Italy targets Mediterranean maritime hub status through new industrial strategy

Italy is positioning itself to become a central industrial, logistical, and energy hub in the Mediterranean. Civil Protection and Sea Policy Minister Nello Musumeci highlighted the importance of the maritime sector, which currently supports over 1.1 million jobs and generates approximately 224.9 billion euros.

The government has introduced the 'Piano del Mare' (Sea Plan) to coordinate maritime strategy, focusing on high-complexity sectors, digital and environmental transitions, and subsea development. This initiative aims to transform Italian ports from mere transit points into advanced hubs for research and industrial transformation.

In Calabria, regional efforts are focusing on marine conservation. The Regional Agency for the Protection of the Coast of Calabria (ARPACAL) and the Regional Marine Parks Agency (EPMR) are formalizing cooperation through a framework agreement. This includes establishing a regional diving coordination network to monitor and protect seabed ecosystems through citizen science and technical interventions.