Confindustria Toscana proposes development plan for Elba and Tuscan islands

Confindustria Toscana Centro e Costa has released a dossier titled ‘Industrial development and economic relaunch of the island of Elba and the smaller Tuscan islands’ to address structural economic challenges in the Tuscan Archipelago.

The report highlights a significant imbalance in the local economy, noting that while hospitality and catering account for 22% of local businesses, the manufacturing sector represents only 4%. Manufacturing has seen a 24.3% decline over the last eleven years. Key obstacles identified include rising maritime transport costs, a high rate of youth unemployment (NEET) at 15.6%, and a lack of dedicated tax credits for investors.

To diversify the economy and reduce dependence on seasonal tourism, the proposal suggests focusing on nautical shipbuilding, port activities, sustainable logistics, and nautical tourism. Confindustria is calling for an insular industrial plan, the use of regional funds (FESR and FSE+), and national support such as the extension of the Single Special Economic Zone (ZES Unica) or a similar instrument to improve connectivity and investment.