World Report

Rapid economic growth stimulates plans for major infrastructure projects

Vicenza: a wealthy industrial and commercial centre, and one of Italy’s export leaders

eneto’s position as one of the strongest economic regions in Europe is confirmed by recent data showing that six of its seven provinces are recording production figures above the European average. In terms of value added per capita, Verona, Vicenza, Treviso and Padua are among the first 15 of the 103 provinces in Italy.
Tourism will always be a major source of revenue for the provinces of Venice and Verona, with internationally famous cities that attract millions of visitors per year. Less well-known are mountainous Belluno, with its ski resort Cortina d'Ampezzo, and agricultural Rovigo.

However, neither Venice nor Verona should be considered simply as tourist areas. Venice province includes the mainland industrial area of Marghera, one of the largest concentrations of heavy industry in Italy, and a focus for future development with the planned expansion of the VEGA science and technology park. Exports from the province make up 14.6 per cent of the national total.

Venice airport ranks third in Italy for passenger transfer numbers, while its port is one of Italy’s most important ports of call and first for container traffic. “Venice is the brand name, the marketing place and the meeting point for the region,” says Mayor Paolo Costa. “Venice supplies services to the rest of the region.”

Verona is strengthening its manufacturing base and services, in addition to its function as a motorway and railway hub. “There is increasing awareness that Verona has the potential to grow, and both an Italian and an international audience are looking at our city with interest,” says Mayor Paolo Zanotto.

PAOLO COSTA
Mayor of Venice

‘Venice is the region’s brand name, marketing place and meeting point’

Verona boasts STAR, one of the two other principal science and technology parks in the region, while Padua is home to the third, Galileo. VeronaFiere is developing the Verona Exhibition Centre, the third most important exhibition space in Italy, while PaduaFiere has made Padua’s trade fair area one of the most advanced in Europe.

The provinces of Vicenza and Treviso are among the most dynamic in Northern Italy. Vicenza is the leading Italian province for exports per capita. Its exports, including leather goods, jewellery, machinery, and bicycles, total almost £10 million a year. Treviso exports goods worth more than £7 million annually, and is the location of Italy’s premiere textile cluster, including companies such as Benetton and Stefanel.

According to Regional Councillor for the Environment and Transport, Renato Chisso, one of the challenges facing Veneto is the expansion of the transport infrastructure to reflect the area’s rapid economic growth.
Projects are under way to decongest the roads, improve connections between the major cities and facilitate tourism development, creating a variety of investment opportunities. Veneto is included in the European Corridor 5 transportation project to connect the Iberian peninsula through France and across Northern Italy with Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

Mr. Chisso says: “With the enlargement of the EU, Veneto will represent the crossroads for the connection with the Eastern European countries.”