Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni told a
government meeting that approved Friday a strategic plan for a
Single Special Economic Zone in the country's South that it is a
"fundamental measure for Italy", according to well-informed
sources .
The plan will "contribute to design the South's development
policy over the next three years", Meloni said, according to the
sources.
"The development of a sole ZES" area represents "a challenge for
all, it works and will work if all actors involved - the
government, regions, local institutions, citizens and companies
- will understand the importance of this great challenge",
Meloni noted.
The plan establishes a Single Special Economic Zone across
southern Italy to simplify administrative procedures, provide
incentives and fiscal benefits to companies wishing to invest in
the area to boost growth.
It "extends benefits of the special economic zone to the entire
territory of the regions of our Mezzogiorno.
"All territories of the south will in this way be able to enjoy
opportunities for growth and development" through the
"simplification of administrative" procedures, "fiscal benefits"
and a "coordinated plan of interventions and investments",
Meloni told the meeting, the sources said.
Meloni added that the ZES plan eyed the Mediterranean, the new
geopolitical scenario and the ongoing transformation of the
energy sector as part of the development strategy.
"It is a scenario in which the South has all the cards necessary
to contribute to the strategic autonomy of Italy and Europe",
she noted.
In this respect, Meloni concluded, ZES could be crucial in
building a "new model of cooperation, development and
partnership with Africa on which the Mattei Plan is based",
referring to the plan to create a new partnership with African
countries to address the root causes of irregular migration and
turn Italy into a sort of hub of energy supplies.
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