MILAN, July 14, 2020 – “The Genoa Model reflects the pragmatism of the Genovese, the sort of pragmatism that gets things done without saying too many words. We have to apply this model elsewhere in Italy in such a way that all interested parties work together in developing public works. Italy must no longer be the country of obstacles and resistance to change. In the face of an economic and social emergency that forces us to look at a reconstruction equal to what was done after the war, we have to create confidence in the future and avoid the worst of all evils: resistance to change and inertia.” These were some of the comments made by Pietro Salini, Chief Executive of Webuild, during a roundtable “Il Modello Genova per il Rilancio del Sistema-Paese” (The Genoa Model for a Relaunch of the National System) as part of Liguria 2022, the fourth edition of a forum hosted by The European House – Ambrosetti, a professional consulting group, begun in 2016 to promote a discussion and an exchange of ideas among representatives of the private and public sectors on how best to create a model for the development of the Ligurian region. The forum’s participants included Giovanni Toti, Governor of the Ligurian region and commissioner for the management of the Morandi Bridge emergency; Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive of Fincantieri; Calogero Mauceri, Extraordinary Commissioner for the Terzo Valico dei Giovi project; and Alessandro Profumo, Chief Executive of Leonardo.

“In all of Italy’s regions where projects are either non-existent or blocked, beginning with Liguria, we have to replicate the efficient model applied for the construction of Genoa’s new bridge, uniting all the parties in a concerted effort among institutions, businesses and unions to plan and build strategic infrastructure for the medium- to long-term to strengthen the country’s economic and productive structure. We need to be able to hand down to future generations a country that will finally be full of opportunities for them. The experience that we have had with this project and with Commissioner Bucci and Governor Toti has shown that things can be done, even by following the rules, whether they be Italian or European.”

“We are living through the greatest national emergency since after the war, with €400-500 billion of GDP at risk between today and 2021, and along with that GDP there are millions of jobs that are also at risk with a resulting drop in market demand. In order to be able to put the country on a more stable footing, we have to aim for an articulated infrastructure system that points towards a sustainable future with a plan of at least €100-150 billion. Today, six months since the start of the crisis caused by COVID, are we planning a future for our young people? Are we investing in projects? I still see a lot of resistance towards public works, just like what happened so many years ago to the Autostrade del Sole (Highway of the Sun), which today is a symbol of bringing the country closer together. What dominates today is an inefficient and ineffective way of thinking, in which we worry more about how things are done than actually getting them done. We have to work fast, focusing on public works, unblocking quickly those that have already been planned, and simplifying the processes to start up new infrastructure. On specific plans for schools, hospitals, urban settings, metro lines and railways. To start these public works means a recovery in the GDP and employment in a sector that is strategic for Italy, accounting for 8% of GDP and more than a million jobs. Our generation has the responsibility to return what it has benefitted from and create new opportunities for future generations.”