This is the English translation of a podcast interview conducted in Italian by radio VENETO24 on Friday May 22, 2026
The logistics of the future, as told by Interporto Padova and Green Logistics Expo.
(Riccardo Sandre): Good morning to all our listeners and welcome to “The Logistics of the Future”. I am Riccardo Sandre, and I will accompany you through this weekly column that explores the invisible world of the economy—moving goods physically and ensuring products arrive every day in the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantities.
Numbers speak louder than words: the global logistics market is valued to exceed $14 trillion by 2029. In Italy, logistics is a pillar of the economy, accounting for between 9% and 10% of the GDP, which is approximately 225 billion euros, employing 1.4 million workers. Through this podcast, we will discover the world of ports, interports, and road and rail transport, reaching large warehouses and final deliveries to stores and homes. We are doing this with Interporto Padova, Italy’s most technologically advanced logistics platform, and Green Logistics Expo, the International Sustainable Logistics Exhibition, which will hold its fourth edition from October 14th to 16th at the Padua Fair.
Joining us for this first episode is Luciano Greco, President of Interporto Padova, as well as an economist and professor of Finance and Economics at the University of Padua. Professor, good morning and thank you for being with us.
Luciano Greco: Good morning to you.
Sandre: Professor, logistics is fundamental to the world economy, but we often only realize this when a crisis hits, such as with COVID-19 or the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The control of international routes is a key element of geopolitics, and logistics is increasingly seen as a vital strategic asset.
Luciano Greco: Yes, the current situation demonstrates something that has always been true. In the value chain—from raw materials to processing and final delivery—logistics plays a pervasive role at every stage. Products and raw materials are transported between production units via the transport chain until they reach consumers’ homes. It is a decisive link, and in times of crisis, difficulties in this chain reverberate throughout the economic system, making economic activity difficult. This is particularly true for geopolitical and economic areas like Europe, Italy, and specifically the Veneto region, whose production and jobs depend heavily on exports.
Sandre: What is the state of health of Italian logistics, and how should it develop in the future? What opportunities are provided by data management, digitalization, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Luciano Greco: Italian and European logistics are in a very important transition phase. There are ongoing discussions regarding reforms for the port and interport systems, as the political-institutional system increasingly understands the importance of these nodes. Certain reforms are necessary to guarantee certainty and openness to private investment within a framework of public-private collaboration.
Currently, there is still some confusion. The future of this sector relies on digitalization, data management, and AI applications, all of which require significant investment. Padua is an interesting case where private partners are essential, but these investments require a clear regulatory framework that moves away from a centralizing state towards one that focuses on regulation and public-private cooperation.
Sandre: Let’s talk about Interporto Padova, which is undoubtedly the most advanced intermodal logistics platform in Italy. Can you tell us how this vocation for innovation was born?
Luciano Greco: Padua is an interesting case because its drive for innovation in the intermodal sector—where containers and semi-trailers switch between road and rail—actually stems from a substantial lack of public intervention. While other platforms in Italy or the Veneto region, like Verona, received consistent public investment through the railway network, Padua experienced a delay or absence of such state support.
Interporto Padova was the first of its kind to be established in Italy in 1973. In the 1990s, the need to relaunch intermodal activity led the public shareholders and a high-quality management team to drive innovations that turned the terminal into a “national jewel”. This success was so significant that international partners recently competed for the right to manage the intermodal terminal alongside Interporto Padova.
Sandre: So, the absence of other institutions was filled by the local sector. Interporto has also promoted good practices, such as organizing a sustainable logistics fair. What are the goals of the Green Logistics Expo?
Luciano Greco: Padua’s necessity to be innovative due to a lack of external resources has paid off, not just for the terminal but also in City Logistics (last-mile delivery). This year, the Green Logistics Expo takes on a new role as Padua becomes a leader in Europe. The fair is intended to be a place where institutional figures, associations, and businesses meet to discuss the future, necessary reforms, and new ideas for the development of logistics in our country.
Sandre: We conclude this first appointment here. Episode after episode, we will discover the many faces of this global world, which is as important as the web. Thank you for being with us.
Closing Announcement: Interporto Padova presents Green Logistics Expo, at the Padua Fair from October 14th to 16th, to listen to the ideas and challenges of those working to make logistics more efficient and sustainable.
Click here to listen to this podcast in its original format
