THE 65TH GENOA INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN, CONFIRMING ITS ROLE AS ONE OF THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT INDYSTRY EVENTS ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
“DEVELOPMENT, JOBS AND INNOVATION DRIVING GROWTH ACROSS ITALY” WERE THE DEFINING TOPICS AT THE CENTRE OF THE INAUGURAL CONFERENCE WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS
Thursday 18th September – Italian national anthem and flag-raising ceremony. With the solemn tone of the traditional opening ceremony, greeted by a mighty salute by the Schergat (F 598), the Italian Navy’s missile frigate, which passed by to honour the event with its cannons raised, the global spotlight shifted to the 65th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show. For six days, lasting until 23rd September, the Genoa International Boat Show will be the capital of Italian and global recreational boating, championing its entire prestigious industrial supply chain. With over 1,000 boats on display, 23 new shipyards, exhibitors from 45 countries, 123 new products and 96 premieres, the Genoa Boat Show confirms its status as one of the three most important boating industry events in the world.
Highlighting the importance of the event, for the first time in 65 editions, the Genoa International Show opened with a greeting from a political representative from the United States, the Secretary of Transportation of the State of Florida, Jared Perdue, who expressed his gratitude to the organisers of the Genoa Boat Show for the invitation and reiterated the honour and commitment to continue strengthening the partnership that exists with Italy and Genoa. This was followed by institutional greetings from Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa, Matteo Paroli, President of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea, Admiral Nicola Carlone, Commander-in-Chief of the Port Authorities, Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, and Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region.
The inauguration then continued with the conference “Development, Jobs And Innovation Driving Growth Across Italy”, moderated by Sky Tg24 journalist Vittorio Eboli. On stage were the Italian Minister for Business and Made in Italy Production Adolfo Urso, representing Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Minister for Tourism Daniela Garnero Santanchè, the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi, the President of the Italian Trade Agency Matteo Zoppas, the President of the General Confederation of Italian Industry Emanuele Orsini and the President of the Italian Marine Industry Association Piero Formenti. Two rounds of questions were asked to take stock of the importance of the sector within the Blue Economy, what it represents for the country, the actions currently underway and the necessary interventions by the government and institutions, as well as the future prospects for the boating industry.
STATEMENTS
Adolfo Urso, Italian Minister for Business and Made in Italy Production, representing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: “The extraordinary growth of the Italian boating industry is the pillar of the Blue Economy, a crucial driver for the future economic growth of Italy and Europe, especially in the current geopolitical context. The forecasts for the next two years are more than encouraging and simplifications are already underway. One example is the legislative framework aimed at the Made in Italy brand, which introduced provisional registration for new units, reducing the time required from 60 to 7 days, making Italy more competitive compared to other European countries. The measure also provides for an important measure for the scrapping and therefore the ecological transition of engines and boats, with a call for tenders that is still open. For this reason, in developing the white paper on Made in Italy, i.e. the strategic industrial policy document for the next five years, alongside the four traditional Made in Italy sectors that have driven our exports to date (food, fashion, furniture and automotive), we have identified four rapidly expanding sectors on which we want to focus, including the Blue Economy, driven by the boating industry. The draft law on the sea, presented by Minister Musumeci, incorporates all the simplification recommendations that emerged from the ‘Tavolo del Mare’ (Sea Round Table), on which the Italian Marine Industry Association sits, with the aim of making the activities of businesses and users within the boating sector faster and simpler.
Piero Formenti, President of the Italian Marine Industry Association: “What we are seeing today is the definition of industry. The boating industry is a driving force behind the blue economy. Without industry, there is no Italy.
I would like to thank the institutions present, the public and, above all, our entrepreneurs, who are the ones who make our boating industry and our Genoa Boat Show such an incredible experience.
Despite the challenges facing the sector, with the superyacht segment leading the way, the average boating industry holding steady and the small segment experiencing a decline, there is a perceived trend towards improvement among entrepreneurs, with customers returning and new contracts being signed. We expect a less severe winter than anticipated and a very significant recovery in the spring. Our sector is one of Italy’s export excellences and confirms its strong international vocation: 90% of Italian boatbuilding is destined for foreign markets, demonstrating its competitiveness and ability to succeed globally. This year’s edition of the Genoa International Boat Show aims to confirm and exceed last year’s extraordinary figures. Thanks to our collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, we can count on an important international press and buyer tour initiative, involving both operators and journalists from all over the world. A brand new feature is the TechTrade Days, dedicated to connecting international suppliers with companies, creating a unique opportunity for the entire supply chain to meet and develop. The Boat Show is, and remains, a systemic event: not only an extraordinary showcase, but an effective tool at the service of companies, workers and the boating industry as a whole. The Italian Marine Industry Association is proud to continue organising an event which, together with the furniture and design event, the Salone del Mobile in Milan, is one of the two major Italian trade fairs designed and organised directly by a trade association. It is a model that best expresses the spirit of the General Confederation of Industry and our sector’s ability to work as a team to promote the blue economy and, with it, the entire country.
Daniela Garnero Santanchè, Minister of Tourism: “I would like to thank President Giorgia Meloni for putting tourism, a key sector that accounts for 13% of our gross domestic product, at the top of the government’s agenda. Tourism is doing well. And we owe a great deal to boating tourism, to the Blue Economy. Behind a yacht there is value creation, there are jobs, there is development and there are exports. Every yacht is a showcase that tells the story of Italy to the world, and I believe this is another absolutely fundamental issue. We will succeed if we are able to raise the level of our services. First and foremost, marinas, where there is a lot of work to be done.”
Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport: “In terms of strengthening port infrastructure, we are trying to ensure that ports, including commercial ones, can create additional space for boating that can also satisfy the superyacht sector, in which we are leaders. It is clear that this type of vessel, which often stays in the Mediterranean, must also find a way to enjoy our country. The renewal of the infrastructure network and connections is also planned.
Recreational boating is an area of excellence that has made us the number one country in the world across the industry. But either the country structures itself to maintain this leadership or it risks losing it.
Emanuele Orsini, President of the General Confederation of Italian Industry: “Recreational boating is a constantly growing sector which, despite a slight slowdown in the small boating industry, can count on a long and complex supply chain, a real strength and source of pride for our country. In order to cope with tariffs and counteract rising inflation, it is essential that Europe takes immediate action, in the knowledge that a strong currency attracts foreign investors. If it were to be penalised, this sector would inevitably suffer, as has happened in the automotive industry. In this scenario, tourism plays a fundamental role. Extraordinary initiatives have already been implemented, promoted directly by the Ministry. This sector is also crucial for our industry, as it is clear that our country’s 8,000 kilometres of coastline represent a significant part of its appeal.”
Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency: “The issue of tariffs presents us with both positives and negatives, because there are companies that manage to avoid being penalised too much, while others, especially small and medium-sized companies that sell in the United States, are significantly penalised. It is not just the United States, it is the rest of the world. We generate around €4.5 billion in turnover abroad with recreational boating out of a total of €600 billion generated by all Made in Italy products. Recreational boating grew by 7.5 points last year and is still going strong today because it is a distillation of excellence. We are doing well, but we need to continue to make the most of the Italian Trade Agency and Minister Adolfo Urso giving us a significant helping hand to make Italian products competitive. There is a desire to expand this show, but we are up against someone who has a greater arsenal than we do, so we need to make the context more attractive. The Italian Trade Agency promotes Made in Italy by bringing 11,000 operators to 125 shows, with 6,500 companies accompanied abroad to unite supply and demand.”
Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region: “In recent years, the Genoa International Boat Show has been relaunched and has managed to reach heights that perhaps no one imagined. We are among the three most important events in the sector worldwide. We have invested a lot in recent years, not only in financial terms but also in terms of vision, design and hospitality. The Genoa Boat Show wants to and must become the leading boat show in the world. This is the challenge we are launching today together with the General Confederation of Italian Industry and the Italian Marine Industry Association. I want to work with public administrations to achieve this goal. The Blue Economy is widespread throughout Liguria. From Ventimiglia to the Gulf of La Spezia, there are many port and sea-related activities, which are a fundamental part of our economy and our way of life. Not only for those who work there, bringing employment and wealth, but also for those who enjoy the sea in their free time.
Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa: “Genoa is a city that wants to open up more and more to the Boat Show, it wants to make itself known during the days of the event. The Genoa International Boat Show presents itself to the world with ambition and a desire for growth and improvement, proudly representing Italian excellence. Genoa is synonymous with the Blue Economy. A sustainable economy that speaks of ecological transition and represents one of the greatest opportunities for the future of the city. As long as I am mayor, I will ensure that this is a lever for development. The sea is also about sport and tourism, which is why the Genoa Boat Show is essential for promoting the beauty of the area. Today, we are presenting this Boat Show to the world: it is Genoa’s greatest international brand.”
Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy: “Italy is a maritime nation. The sea is not only our border, it is part of our identity, our history, our present and, increasingly, our future. We have built wealth and relationships on its routes, and thanks to the sea, we continue to project ourselves into the world. Talking about maritime affairs today means talking about values, skills, responsibilities, about boatbuilding, recreational boating and technological research. Our economy is increasingly based on the Blue Economy. Our country imports about 60% of its raw materials and exports 50% of its finished products, and all this takes place by sea. These figures show us how important it is to be able to use the sea freely and safely. The Navy is an integral part of maritime defence. Every day, we work to protect the environment, but also to guarantee freedom of navigation and defend national interests. This is a silent but essential commitment.”
Admiral Nicola Carlone, Commander-in-Chief of the Port Authorities: “Our relationship with the boating sector is symbiotic and sees us working together both at a peripheral level, in the 288 offices along our 8,000 km coastline, and at a central level to further develop the marine environment. This year we celebrated 160 years, a period of time in which we have walked together in national maritime affairs but also in the development of recreational boating. During the summer, we carry out the ‘Safe Seas and Lakes’ operation, which sees us engaged not only at sea but also, more recently, on the main Italian lakes.”
Matteo Paroli, President of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea: “The Port of Genoa is going through a phase of extraordinary growth. We have investments of €3.6 billion, which will help to give a new impetus to the attractiveness of our port for traffic, people and goods, without in any way underestimating the important impact of the boating sector. 2024 was a record year for the Genoa and Liguria sector, with an estimated direct and territorial impact of €630 million. We have made significant investments in dry docks, for which €31 million has already been invested. The port authority has only one mission: to maintain these investments, to assist and support companies that courageously invest, take risks and generate wealth for our territory.”The Schergat (F 598) is a missile frigate belonging to the Italian Navy. Launched on 24 November 2023, it is the last vessel in the Bergamini class and the first of the FREMM ASW type, with equipment specifically enhanced for anti-submarine warfare, thus offering greater flexibility and deployability. Measuring 144.7 metres in length and weighing 6,900 tonnes, it is named after Spartaco Schergat, a 2nd class chief diver and recipient of the Gold Medal for Military Valour.
