Trieste, 26 March 2018 - On 26 March 2018, as part of the "Belt and Road Forum - Friuli Venezia Giulia: Strategic partner for EU-China economic relationship", the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia hosted the 1^st UNIDO's "BRIDGE for Cities" Roadshow.

This Roadshow is a new promising step forward in the long and successful history of cooperation between UNIDO ITPO Italy and the Italian FVG Region. With its strategic position as a major port along the Belt-and-Road route, Trieste was the perfect location to host the "BRIDGE for Cities" Roadshow. In its context, the objectives of UNIDO's large-scale annual "BRIDGE for Cities" event, namely to promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development via the Belt and Road Initiative, were highlighted. It also provided Trieste with a platform to present the city's long-term vision on sustainable urban infrastructure development and inter-regional connectivity.

The Roadshow was opened by the speech of Ms. Diana Battaggia, who highlighted the importance of BRI in the light of the Agenda 2030 and UNIDO’s core objective of promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development.

The first speaker was Mr. Gong Weixi, Senior Coordinator for South-South and Triangular Industrial Cooperation at UNIDO, who presented in detail the "BRIDGE for Cities" event.

An analysis of the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative for mobility development, both from an institutional and a private sector perspective, were presented by the Director of Mobility and Traffic of the Municipality of Trieste, Mr. Giulio Bernetti and integrated by Mr. Max Kindler, Managing Director of Rail Cargo Operator CSKD and Business Unit Manager Intermodal of the Rail Cargo Group.

The outcomes of the Roadshow in Trieste will be also showcased at the 3^rd annual "BRIDGE for Cities" event, held in October 2018 in Vienna, during the "Urban Issue Hub (l)" session, which will focus on "Sustainable City: Urban-Industrial Symbiosis" and to which the City of Trieste was invited as a case city.