Five regular container services already link Georgia’s ports with those in Liguria. During their visit to Savannah, representatives of the Italian region discussed how to strengthen those connections and expand the inland markets served by both port systems.
The visit was the first stop of Liguria’s September 23–25 mission to Georgia. Led by Massimiliano Nannini, chief of staff to the regional president, the delegation toured the Georgia Ports Authority and Garden City Terminal, where port representatives explained the facility’s operations. Savannah handled 5.70 million TEUs, the standard unit used to measure container traffic, in 2025, among the highest totals recorded by the port.
Reaching destinations beyond the ports was a central topic. Alberto Pozzobon, marketing manager at the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, said both systems intend to expand their reach by combining different modes of freight transport. Savannah is working to strengthen its role as an entry point to the southern United States, while Genoa, Savona-Vado and La Spezia aim to serve the Mediterranean and southern Europe.
Pozzobon also raised the possibility of cooperating on digital corridors to speed up cargo flows and improve efficiency. Nannini highlighted high-speed rail and digital infrastructure, including submarine cables, as factors that could make Liguria more attractive to businesses. Davide Falteri, president of Federlogistica-Conftrasporto, described a lasting logistics connection between Savannah and Genoa as a goal, with the aim of supporting trade and investment between Italy and the United States.
The delegation then met business and economic representatives at the World Trade Center Savannah. Those discussions extended beyond shipping to include Liguria’s innovation network and the regional programs available to startups.
Maria Nives Riggio, deputy director general of FILSE, outlined how universities, research centers, companies and institutions work together in Liguria. She presented support measures covering the different stages of a startup’s development, from incubation to international expansion, and explained the role of FILSE’s BIC in connecting regional policies with business needs. The meeting explored possible future cooperation with Georgia.
The next scheduled stop was Atlanta on September 24, with meetings at the Metro Atlanta Chamber and with state representatives. The agenda included investment, economic relations, technology and research.
