Mattarella and Draghi visit Sorrento for the forum on Southern Italy

The first forum on Southern Italy, " Towards the South. The European strategy for a new geopolitical, economic, and socio-cultural era in the Mediterranean ," was held at Villa Zagara in Sorrento . The objectives are clear: to explore strategies for revitalizing Southern Italy, with the participation of numerous prominent figures and major companies.

The presence of the State could not be missing from such an important event, but what was particularly notable was the presence of two great authorities: the Prime Minister Mario Draghi and the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.

The event, organized by The European House Ambrosetti in collaboration with the Ministry for the South and Territorial Cohesion , aims to develop a new strategic agenda for the South that focuses on the roads to the Mediterranean, which is now more crucial than ever in the historical political scenario.

The key word is “ concreteness ” so that strategies can be outlined that are first and foremost effective.

Supporting the event will be major partners, such as the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiene Group, Intesa Sanpaolo, MSC Group and Adler Group.

Two days of debates and Networking activities in the presence not only of the two Presidents, but also of ministers, top politicians, opinion leaders and great business managers.

Southern Italy as a gateway to the Mediterranean

Perhaps what drives this need, more than affection or a sense of patriotism towards the territories of Southern Italy, is the problem relating to the war in Ukraine , or the energy problem that is involving all sectors of our country.

Now more than ever, the role of Southern Italy is fundamental , thanks to our strategic position in the Mediterranean, which has made our territories a hotly contested area for control of these seas.

The need to find new sources of supply made it necessary to invest in Southern Italy; it is somewhat controversial whether a war was necessary to understand the primary role of the South in the Italian and, indeed, European economy.

The data on the South that emerged in the White Paper show a working and growing South

Over the course of the two-day event, data from the " White Paper " study will be presented, a true report on the state of the South with less alarming numbers than we are used to.

As many as 20 performance indicators from 42 countries and 20 regions were analyzed over a period of 10 years, a study like never before.

The results that emerge show a South that comes out better than we are used to thinking, with a placement in the bottom 6 in only 2 cases (investments on GDP and population growth rate by 2050).

While it ranks in the first 6 positions for 7 indicators:

• Business birth rate
• Renewable energy
• Oil and gas production
• Import of electricity
• Variation in energy consumption
• High-tech export
• Doctors per 1000 inhabitants

A decidedly different image from the one commonly conveyed, symptomatic of a shift in the historical paradigm of Southern Italy's growth, but one that is clearly not the result of "investments by the Italian State" but of a collective effort by the people of Southern Italy.

In short, a hard-working South that wants to grow and that, contrary to all expectations, manages to make it on its own two feet.

But it is time for investments to arrive with a clear and, above all, effective action of geopolitical development.

Schools closed all weekend and air traffic restrictions

Given the importance of the event, Mayor Massimo Coppola has signed an ordinance suspending all teaching activities for all schools, of all levels, on May 13th and 14th.

All air traffic has been suspended, with a ban on overflights over the municipal area, for the sole day of May 13th. Only official helicopters for the Forum's guests will be allowed to land at Campo Italia.

Information on “Verso Sud” in Sorrento

Where: Sorrento
When: Friday 13 May and Saturday 14 May