A high-level delegation of the Liguria Region went to Georgia this week for an ambitious economic, institutional and innovation mission, aimed at creating new long-term links between one of the most strategic regions of Italy and one of the fastest growing international business centres in the United States.
From 22 to 25 September between Atlanta and Savannah, the Mission of the Liguria Region in Georgia represents a significant moment in the relations between Georgia and Italy. As a result of the organizers, this is the first initiative of this type ever realized in the State of Georgia by an Italian Region.
The 2026 mission looks definitely to the future: economic development, bilateral investments, innovation, research, technology, ports and logistics, startups and creation of lasting business relations between Liguria and Georgia.
Liguria (land of world-famous tourist destinations such as Genoa and Cinque Terre) is one of the Italian regions with the most strategic positioning and the strongest vocation to innovation, with internationally recognized skills in port infrastructures and marine systems, logistics and technologies for supply chain, advanced engineering, life sciences, artificial intelligence, supercalculum, technologies of the Blue Economy, agro-food, hospitality and tourism.
“The quality of business organizations and leaders we are meeting confirms that there is significant potential to transform this first dialogue into structured and long-term collaboration. Our goal is to return to Liguria with relationships that can become projects, investments and opportunities for both regions. ” – Massimiliano Nannini – Head of Cabinet of the Liguria Region and Head of Delegation
“It was a privilege to welcome in Georgia the delegation of the Liguria Region together with the Deputy General Consul Giacomo Montrasio of the Consulate General of Italy in Miami. The constructive dialogue that characterized this mission has confirmed that Liguria and Georgia are natural partners. Thanks to complementary strengths, both regions are in the ideal position to develop long-term relationships that favour investment and innovation.
We look confidently at the possibility of transforming contacts started this week into lasting collaborations that strengthen the links between our regions. “ Filiberto Calascibetta, Honorary Consul of Italy in Atlanta and Partner of Rödl USA.
FROM SAVANNAH TO THE LIGURY PORTS
The operational program of the mission entered live Wednesday, September 23 in Savannah, where the delegation met the Georgia Ports Authority for presentations, comparisons and a visit to the Garden City Terminal.
The Ligurian delegation is led by the Head of Cabinet of the Region (Admiral Massimiliano Nannini) and includes representatives of Federlogistica and the Authority of Harbour System of the Ligurian Sea, giving life to a direct dialogue between two great marine and logistic international ecosystems.
The program in Savannah continued at the World Trade Center Savannah, where talks focused on the development of international trade, economic cooperation, import/export opportunities and possible connections between Georgian companies and Ligurian companies.
BUILDING AN ECONOMIC CORRIDOM GEORGIA-LIGURIA
On Thursday, 24 September, the mission experienced an entire day of institutional, economic and innovation meetings in the metropolitan area of Atlanta.
At the Metro Atlanta Chamber, representatives of the Liguria Region met with representatives of Georgia State, Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and other institutional stakeholders to deepen bilateral trade and investment, priority sectors, participation in major economic initiatives and further strengthening of the partnership between the two regions.
The comparison brings together two regions with important complementary strengths, in particular in logistics, advanced manufacturing, automation, technology, transport, international trade and innovation.
The delegation also visits Tech Square, including the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), to learn about the technology ecosystem and the startups of Atlanta and explore opportunities for future collaborations with innovators and Ligurian companies.
“Georgia and Liguria have obvious complementary strengths, including our strategic ports and logistic networks, as well as shared excellences in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences and innovation. Missions like this allow us to go beyond the presentations and to identify concrete opportunities for enterprises and institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. ” Hillary Maddox — Director of Strategy and International Operations, Georgia Department of Economic Development.
GWINNETT COUNTY: TECHNOLOGY, ADVANCED INDUSTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS
The Delegation program continues at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, where Ligurian representatives meet the Chamber of Commerce, Gwinnett Partnership, international companies and actors of economic development.
The program highlights some of Gwinnett’s leading innovation realities, including The Water Tower, Rowen, Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, Atlanta Tech Park, as well as the North American headquarters and SCM Group’s technology center, a global group based in Italy and a significant presence in the county.
The economic comparison between Liguria and Gwinnett focuses on global ports and supply chains, technology, advanced manufacturing, water technologies, life sciences, startups and scale-ups, tourism, international investments and opportunities for companies in Georgia interested in accessing the Italian and European markets.
“The strongest international partnerships arise when enterprises, institutions and people have the opportunity to sit at the same table and identify what they can achieve together. Let’s consider this visit the beginning of this journey with Liguria and look with interest to how today’s talks can be translated into lasting business relations. ” Nick Masino, CEO of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
CONNETTER LIGURE INNOVATION WITH ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
A key component of the mission is the creation of a bridge between the Ligurian innovation ecosystem and the Atlanta academic and entrepreneurial community.
At Emory University’s The Hatchery, the delegation participates in meetings on entrepreneurship, health technologies, artificial intelligence, research and technology transfer.
Representatives of Liguria, the University of Genoa and Emory are also evaluating the development of a possible collaboration program for startups in 2027, which would offer Italian startups and scale-ups the opportunity to get in touch with universities, students, researchers and accelerators of Atlanta and with the US investment ecosystem.
The initiative aims to go beyond the traditional commercial mission, creating a permanent channel through which innovative Italian companies can explore the United States, while institutions, investors and American companies gain direct access to emerging technologies and entrepreneurial talents of Liguria.
IMPRESA, INDUSTRY AND THE FUTURE OF LOGISTICS
The mission culminates on Friday, September 25 with the Business, Industry & Innovation Day, hosted by Miller & Martin in Midtown Atlanta.
Central moment of the program is the high-level panel “The Future of Logistics: AI, Automation, and New Supply Chains”, moderated by Trevor Williams, editor of Global Atlanta.
Among the participants are executives and representatives of Delta Air Lines, Logistics Reply, JAS Worldwide, Harbour System Authority of the Ligurian Sea, Federlogistica, Genoa Airport and Miller & Martin.
The mission concludes with a session dedicated to planning 2027, aimed at translating the relations developed during the week into concrete steps, follow-up initiatives and future collaborations.
A MISSION FOR PERIOD LUNGO RESULTS
The initiative also reinforces the wider mission of Made in Italy Expo 2026, which places Atlanta as an increasingly important gateway to the South-East of the United States for companies, institutions, technologies and Italian products that want to enter or expand into the American market.
For Ligurian companies, Georgia offers access to one of the most dynamic business environments in the United States and a strategic platform for expansion across South-East. For the companies and institutions of Georgia, Liguria is a gateway to Italy and Europe and a highly developed ecosystem in maritime technologies, logistics, advanced engineering, life sciences, research, tourism and the Blue Economy.
The September mission, therefore, does not represent a point of arrival, but the beginning of a longer period collaboration between Georgia and Liguria.
L’articolo The Liguria Region starts a historical economic mission and innovation in Georgia (USA) proviene da IlNewyorkese.
