(ANSA) - TRIESTE - It's time to strenghten and modernise the rail infrastructure which connects Europe and Italy with the Balkans, with the aim of consolidating the economic growth and the development of transport in Europe. To achieve this goal, we need 'a network among the 'giants' who are active in the infrastructure, transport and railway sector'.

This was the focus of the 'International Railway forum Italy-Balkans', kicked off today in Trieste and organized by Italian Railways (Fs), Italy's College of Railway Engineers (CIFI), Railway Industry Association and National Railway Equipment industry Association.

The CEO of Fs, Michele Mario Elia, opened the Forum, saying that ''the Balkans - where Italy's Fs are active through Italferr and Italcertifer, ''arouse our interest''. Connections between Italy and the Balkans, Elia remarked, ''are included in the Mediterranean and Baltic Corridors.We are working hard on the side of Italy''.

Friuli Venezia Giulia, according to Elia ''plays an important role due to its strategic location and historical tradition'' and ''it's a hub for goods and people, at the intersection of two corridors''. Thanks to this ''amazing location'' the region can take advantage of the port of Trieste, which is added value.

''We want to arrive in the ports - Elia said - and build stations there. We're hoping to do in Trieste what we did in Livorno and La Spezia. This is a way to reduce time and costs'', though we should remember that ''the infrastructure's mission is to provide services''.

Debora Serracchiani, president of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, during the Forum has stressed that ''Friuli Venezia Giulia is committed to recover centralità, which is useful not only to the region itself but also to Europe and the Balkans''. Therefore, investments should be made to modernise transport infrastructure, but it's time to ''commit ourselves to improving the existing one, rather than developing large alternative projects. It's time to do what we are able to do, and give up what is so difficult to achieve''. The event - which will continue on Saturday 18th - will be attended by representatives of the railways of the Balkans, from Slovenia to Macedonia, who presented the needs and the development programmes of their networks. In the second part of the conference, Italian companies will exhibit their work, and explain how they can help the rail companies revamp and expand their network. The Forum focused on the extension of the TEN-T, the creation of pan-European corridors, promotion of intermodal activities and complementary transport infrastructures. The spaces dedicated to exhibitors will host leading names in the rail sector, such as Alstom, Ansaldo STS, Bombardier, Cemes, Ducati Energia, Arthur Flury Ag,, Costruzioni linee Ferroviarie.(ANSA).