by EH
As global powers explore new routes to strengthen trade links between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, Italian regional officials are positioning the Port of Trieste as a potential linchpin in the emerging economic and transport corridor known as IMEC — the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor.
Cristina Amirante, the Regional Councillor for Infrastructure and Territory for Friuli Venezia Giulia, voiced the region’s ambitions during a preliminary meeting held at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the development of the IMEC project. The initiative aims to establish integrated networks of railways and ports connecting India to Europe via the Arabian Peninsula and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The Port of Trieste, along with the integrated hinterland logistics system of Friuli Venezia Giulia, has all the necessary features to become one of the European entry points for the IMEC corridors,” Amirante stated. She highlighted Trieste’s strategic location and its designation as the Adriatic’s busiest port as key assets.
The IMEC initiative, announced in 2023 at the G20 summit, is seen as a potential counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. While still in early stages, it seeks to enhance trade and infrastructure connectivity across the Indian Ocean and into Europe, bolstering economic cooperation along the route.
Amirante emphasized that the corridor could also enhance existing infrastructures such as the Suez Canal, rather than replace them. “Trieste offers natural advantages for this network,” she said, citing ongoing investments in the port’s infrastructure, an already-operational logistics platform, and established rail links to northeastern Europe and the Balkans.
As international interest grows in diversifying global supply chains and building alternative trade routes, Italy’s northern regions are positioning themselves as pivotal players. Regional officials hope that Trieste’s well-developed intermodal facilities and strong geopolitical position will make it a logical European endpoint for the transcontinental corridor.
