On Friday, October 4, 2024, the prestigious headquarters of the Consulate General of Italy in New York hosted the presentation of the third print issue of Il Newyorkese, the leading newspaper for the Italian community in the Big Apple. The event was graced by the presence of General Consul Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul Cesare Bieller, and Silvana Mangione, the Deputy Secretary General of the CGIE (General Council for Italians Abroad) for Extra-European Anglophone Countries. The event served as a unique opportunity to celebrate the excellence of Southern Italy across various fields, from culture and entrepreneurship to art and medicine.
A true fil rouge connected all the success stories shared: Southern Italy is not only a land of history and tradition but is increasingly emerging as a nerve center of economic growth and innovation. This new issue features Giosy Romano, the newly appointed Government Commissioner for the ZES – Special Economic Zone for Southern Italy and President of the ASI Consortium – Industrial Development Area of Naples.
In his exclusive interview, the new Commissioner Romano provided a comprehensive overview of the ZES, emphasizing their unique characteristics as regions offering tax incentives and simplified bureaucratic procedures. These features are strategically designed to attract both local and international investments in Southern Italy, highlighting the ZES’s potential as a catalyst for economic growth and development in the area.
“The ZES is not just a set of special economic rules,” explained Giosy Romano, “but represents a concrete response to the longstanding need for streamlined bureaucratic management and tax incentives that have long plagued the South.”
The Special Economic Zones were established by the Italian government with the goal of stimulating growth in historically marginalized areas, such as Southern Italy.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Unified ZES South has officially launched, integrating the eight southern regions of Italy—Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sicilia, and Sardegna—into a unified economic zone. This innovative initiative presents unparalleled opportunities for businesses seeking to invest in these dynamic regions. The establishment of the Unified ZES South represents a significant shift in the investment landscape: “With a single application to one point of contact—the government commissioner—we can streamline bureaucratic processes and launch entrepreneurial activities in just 30 days,” stated the newly appointed Commissioner.
The ZES will optimize the international competitiveness of the entire South, supported by an already significant production system. This represents an unprecedented enhancement of the various territorial dimensions of the involved regions, ensuring equal development opportunities for all areas of Southern Italy and for businesses already present or looking to establish themselves in the territory.
The innovative aspect of the ZES is not limited to tax incentives. Romano emphasized the importance of infrastructure investments that support the economic development of the southern regions, dismantling the prejudice that the South is incapable of managing complex economic processes. “We have too often been labeled as unable to govern our territories,” Romano stated. “The ZES offers the South a concrete chance to prove otherwise, creating development and growth while fully respecting the rules.”
Romano also highlighted the importance of a combined approach between tax incentives and strategic investments: “We not only offer tax incentives to businesses, but we also invest in essential infrastructure, such as transport networks, which further support economic growth.” This not only creates jobs but also strengthens the social fabric of the involved regions.
Romano concluded his remarks with a powerful call to reframe the narrative surrounding the South, urging a shift from seeing it solely as a tourist destination to recognizing it as a vibrant hub of economic and industrial development. “The South should no longer be perceived as just a beautiful backdrop for vacations; it must emerge as a dynamic economic engine. We aspire to be the locomotive, driving our own progress rather than being merely a car pulled along by others,” he asserted, underscoring the imperative for change and ambition in the region’s future
The event, moderated by Davide Ippolito, founder of Il Newyorkese, was attended by numerous prominent figures from the Italian community in New York. Among those present were Michael Cascianelli, CEO of the Scuola d’Italia; Don Luigi Portarulo, pastor of Saint Patrick Church; Umberto Lobina, President of the Association 081; Fabiana Gregucci from Weill Cornell Medicine; Alex Carini, real estate agent of the Carini Group; and Ciro Iovine, restaurateur of Song e Napule. Connecting remotely were Claudio Brachino, Director of Il Newyorkese, and Francesco Rizzo Marullo, Vice President for the United States and Canada of Cibor TV.
These contributions underscored how the South represents a true forge of talent and creativity, rooted in entrepreneurial paths and progress. The testimonies from the participants further solidified the image of Southern Italy looking toward the future with optimism, ready to seize the opportunities offered by the ZES and to be recognized as an important global development hub.
“As a man from the South, I am very proud of this issue that shines a light on an area of Italy that has much to offer in terms of development opportunities and that looks to the future,” declared Davide Ippolito, “The South is assuming an international dimension that cannot be overlooked, and the ZES represents a unique opportunity for our country to attract funds from the United States.”
With the release of its third issue, Il Newyorkese has firmly established itself as a vital bridge between Italy and the United States, sharing inspiring success stories that resonate not only with the Italian community in New York but also with international investors. The publication strives to deepen the bond between New York’s Italian community and their homeland, nurturing a dynamic exchange between these two vibrant cultures. Its robust online platform, attracting over 350,000 monthly readers, further cements its status as the premier source of information for Italians in the Big Apple, illuminating their stories and aspirations in a captivating and engaging way.
di Elide Vincenti