The Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Manlio Di Stefano, spoke at the annual National Meeting of CONFITARMA, before a large audience of shipowners and businessmen who do business in the maritime sector.
The Forum focused on the challenges and opportunities posed by the management of activities connected to the so-called Blue Economy in the Mediterranean and in other seas. The Forum offered the opportunity to point out that the sector has grown in recent years both in terms of trade and security in conjunction with the growing importance of the sea for Italy.
“We are ready – said Undersecretary Di Stefano – to make the most of what can be defined as the “Blue Century”. For this reason it is essential to create an overarching, comprehensive and coordinated governance at national level for the sea sector. After all, a technological industry like shipping cannot have its wings clipped by bureaucracy but needs to operate in an unfettered and enabling environment. As a government we are also committing ourselves to launching what is known as “Green Shipping”, i.e. an LNG distribution network for ships and the electrification of docks. In the future, more and more trade and tourism will occur by sea and we must be ready to rise to this challenge. “
