Feb. 1 – “The joint venture, created by Tuscan companies in the nautical sector with a Chinese company that operates a recreational facility on Hainan Island, is a success, also thanks to the combined effect of coordinated policies for innovation that the Region supports to boost the industry.” Says the Councilor for Productive Activities Employment and Training of Tuscany, who intervened in Viareggio at the press conference for the presentation of the project. “It’s not by chance that we arrived at this result – said the commissioner – but through a team effort between businesses, centers for innovation, and the Regional Promotion Agency.” The commissioner reiterated the crucial role for the world of the nautical sector in Tuscany, as it hosts some of the main leading groups in the world, next to a vast fabric of scattered small and medium enterprises. “The industry – he said – was affected by the difficult market conditions linked to the current global crisis, with the exception of the mega-yacht sector that recorded, on the contrary, a positive performance. Tuscany has thus made plans to implement its Regional Development Plan accordingly, and create an integrated marine district that will host the whole supply chain, and drive innovation.” Italy is the world leader in the production of mega yachts over 24 meters with 7 of the top 20 manufacturers in the world: of these, 6 are from Tuscany.
Overall, Tuscan nautical companies are about 2800; and Lucca is the province with the largest number of companies, about 1060 are concentrated in the areas of Viareggio and Massarosa, followed by that of Livorno, with 640 companies and more than 400 in Massa Carrara. The rest are scattered along the coastal area. The sector employs overall 15.000, most of whom in the Lucca area.