With the organization of the thematic working groups, the commitment for the preparation of the States General of foreign trade begins, which will be held at the end of October.
Confindustria, Abi, regions, bodies responsible for internationalization, other associations interested in the matter and leading Made in Italy entrepreneurs participate in the preparatory works.
Finding the crux of the matter won't be easy, at a time when exports, together with the country system, are demonstrating their difficulties, and even our leading export industries on international markets are at the center of international speculation. Perhaps because the markets lack confidence in our ability to ride international trade to get us out of the crisis? Perhaps because someone abroad has an interest in further weakening our leading companies to buy them for a handful of lentils? Perhaps because, for at least 10 years now, it hasn't demonstrated sufficient capacity to direct our foreign trade, make new laws appropriate to the new reality of international markets, adequately combine foreign policy and trade policy? Perhaps, for a combination of all these reasons.
The 6 working groups will cover the main subjects of our foreign trade: agri-food and handicrafts; environment, energy and raw materials; furniture and home system; automation, mechanics and mobility; clothing and personal system; services, and will be directed by an expert entrepreneur in the sector under the direction of the Ministry of Economic Development through Undersecretary Polidori.
The important thing is that operational proposals and rules for the future emerge at the end of October: words are not enough, and we no longer need them.
Below is today's press release from the Mise.
UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE
Hon. Catia Polidori
PRESS RELEASE
Foreign Trade: Polidori presents the States General, a great common commitment to support made in Italy. Six thematic working groups set up, the final two days in October.
Rome, 4 August 2011 – Six thematic working groups, two working days, seven trade associations involved together with the heads of the main internationalization institutes, regions, successful entrepreneurs and top representatives of the European and Italian authorities in the sector: these are the numbers of the next General States of Foreign Trade, presented in preview in Rome by the Undersecretary for Economic Development, Catia Polidori, on the occasion of the establishment of the working groups which, over the next two months, will elaborate proposals in view of the final two days in October.
"When the data confirms that the opportunities and hopes of economic recovery reside in exports", Polidori stated, "we want to concentrate the efforts of institutions and entrepreneurs through a new working method: listening to the operators, divided into groups of work and sectoral skills, in a sort of campus that will capitalize on everyone's experiences, proposals and innovative ideas, in a great common commitment to support Made in Italy. It was a joint scouting effort between me and the Premier's personal adviser for exports, Massimo Calearo Ciman, testifying to the importance of this project for the government: we have chosen expert personalities who are confronted every day with the difficulties and the hopes of businesses".
More specifically, the six working groups are organized according to the following sectoral competencies: agri-food/crafts; environment/energy/raw materials; furniture/home system; automation/mechanics/mobility; personal clothing/system; services. Each table (made up of trade associations and officials from the Ministry of Economic Development, Unioncamere and Assocamerestero) will be chaired by an internationalization adviser to Undersecretary Polidori, an expert in the sector: Gianluca Rana (Pastificio Rana); Luca Poncato (Pegoraro Gas Technologies); Roberto Snaidero (Erresseinvest); Simone Bettini (Ross spa); Maurizio Marinella (E. Marinella); Rodolfi Ortolani (Unicredit). The members of the groups themselves will then formulate proposals in the next two months. In the final two days of October, the results will be heard, the situation will be reviewed, putting the operators face to face with those who 'make' the rules (WTO, EU, Government) and finally any appropriate decision will be adopted.
