North Tyrrhenian Port Network Authority President, Luciano Guerrieri, considers the approval of the decree establishing Tuscany’s Special Logistics Zone (SLZ) by the Council of Ministers “An act of enormous importance that ensures Tuscan companies new development opportunities for promoting strategic investments”
This marks the end to a very long process that has lasted four years. “The completion, albeit somewhat overdue, of the procedure which began in July 2020 is a historic result that we like to believe we have achieved thanks to our Port Network Authority’s effective contribution and the involvement of the entire port community,” Mr. Guerrieri added.
Likewise, Port Network Authority Managing Director, Matteo Paroli, expressed his satisfaction. He reiterated the importance of a result achieved thanks to teamwork and the participation of all the institutions involved, in particular Tuscany Regional Administration, local MPs, and regional councilors from all political parties.
“Now we have to move fast,” he said, pointing out that the SLZ is authorized for a maximum of seven years that can be extended for a further seven.
“We cannot afford to waste time, Close coordination between Tuscany Regional Administration, our Port Network Authority, and the municipal and provincial administrations is essential,” he added. “ We are ready to make our contribution. We already have an in-house unit specifically dedicated to these activities,” he concluded.
In a press release Tuscany Regional Administration pointed out that it had sent the first technical proposal for its establishment in July 2020. A few months later, in November 2020, the government replied with various observations which were promptly taken on board and included in the second version, which was sent in February 2021. In June the same year, there was an additional request for further changes. The third version was sent out at the end of November 2021. Then, after further modifications called for at European level, the fourth proposal was sent in June 2022. Almost two years later, then came the fifth proposal, with a number of marginal changes requested by the Ministry of Economy & Finance.
In Tuscany, a ‘polycentric’ SLZ system has been configured, i.e. one that aims to involve and functionally integrate, starting from the four port areas (Livorno, Piombino, Marina di Carrara, Portoferraio) along the coast, the other main regional logistics infrastructures such as the Amerigo Vespucci freight village in Guasticce near Livorno and the Pisa airport as proximity nodes, as well as the central Tuscany freight village in Prato as a modal connection node.
“We have been waiting for the government to issue this act for a long time,” explained the President of Tuscany Regional Administration, Eugenio Giani, and the Councilor for Economy & Tourism, Leonardo Marras. “At last, the process has been completed. Tuscany will be ready to take advantage of all the opportunities that could arise from the establishment of the Special Logistics Zone.
Translation by Giles Foster