Begin an internal discussion next January regarding the draft Port Reform Bill, following its approval by the Council of Ministers

The Assembly of Port System Authorities' Presidents, meeting , elected Roberto Petri as the new President of Assoporti, the Association of Italian Ports. A statement noted that "the appointment comes ahead of the deadline of January 19, 2026, set by the Commission during the Assembly of December 3, and will allow for an orderly and timely handover to the current President, Rodolfo Giampieri, whose term expires on December 31."

A profound overhaul of governance

Petri's election comes at a particularly significant time for the Italian port system, marked by a profound overhaul of governance: 14 new Presidents of Port System Authorities were appointed in 2025, marking the beginning of a new era for the national port system. This scenario will be accompanied, in 2026, by the planned launch of the port reform, which will redesign the sector's structures, responsibilities, and governance tools.

Addressing major global challenges: 

In this evolving context, Assoporti's role will increasingly be one of coordination, representation, and direction, supporting Port System Authorities in addressing major global challenges: energy transition, digitalization of logistics processes, competitiveness of the Mediterranean system, resilience of supply chains, and port-city integration. The choice of Roberto Petri, Assoporti continues, reflects the desire of the member assembly to ensure continuity in Assoporti's work, while also consolidating a constant and constructive dialogue with institutions, starting with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the European Union, and the entire maritime-port cluster.

Providing sustainable employment opportunities

At the close of the assembly, outgoing President Rodolfo Giampieri stated: "I am pleased to have accompanied the assembly for the past four and a half years, during which we faced many challenges together. I extend my sincere thanks to the presidents, secretaries general, and all the staff of the port authority for their professional and personal support, as well as my deep appreciation for my organization. I now hand over the reins to Dr. Roberto Petri, whom I trust will strengthen the role of 'Assoporti' in this new phase for the Italian port system, a system that is a fundamental pillar of the real economy and a cornerstone for generating widespread wealth and providing sustainable employment opportunities."

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The sea and ports as one of the historic sources of wealth

For his part, President-designate Roberto Petri emphasized: "I am honored to have been chosen for this prestigious role for our nation's port system, and I intend to commit myself to the sector in a spirit of collaboration and coordination with all stakeholders. My personal culture and experience see the sea and ports as one of the historic sources of wealth and progress for our nation. With this in mind, in close collaboration with the Presidents of the Port System Authorities, I will work to ensure that this important phase of transformation translates into a strengthening of the entire sector."

On the  other hand  the meeting, those present decided to begin an internal discussion next January regarding the draft Port Reform Bill, following its approval by the Council of Ministers, in order to provide a constructive contribution to the Government.

#Roberto Petri , #Rodolfo Giampieri , #Assoporti , #Port System Authorities , #Ports of Italy