TRIESTE – The Veneto region is once again calling for a strengthening of industrial policy tools to support the competitiveness of businesses.
The president of the region, Alberto Stefani, proposes the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Northern Italy and the expansion of the boundaries of existing Simplified Logistics Zones (SLZs) that already exist, with the aim of closing the gap with neighboring regions that benefit from more favorable tax and regulatory regimes.
According to Stefani, the discussions that have taken place in recent weeks between the presidents of the Region and Confindustria regarding measures to boost competitiveness demonstrate that the issue is now a top priority. Although it shares only a short border with Austria, the Veneto region also interacts daily with Friuli-Venezia Giulia—a region with special status—and with the Autonomous Province of Trento, entities that have different tools and conditions capable of influencing businesses’ investment decisions.
Hence the call to expand the areas covered by the Free Trade Zones (ZLS) and to introduce a Special Economic Zone (ZES) for Northern Italy, combining administrative streamlining with economic measures such as tax credits and non-repayable grants to encourage new investments and support existing ones.
The regional president also outlines the areas on which to focus development: new technologies, environmental sustainability, and the promotion of high-quality products, reiterating that Veneto is not asking for preferential treatment, but rather for tools similar to those already available in other regions with which it competes directly.
Stefani cites the Venice-Rovigo Free Trade Zone as an example, which, according to the Region, is yielding positive results, and points to the planned European hub for critical raw materials in Porto Marghera as further confirmation of the Veneto Region’s industrial and logistical strengths.
