The discussion focused upon the areas of possible mutual cooperation between the Ports of Genoa and Quebec, both in terms of trade relations and cultural ties. President Paroli underlined the importance of enhancing forms of cooperation across the economic spectrum, with the objective to foster growth and promote stability: “It is an honour for me to welcome the Quebec delegation to Genoa. The meeting marks an important step towards the strengthening of existing relations between our countries. Canada is a highly valued partner, and we pledge our full support to reconciling the logistic specifications of the Ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado with the maritime trade requirements of Quebec. Our aim is to provide the respective port industries and local communities with new opportunities for growth in the establishment of enduring bilateral relations. An exchange in know-how, in areas such as technological innovation and artificial intelligence, is today a top priority, with the prospect of sharpening the competitive edge of our port clusters and boosting economic development.”
The Quebec delegation confirmed a commitment to cementing trade relations with Italy and, specifically, with the Ports of Genoa, in its strategic capacity as southern maritime gateway into Europe, across medium-long term projects in which technological innovation is set to play an increasingly central role. Laurence Fouquette-L’Anglais, the Quebec Delegate to Italy, stated: “I wish to thank the President of the Port Authority for his warm welcome and for the high-level talks conducted between both parties. This meeting has provided us with the opportunity to consolidate existing strong ties which are based upon shared values and a common vision for sustainable development and innovation. In the current moment of global geopolitical uncertainty, and in the face of new challenges on the horizon, we think it is vital to strengthen relations with our partners. The prospect for a future collaboration between the Ports of Genova and Savona-Vado and the ports of Quebec, across areas which include logistics, technology, sustainability and the application of artificial intelligence to the port industry, open up new opportunities for operators and for the local communities alike, contributing to a path towards resilient and enduring growth. At the same time, this cooperation represents an opportunity to expand and diversify into new markets and boost exports, thereby increasing the competitive edge of our economies overall. Quebec looks forward to this collaboration, firmly convinced of the concrete and positive impact which the consolidation of strong relations will have upon our respective local communities and economies".
A focus of the discussion was dedicated to the historical and cultural ties which link Genoa to Canada and to Quebec, forged by the Italian emigration of the past century. Within this framework, it is important to highlight the legacy of the Genoa-based CISEI (International Centre for Studies on Italian Emigration) and the genealogical archives for Italian emigrants, as a testimony to relations which go far beyond economic relations.
The meeting was preceded by a guided boat tour of the port facilities of Genoa.
