Fincantieri signed a letter of intent (LOI) with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), China’s largest shipbuilding conglomerate, and with Shanghai City’s district of Baoshan, aimed at creating a cruise ship industrial park.

The three parties, whenever it is technically and economically feasible, will engage for the creation of a hub, mainly dedicated to cruise activities, as well as shipbuilding and maritime, within the development of these segments, set out by China. The enhancement and the specialization of the entire Baoshan region is, indeed, among the purposes of this impressive government programme.

The district is China’s largest commercial and cruise port, today representing the most developed region of the country in the cruise sector. It can benefit from preferential economic policies of “Shanghai Free Trade Zone” and “China Cruise Tourism Development Experimental Zone”, which will accelerate the district’s transformation from a “cruise port” into a “cruise city”.

In detail, the district will provide financing, tax commercial and administrative benefits, land for necessary development and other resources, in the light of a possible establishment of foreign companies, introduced by the partners. Fincantieri and CSSC will, in fact, promote the park in their supply chain network, and in the industry as a whole, as a foundation for the companies which want to access to the opportunities of this project. In this way Fincantieri could become a lever for the establishment in China of its Italian supply chain or of other Italian SMBs, which would greatly benefit from this operation. In this scenario, Fincantieri will also have an active role in the management of the activities of the LOI, while CSSC will be in charge of control and supervision.