by InTrieste
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini concluded his official visit to the Friuli Venezia Giulia region on Sunday with a maritime tour of the port of Trieste, underscoring the growing strategic interest of Slovakia in expanding its access to the Adriatic through northern Italy.
Accompanied by the region’s governor, Massimiliano Fedriga, and Regional Councillor for Labor, Research, and Universities Alessia Rosolen, President Pellegrini toured the port aboard the Corsi, a patrol vessel of the Trieste Harbor Office. The visit highlighted the historic, cultural, and economic ties between Slovakia and Italy, and particularly the importance of Trieste as a potential maritime outlet for the landlocked Central European country.
“With President Pellegrini, we reaffirmed the importance of our historical and economic relations,” said Governor Fedriga following the meeting. “There is strong potential for Trieste to become Bratislava’s gateway to the sea, enhancing both logistical and trade exchanges.”
Trieste, already a crucial hub in the Adriatic, is aiming to position itself as a key player in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), an emerging transport and trade route linking Europe to Asia. Fedriga emphasized Friuli Venezia Giulia’s ambition to serve as a central hub along this corridor, noting Slovakia’s interest in the port as part of its broader logistical strategy.
During the bilateral talks, Pellegrini stressed the need to strengthen rail links between Bratislava and Trieste. He pointed to ongoing investments in Slovakia’s historical logistics infrastructure, particularly at Čierna nad Tisou — a strategic rail junction at the border with Ukraine — as a key point of future development for enhancing freight flows between Central and Eastern Europe and the Adriatic.
Pellegrini, who noted his family roots trace back to a valley in Tyrol, received a detailed briefing on Trieste’s port capabilities. The tour was attended by local officials including Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza and Luca Davide Farina, Honorary Slovak Consul in Trieste.
The visit marked the final stop in President Pellegrini’s working tour of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
