Over the last two decades, terminal and stevedoring industries have been experiencing a profound reorganization process produced by the port reform worldwide, the progressive opening of formerly monopolistic (local) markets and a fast internationalization of the business. The new competitive environment determined a growing commitment of private investors in the (co-)funding and management of container port facilities, and reshaped major assumptions underlying investment and financial decisions in the industry. For exploiting open window opportunities originated by the re-organization of the sector, several private firms have undertaken a sequence of investments in foreign markets, along with aggressive internationalization paths.
PortEconomics members Francesco Parola and Giovanni Satta, along with Francesco Vitellaro (University of Genoa) studied the rise of financial operators in ports: typologies, objectives and entry modes.
Their study has been presented during the Jean Monnet Symposium on the future of European Port Policy and their comprehensive presentation can be downloaded here.
