European logistics centers have been taking shape over many years. Initially, the sources of initiatives were diverse, and the actions taken did not necessarily guarantee the creation of a logistics center, but were aimed at solving local problems related
to economic development or the implementation of spatial planning goals by concentrating economic activity in designated areas of urban agglomerations. As a result of this long-term policy of local authorities and state administration, often
many years after the first decisions were made, conditions for building a logistics center were established.
Currently, most European countries are taking various actions aimed at supporting initiatives for the construction of logistics centers. Today, the emphasis is mainly on the need for their network cooperation within the global economy.
Italian experiences
Logistics centers were being established in Italy as early as the 1970s. The investments were individual in nature, but their success was determined by the participation of the public sector, which was actively involved in individual projects and was often their initiator. The active stance of the public sector consisted of economic activation of selected regions, followed by the creation of consortia initiating the construction of logistics centers and participation in companies implementing the investments. In the mid-1980s, this activity was supported by the government, which formulated its expectations in the adopted transport policy and coordinated all actions, which was reflected in the General Transport Plan (GTP). The plan was first formulated in 1986, and the planning decisions contained therein resulted from the low share of rail transport in freight traffic.
In the section concerning logistics centers, the general transport plan defined two levels of the logistics center network:
– the first, indicating the main Italian logistics centers in the following locations:
Piedmont Turin-Orbassano,
Lombardy Milan,
Veneto Verona-Padua,
Emilia-Romagna Bologna
Campania Nola-Marianise
– the second, indicating the location of 10 to 15 logistics centers of local importance.
– the second, indicating the location of 10 to 15 logistics centers of local importance.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 4/2004.