As already anticipated in our article yesterday, it was presented in Rome by the President of the ICE Riccardo Monti, in the presence of the Prime Minister Mario Monti and the Minister of Economic Development Corrado Passera, the National Export Plan 2013-2015.
Exports and the competitiveness of Italian companies on foreign markets are among the fundamental strategies for the development of the Italian economic system: in fact, thanks to a 5% increase in the aggregate value of exports (estimated at over 470 billion euros) and the simultaneous contraction of imports, in the past year Italy achieved a positive trade balance of around 10 billion euros, despite the difficult international situation, the increase in the prices of energy resources and credit restrictions. From this point of view, the Italian economy, when compared with the main European competitors, qualifies as one of the systems that best defends its export shares in the market, also thanks to the continuous qualitative updating of production. From what has emerged, if this positive trend were to be confirmed and strengthened, the Italian system will be able to generate, within the next 3 years, 150 billion euros of additional exports, exceeding the 600 billion euros of goods and services, by the end of 2015.
Il National Export Plan presented identifies some key strategic actions in this sense. Already in the course of the last twelve months one has been started profound revision of the internationalization support system, based on the Control Room and on a new operating model represented by a strong coordination of all the components of the foreign network; a new shared planning process of promotional activities between the ICE agency, the Chambers of Commerce and other bodies involved; the creation of a finance pole for internationalization inside the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, which comprises SACE and Simest (on 29 December the purchase of the two export finance companies by CDP was finalised).
Yesterday was also reaffirmed the importance ofresource increase intended to facilitate access to traditional promotional tools, such as the opening of new ICE offices, fairs, missions, workshops in high-potential markets. Other points concern the strengthening of incentives for business combinations, given their limited average size; the intensification of training activities aimed at exporting companies, thus encouraging the recruitment of specific professional figures such as export managers and the strengthening of actions aimed at spreading e-commerce, large-scale distribution and attracting foreign productive investments.
From a financial point of view, the support of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Simest and SACE is essential to strengthen the tools in favor of exporting companies, overcoming the problems represented by limited access to export credit and the high costs of the same, without forgetting the scarcity of available resources and liquidity. This is precisely one of the main points, in our opinion, of a new strategy for internationalization and for strengthening the exports of our companies. But we plan to return to this point in the next few days, because it is a central topic, and as we have already said, if the activity of the Monti government has leaned more towards the issue of promotion abroad, that of the next government will have to focus on problem of support for exports and foreign direct investments of our companies.
The adoption of more incisive actions against counterfeiting and in favor of the protection of brands was also underlined by contrasting non-tariff barriers, particularly in the agro-food sector. There are several instruments which are expected to be adopted in this perspective. In 2013 the financial resources available to the ICE Agency for National Promotion will increase, going from 30 to 60 million euros in the course of this year (the 2008-10 average was around 80 million euros, including the private contribution to charged to businesses, while in 2010 it amounted to 122 million). The tax deductibility threshold for entertainment expenses abroad will be increased for incoming initiatives and accelerated depreciation for the establishment of permanent establishments abroad.
Will be launched a Consolidated text for internationalization regulations as a response to the simplification needs expressed by businesses. This is the classic zero-cost reform, useful for all parties: but we allow ourselves to have some perplexities, because it has been talked about since 1999 - 14 years - and nothing has ever been seen, and before the government will arise from the next elections will be able to adopt such a measure, it will be a long time. E-commerce diffusion measures will be launched, such as the Ice Agency's "Virtual Showcases" platform under development, i.e. a series of electronic catalogs in which it is possible to promote one's own production offer and get in touch with potential partners, and the Google-Unioncamere Program. As far as the agro-food sector is concerned, awareness campaigns will be launched by international and national institutions on the protection of typical products and geographical indications, greater legal and fiscal support for exporting companies through the creation of networks of professionals, providing for an advanced training on multilateral regulations on non-tariff barriers.
- incentives for the hiring of professionals devoted to internationalization include the hiring of young professionals such as export managers, procurement analysts and e-commerce managers, without forgetting specialized training programs in the field abroad, such as French apprenticeship programs such as UbiFrance's Volontariat InternationaI Enterprise. In turn, the activation of information systems to support exports provides for a more efficient and at the same time simplified coordination of the already existing tools, the launch of information tools at the Chambers of Commerce and the launch of the International Trade hubs.
These are the words of the Minister of Economic Development Corrado Passera: “Internationalization has been one of the cornerstones of our government's industrial policy. Even in a time of crisis the international propensity of our production system, measured by the share of exports on GDP, has grown significantly, going from 22 to 30%. Our market shares hold up better than those of many of our competitors. The Plan presented today sets an ambitious goal, but within our reach. In this year we have worked to strengthen and expand the tools to support the internationalization of companies. With the re-establishment of the new ICE Agency, the concentration of all export finance instruments at the CDP and the establishment of the Italy Desk for the attraction of foreign investments, a complete and effective model has been created. If we work together, we can really make a difference”.
The president of the ICE agency Riccardo Maria Monti then added: "These are objectives of absolute strategic importance - as evidenced by the participation of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economic Development - to favor a more robust recovery of the country's economic growth, expected to be reactivated in the next few months".
We hope to be able to agree with them in a few months.
