Interview the mayor of Trieste
Domingo, 03 de Julio de 2022 00:59
Interview with the Mayor of Trieste Roberto Dipiazza
Your life story is like an American dream in Italy .You have started to work when you were 15 years old.What prompted you to enter politics?
“I'm from Friuli; I arrived in Trieste as a child, when I was 6 or 7 years old. I started working immediately in food when I was 15 years and I worked for 1500 Lira's per month .I was working 10 years for Bosco, to succeed finally to create my own chain of supermarkets. Trieste immediately gave me a lot and at that point I wanted to give something back to this city; indeed, to this beautiful lady I am in love with. The result? I have been administering for 19 and a half years and I am very satisfied. Walking through the city and seeing what we have built is truly rewarding: it is true happiness, for a man like me. One piece of advice I always give to young people is to always dare and get involved, managing to build great things in this way ”.
What role the city of Trieste play internationally?
“Trieste, first of all, is on the eastern border, so the whole area of the Balkans gravitates towards our city; especially because it is very well known, thanks also to the years in which the capital represented a market for the inhabitants of the other border: at the time of the Iron Curtain, a large number of buyers arrived. Trieste is therefore highly regarded, well-liked and now everyone knows it. A scientific center of reference, with a broad-shouldered university . It is a city of incredible beauty, characterized by an enviable quality of life: these are the components that make Trieste unique and thanks to which the city will increasingly acquire an international role.
What is your opinion on the New Silk Road?
“The Silk Road is an enormous opportunity. We are talking about approaching a country with one and a half billion inhabitants: when you have a great demand from China, you can create unique opportunities for great local economic growth”.
What are the projects for development of the Porto Vecchio? More science hub, or more residential?
“We have made a master plan that really includes everything and more, except the commercial: there will therefore be a, as I like to call it, 'little Silicon Valley', a product with high added value; there will be Saipem and we will have hotels, because surely we will also moor in Porto Vecchio the cruise ships, which are now arriving in Trieste. Attached to this large complex we have the railway and, perfectly connected, there is the airport located in Ronchi dei Legionari. There is therefore enormous potential: obviously there will also be a residential part within the master plan, in order to give even more life to the project ”
What is the best memory and which has made you most proud in these mandates?
“One of the best memories, for which I also cried, is when I brought in 2010 the three Presidents, respectively of Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. In Piazza Unità D'Italia. When they sang the three hymns together, I couldn't hold back the tears for the joy of the moment. In 2020 I also brought Slovenian President Borut Pahor to the Foiba di Basovizza, together with our President Sergio Mattarella: when the two bowed, shaking hands, it was a moment that sincerely filled my heart.
You are working on a project with the President Mattarella where you will involve the Republics of ex Yugoslavia in order to prevent possible future conflicts between them
I am proud to participate in this is mportant project.In my vocabulary war and hate does not exist .I have good relationships with everybody .The project will be called Carts Trieste and we shall invite all presidents and ambassadors of ex Yugoslav republics to join our project in order to give them a economic input that will prevent any further conflict or agression between them.
