Efforts to create a new port hub in the northern Adriatic have picked up speed with Italian and Croatian transport ministry officials signing a joint co-operation agreement in Trieste.

In the letter of intent signed Friday, the two countries pledged to work on a common strategy to develop connections with the nascent Baltic-Adriatic corridor and European transport Corridor V.

They set up a task force that will study ways to develop connections with the land transport system, as well as fast connections between the ports and the motorways of the sea.

The move marks another step forward in an increasingly forceful development drive for the long-stagnant northern Adriatic, a region cut off from its natural markets in central and eastern Europe for 50 years during the Cold War.

Earlier this year, port presidents from the Italian ports of Trieste, Venice and Ravenna as well as Koper in Slovenia, agreed to work together to market the northern Adriatic as a single port hub.

In addition, they agreed to work to harmonise policy, improve intermodal transport connections, and create a single electronic “window” onto the system.

Significantly, they also said they would push for the development of a transport corridor between the Adriatic and the Baltic that would bring additional traffic to their region.

The signatories said at the time that, with Croatia moving fast towards membership of the European Union, they hoped Rijeka would soon join the group.

The effort comes at a time when investment is also beginning to pour into port facilities in the region.

Though Italy’s ports are moving more slowly than they would like, Koper has just released a new €3.5bn ($5.2bn) development plan and Rijeka is the subject of an ongoing expansion plan funded by the World Bank.

Transport ministry officials aside, the meeting was also attended by executives from the ports of Trieste, Venice, Ravenna, Ancona, Rijeka, Split and Zadar.

Source:
Lloyd's List, Monday 2 November 2009