TRIESTE – The Blue Economy is confirmed as one of the strategic pillars of the Italian economy and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti is relaunching its role with a 9 billion euro investment plan between 2025 and 2027, earmarked for the country’s infrastructure, with particular attention to the port system.
The centrality of the sector was reaffirmed by Andrea Nuzzi, chief business officer of CDP, speaking on the sidelines of the “Blue Capital Forum – Finance and industry, a pact to shape the future of the Blue Economy”, a stage of the national Road to BEST roadshow that brought together the main players in the maritime economy in Milan.
«In the maritime economy sector, we are present along the entire value chain», Nuzzi explained. «We operate upstream, in port services, and downstream in integrated logistics. We therefore cover the entire system». This approach translates into interventions both on port infrastructure and in support of companies within the maritime ecosystem, through to the strengthening of links between ports and national logistics networks.
CDP’s industrial plan provides for total commitments of 9 billion euros over the three-year period, with around 3.5 billion already activated in the first year. «It is clear that the port system represents a strategic priority for the country», Nuzzi stressed, highlighting how the sector is increasingly central to Italy’s industrial and logistics competitiveness.
The context for these interventions is that of a rapidly expanding Blue Economy. According to data presented during the forum, the sector involves more than 232,000 companies, generates 1.09 million jobs and produces 76.6 billion euros in added value, equal to around 4% of the national economy. The system places Italy third in Europe in terms of the sector’s economic weight, thanks to an integrated model that combines tourism, logistics and industry.
Alongside the productive dimension, financial interest is also growing. During the speeches, there emerged an increase in attention from institutional investors towards shipping and port infrastructure, also in terms of the energy transition. The role of advanced financial instruments is also strengthening, with bank credit and private debt increasingly being combined to support long-term investments and more flexible capital structures.