The logistical corridor connecting the Italian Ligurian port of La Spezia to North Africa has been significantly fortified. Today, at the conclusion of Fruit Logistica 2024 in Berlin, the enhanced logistical ties, particularly in the agri-food sector, between these regions were unveiled. This renowned fair, pivotal for the global trade of agricultural products, witnessed active participation from the Harbour System Authority and the Tarros Group. Their collaboration aims to boost traffic dedicated to transporting agricultural goods between the ports of Marina di Carrara and La Spezia in Italy and various African coastal destinations.
This year marked the inaugural participation of the ADSP at the event, within a dedicated space in collaboration with the Liguria International Region. Among the distinguished visitors were Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, Ice President Matteo Zoppas, and Italian Ambassador to Berlin Armando Verricchio. The spotlight during these days has been on the operations of Ligurian ports, notably with the ADSP and the Tarros Group jointly hosting an event titled “La Spezia Hub: Mediterranean Corridor – Door to Door from/to Europe and North Africa.”
Maria Valentina De Bernardi, Tarros Group’s commercial director, emphasized, “The Tarros Group is enhancing connections to and from North Africa through collaboration with the ADSP of the Eastern Ligurian Sea. This strengthens a robust Mediterranean network, offering European customers a sustainable and efficient transport corridor for goods. This fair provides an excellent platform to engage with our Italian and international partners.”
Federica Montaresi, secretary of the ADSP of the Ligurian Sea Oriental, highlighted the significance of the Mediterranean basin and the port’s strategic attention to it, especially with services offered by the Tarros Group over the years. “Our port is now connected to all major Mediterranean ports, enabling direct access to Europe through our logistical system,” Montaresi explained. “This edition showcases Liguria as a pivotal harbor and logistics hub in Italy, capable of capturing a significant share of traffic despite the challenges faced by the shipping industry, particularly post-Suez crisis.”
Montaresi credited the Liguria Region and Council Member Alessio Piana for consolidating the three ports along a geographic arc, which is a preferred route for ships arriving from the Far East. “In La Spezia, we have developed efficient services, notably since 2019 when we initiated the logistic corridor with the port of Casablanca, facilitating data exchange between our respective platforms,” Montaresi added.
“We’ve initiated a series of investments focusing on efficiency, digitalization, and innovative services, especially in the vicinity of the Santo Stefano di Magra port,” Montaresi continued. “This area holds immense potential, particularly for enhancing services catering to the agri-food sector. Thanks to collaborations with the Customs Agency, we’ve streamlined goods services, enabling quicker checks and more efficient goods forwarding.”