The Aula Magna of the University of Naples Parthenope hosts the International Conference “Italy and Spain: Bilateral Meeting between Ports and Cities” today and tomorrow, an event whose main objective is to promote dialogue and the exchange of experiences between key stakeholders in port and urban development in Spain and Italy.
This initiative, held within the framework of the Naples Shipping Week 2024, is organized by the Institutes of the National Research Council Itc and Iriss, RETE – International Association for the Collaboration between Ports and Cities, International Propeller Clubs, and the University of Naples Parthenope.
Teófila Martínez, president of RETE and the Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz, addressed today the importance of port governance for the sustainable development of port cities and the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. Her speech was part of a panel dedicated to port governance, which included top experts from Spain and Italy. Moderated by José Luis Estrada, port consultant and member of RETE, the panel featured the participation of Rafael Carmona Ruiz, president of the Port Authority of Seville and vice president of RETE Spain; Alicia Paz Antolín, head of the Legal Support Area for the Planning and Development Department of Spain’s State Ports; Giuseppe Grimaldi, secretary-general of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea Port Authority; Zeno D’Agostino, president of the European Sea Ports Organisation and Technital; and Barbara Bonciani, vice president of RETE Italy, in addition to the aforementioned president of RETE.
The speakers discussed various models of governance and how they influence the integration of ports with cities, emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve sustainable development. In her speech, Martínez stressed that, “at RETE, we have witnessed how proper governance can make a difference in balancing port and urban needs. Our approach promotes models that not only optimize port efficiency and competitiveness but also coherently integrate the port with the city, ensuring that both entities mutually strengthen each other.”
Martínez also emphasized the significant challenges facing port cities, such as climate change and the decarbonization of maritime transport, and highlighted the ambitious project to integrate the port with the city of Cádiz, which represents one of the main commitments to the economic and social development of the entire province. “We have an ambitious plan to better connect the port with the urban fabric and open Cádiz even more to the sea. This project will generate jobs and wealth for future generations,” she stated.
Throughout the day, the conference has also featured sessions focused on technological innovation and sustainability in port management, as well as urban regeneration of coastal areas. Tomorrow, the program will continue with roundtable discussions dedicated to the decarbonization of maritime transport and the impact of climate change on port cities, crucial topics for the future of the sector. The day will conclude with the signing of several cooperation agreements between ports from Italy and Spain.
