Calabria, Campania and Puglia (Ance Giovani) – moderated by the journalist Michele Guccione – which focused attention on the development of ports, railways and the Special Economic Zone. «Infrastructures are the backbone for a country like Italy – comments the national president of Ance Giovani Angelica Krystle Donati – Every euro spent on construction has a positive impact on the territory of 3 and a half times, but every work must be widespread through targeted investments. An implemented project would not give the expected results without an adequate infrastructure network, which improves the quality of life and attractiveness of a territory, creating new jobs and attracting the attention of investors. A development necessary to stop the flight of new generations towards foreign countries, because a territory without young people is a territory without a future.”

Among the most anticipated and debated macro-works is the Bridge over the Strait of Messina: «There are several positive effects for our island: from 37 thousand jobs to the creation of other infrastructures connected to it, such as the strengthening of the road, motorway and railway networks – underlines the president of Ance Giovani Sicilia Marco Colombrita – Data shows that infrastructure and high speed contribute to redistributing employment in territories where the data is not very encouraging». A theme, therefore, which not only embraces the economic aspect, but also the social one, as highlighted by the president of Ance Catania Rosario Fresta. «The question then arises as to what is a priority and what is needed by people – highlights the coordinator of the Southern Ance Giovani group Marco Oloferne Curti – knowing that we have a duty above all towards those who will be there. We must, therefore, have a conscientious approach to be close to the needs of those who live in the places and these works.” Despite the critical issues and the works still to be carried out, as highlighted by the president of Ance Sicilia Santo Cutrone – and the difficulties linked to insularity – for which the Regional Government has made specific requests to the national and European Government – Sicily is a concrete example . «The public administration can only support initiatives aimed at development – ​​declares the councilor for the economy of the Sicilian Region Marco Falcone – Between the past legislature and the current one, approximately 12 billion have been invested in motorways, railways, ports and secondary roads , recording growth of over one billion in 2023 and positive data also for 2024.” Not only investments, but also logistics management and reorganization skills play an important role in this game. Examples include the commitment of the Catania administration with targeted interventions in the main infrastructures, such as the port. In the latter – states the mayor of Etna Enrico Trantino – work has begun to improve the waterfront and to rationalize maritime traffic, directing merchant traffic to the port of Augusta and commercial traffic to the city of the Elephant.

To better analyze the issues related to ports, the thesis by Alessandro Escolino (councillor of ANCE Giovani Campania) and the analysis of Alessandro Panaro (Head of Maritime & Energy, Centro Studi Srm of Naples), which was followed by the debate with protagonists Antonio Caponetto (coordinator of the Single ZES Mission Structure) and Annalisa Tardino (Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Transport and Tourism Commission). A second session focused attention on the connections of the South. The pioneering interventions were led by Emilio Ciardullo (councillor of ANCE Giovani Cosenza) and Antonello Fontanili (director of Uniontrasporti), followed by a round table attended by Pierluigi Di Palma (president ENAC), Marco Marchese (RFI South Area Investment Directorate) and Ida Nicotra (administrator of the Stretto di Messina spa company).

Finally, space for the management of resources and interventions for the management of water resources, with the analysis of Vincenzo Scarano (ance councilor of ANCE Giovani Puglia) and the reflections entrusted to Giuseppe Alesso (CEO of Siciliacque) and Fabio Fatuzzo (single extraordinary commissioner for purification).

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