| Following the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, “Regio Prima Latium et Campania”, for the development of the Maritime Economy, which took place in Naples at the Navigare Boat Show on 28th October this year, the Caserta, Latina, Naples, Rome and Salerno Chambers of Commerce met in Rome to present the contents of their agreement, and to share their thoughts on the next operative steps to be taken to move forward together. Accordingly, a Round Table was organized at the Hall of the Council of the Rome Chamber of Commerce on 16th November, entitled: “the Maritime Economy: Lazio and Campania Regions leading the Mediterranean. Michele Capasso, President of the Fondazione Mediterraneo, participating at this event, reminded the participants that this initiative had been suggested by the Fondazione and President of the Latina Chamber of Commerce (CCIIA), Mr Zottola, four years earlier. Other supporters included the Viterbo Chamber of Commerce, which officialised its formal adhesion to the agreement. The Councillor for Employment and Training for the Lazio Region, Ms. Mariella Zezza, inaugurated the day’s work, stating: “We are committed to sustaining vocational training in maritime industries that will lead to specialised professional profiles and generate new employment. On Saturday morning I will be in Gaeta to inaugurate the first courses of its kind to be held at an Italian Technical College, the G. Caboto Nautical Institute. The courses will train new shipboard officers, deck officers and port directors”. The Councillor concluded that, “from today we will consolidate our collaboration into an inter-regional agreement to create an surge of employment.” Vincenzo Zottola, Latina Chamber of Commerce, declared that “the Round Table was an opportunity to launch a joint collaboration programme to give immediate effect to the memorandum of understanding. Two working groups will be formed, a political/strategic one formed by presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, and the other technical/scientific composed of national level experts coordinated by their respective secretaries general. Mr. Zottola concluded that “we need to remember that together the two regions represent one fifth of the services produced by the entire Country. With 830 kilometres of coast representing 11% of the Italian coastline and one of the most interesting insular systems of the world, and certainly in the Mediterranean, in relation to which both regions can boast impressive statistics. Among them, mention need only be made the 16.5% of shipbuilders’ yards, 6.5% of fishing, 18.7% of maritime transport and approximately 14 million passengers, 10% of commercial ports capable of moving 44 million tonnes of goods and 2.2 million passengers from the cruise liners market”. |
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