Support for Puglia's harbour system and the maritime economy

Intesa Sanpaolo has signed an agreement with the Port System Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea (Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta and Monopoli) and with the Port System Authority of the Ionian Sea (Taranto) for the revitalisation of Puglia's maritime economy through:

• boosting the recovery of sustainable 4.0 investments by small and medium-sized enterprises
• growth via the use of extraordinary finance and digitalisation
• individual and supply chain business development programmes
• initiatives with high economic and social impact that can attract investors.

To accelerate the growth of Southern Italy's economy, support for Puglia's port system and the entire regional maritime economy is accompanied by the development of SEZs (Special Economic Zones) in the South: Intesa Sanpaolo has allocated them funds of €1.5 billion for new investments and promotes them to international investors during specific missions abroad.

Puglia's value added generated by sectors relating to its maritime economy is €3.2 billion and 53% of the regional imports and exports of €8.2 billion travels by sea. Blue economy businesses in the region number nearly 18,000 and employ approximately 72,400 people (data source: Srm – research centre linked to Intesa Sanpaolo).