Italy’s Northeast Positions Itself as Key Gateway Between Europe and Asia

by InTrieste

Massimiliano Fedriga, the governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia region, outlined a vision for his region to become a strategic logistics hub between Europe and Asia, speaking at a conference in Milan on Sunday.

“Logistical capabilities are now essential to the economic development of any territory,” Fedriga said during the session Doing Business in Asia: Opportunities and Italian Success Stories, held as part of the Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting. “Our region has all the potential to play a fundamental role in relations with Asia. Friuli Venezia Giulia is effectively a logistics platform capable of connecting Central and Southern Europe with the East and Far East.”

Fedriga highlighted the Indo-Mediterranean Corridor (IMEC) — an emerging trade initiative that spans from India through the Middle East to Europe — as a critical opportunity for the region. He suggested that, in a broader vision, the corridor could extend to include countries like Japan and South Korea, ultimately reaching the port city of Trieste.

“This is not only an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen commercial activities,” Fedriga added, “but also to foster the emergence of new business enterprises along the corridor.”

With global logistics strained by ongoing geopolitical tensions, Fedriga emphasized the need for resilient and diversified trade routes. “Developing IMEC also means enhancing our resilience, which is vital today given the pressures on global transport systems,” he said. “Alternative freight channels are essential to safeguard the investments of our businesses in those areas of the world.”

The event was organized by Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, in collaboration with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and ICE, the national agency promoting Italian companies abroad. It aimed to present Italy’s institutional support network to businesses seeking access to Asian and Pacific markets and involvement in major infrastructure projects backed by the Asian Development Bank.

Officials also underscored the logistics capacity already present in Friuli Venezia Giulia, which includes the ports of Trieste and Monfalcone — both part of the Eastern Adriatic Port Authority — as well as Porto Nogaro, which is managed by the regional Economic Development Consortium. These ports are seen as critical assets in Italy’s ambitions to strengthen connectivity with Asia through the new corridor.