Sicily's agri‑food hub presses for major infrastructure upgrades

Angelo Galifi, representing the Ragusa province in southeast Sicily, warned that the region’s isolation is a “hidden tax” that adds 6.54 billion euros – about 7.4 % of regional GDP – to the economy each year. Transport costs for Sicilian goods are 50‑58 % higher than the national average, cutting margins for the island’s leading agri‑food districts. Galifi urged the completion of the Syracuse‑Gela line, the Ragusa‑Catania connection, the expansion of Comiso airport, modernization of the rail network and the construction of a bridge across the Strait as essential steps to restore competitiveness. He called on local mayors, parliamentarians, trade unions and citizens to unite in demanding these projects and compensation measures from the state, stressing that without them Sicily cannot sustain growth or employment prospects.