Italy’s Liguria region is beginning a three-day mission to the U.S. state of Georgia on Wednesday, September 23, with stops in Savannah and Atlanta. The delegation will meet public officials, businesses and researchers to discuss cooperation in shipping, logistics, technology and tourism. The regional government’s stated aim is to turn those meetings into joint initiatives and projects as early as 2027.
The delegation is led by Admiral Massimiliano Nannini, chief of staff to Liguria’s regional president. It includes representatives from the Ligurian port system authorities, Federlogistica, the University of Genoa, Genoa Airport, Agenzia in Liguria, the Italian Institute of Technology, Liguria International and FILSE. Two Ligurian companies, Cactus Holding and Firmamento Technologies, will join the group in Atlanta.
The first day in Savannah will focus on ports and international trade. The delegation is scheduled to meet the Georgia Ports Authority for a discussion of its operations and development plans, followed by a visit to Garden City Terminal. An afternoon meeting at World Trade Center Savannah will bring the group together with logistics, import-export and international trade businesses to explore potential cooperation between Georgia and Liguria.
In Atlanta on Thursday, September 24, the agenda will expand to investment and technology. At the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the delegation will meet representatives of the state government and the metropolitan area’s chamber of commerce. Discussions will cover the memorandum of understanding between Georgia and Liguria, trade and investment, and potential partnerships in advanced manufacturing, automation, financial and technology services, automotive, electric mobility and aerospace.
The group will then visit Tech Square, an Atlanta innovation hub, and ATDC, a center supporting startups and technology companies. In the afternoon, meetings in Gwinnett County will involve the local chamber of commerce and Italian and international businesses operating there. The delegation will also visit Emory University to discuss entrepreneurship, health technologies, artificial intelligence, research and technology transfer. A visit to the university’s incubator, The Hatchery, is also planned.
Nannini said the intention is to establish relationships that continue beyond the visit. “Our goal is to build a process that can deliver results over time, following up on these meetings and developing new joint initiatives and projects as early as 2027,” he said. Angelo Vaccarezza, the regional councillor responsible for international relations, said the mission is intended to help Ligurian companies reach overseas markets and attract investment.
The final day, Friday, September 25, will return to logistics, with a discussion of artificial intelligence, automation and changing supply chains involving representatives from logistics, air transport and Liguria’s ports. A further session on innovation and business opportunities in Atlanta will include companies, the University of Genoa, FILSE and the Italian Institute of Technology. The delegation is also scheduled to meet tour operators to explore potential tourism partnerships.
