Signs of life also from the South. At least according to the latest study by Intesa Sanpaolo, entitled "Mid-summer economic panorama of the South", in the South the number of companies in 2021 increased by double the percentage of the Italian average, +1,8% against +0,9% , and their ability to export has also recovered, albeit to a lesser extent than in the rest of the country. Among the many virtues of southern businesses there is also that of being young: the South is the area with the highest rate of youth entrepreneurship (10%, in Italy 8,4%). These companies invest more and more in sustainability and also in innovation: in the South there are over 15.000 "innovative" companies, 17% of the national figure. Compared to 2014, the number of innovative companies grew by around 52% against the 34% of the national average and expenditure per employee increased by 1.800 euros (Italian average +2.800 euros).
As for attention to the environment, the study points out that it is concentrated in the South 40,2% of clean energy of our country. In terms of renewables, the South is worth 37,4% of the photovoltaic power, 96,5% of the wind power and 27,2% of the power of bioenergy plants. Among the regions Puglia, Sicily and Campania excel. Furthermore, the Bioeconomy in the South is worth 23,6 billion euros of added value, 6,7% of the total economy of the area (6,4% in Italy) and 23,6% of the national figure. There are over 732 employees in organic production, equal to 10,7% of the total employed in the South (about 3 pp more than the Italian average of 7,9%) and as much as 36,4% of the national figure.
The recovery is supported by tourism but not only: according to the analysis, in the year of the pandemic Southern Italy represented approx a quarter of national tourist flows with over 10,7 million arrivals and 40,6 million presences. Estimates for 2021 show a growth in tourist demand of around 58,3 million presences (representing around 67% of the potential expressed in 2019). But then there is also the whole sea economy: ports, shipping and logistics are the elements that according to Intesa Sanpaolo "move the economy and can promote the country's competitiveness in the Mediterranean, especially if the reshoring processes are confirmed" . The ports of call in the South currently represent 47% of the national traffic of goods and ships transport 65% and 49% respectively of the import and export of the industries of the territory.
Signs that bode well, in view of the arrival of the first funds from the PNRR, on which southern companies are betting quite a lot: 54% of companies, both in the South and in Italy, see opportunities and possible indirect advantages for their company and a further 31% declare themselves ready to directly take advantage of the advantages that the Plan will offer. In the South, the PNRR allocates around 82 billion for its relaunch.
