Bari, 23 June 2017
(The authentic text is only the one actually delivered)
President Ambrosi,
Dear friends and entrepreneurs,
Thank you very much for your warm welcome.
As you know, my visit is part of an initiative that is taking me across Italy, from North to South, called “The Farnesina meets Companies”. Today, I am particularly pleased to be here in Bari on the eighth leg of this roadshow.
In recent years, Apulia has taken a huge leap forward to become a model for development in Southern Italy. I will be returning to this subject later during the “South 4.0” conference at the Jean Monnet Free European University, but the important point to make is this: the most traditional sectors we love in this Region, such as agriculture and tourism, are coexisting with more innovative ones like aerospace, mechatronics, nanotechnologies and information and communication technologies (ICT).
Apulia’s image abroad is of a dynamic and determined region that is pressing ahead with innovation, without leaving behind its history and traditions, which ensure the quality of its production.
On the other hand, Apulia has a natural vocation for establishing relations with foreign countries: in 2016, the region generated exports of almost 8 billion euros (it was the eleventh exporting region).
Overall, from 2008 to 2016, Italian exports grew by 13% and accounted for 25% of the country’s GDP: that is over 417 billion euros, with a trade surplus of 51.5 billion.
In the first quarter of 2017, national export results were impressive: up 14.5% from 2016. A level we haven’t seen for over five years!
“The Farnesina meets Companies” has two aims in my view: to listen to and understand the needs of entrepreneurs, and to help them use the full potential of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ network around the world.
Economic diplomacy is a strategic priority of my mandate at the Ministry, because I am aware that the demand for internationalisation services by companies is growing, and that foreign policy has to support them and promote economic growth.
I am here because not everyone is aware that tenders and contracts awarded to Italian companies, with the support of the diplomatic and consular network, have produced over 1% of Italy’s GDP.
And not everyone knows that the doors of our Embassies and Consulates are wide open to companies, to help them penetrate and win new markets, expand exports, attract investments, make investments and participate in tenders, as well as to assist them if disputes, legal obstacles or administrative difficulties arise.
I would like to remind you briefly of some of the key areas in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its network are involved:
To begin with there is the “Extraordinary Plan for Made in Italy products” with over 300 million euros to support the internationalisation of Italian companies, in addition to 50 million euros from the new “Piano Export Sud” (financed with European funds).
There is a commitment to “play as a team” with a detailed “Vivere all’Italiana” (Italian Lifestyle) programme. This is an integrated promotion our country – from language to design, technology to art, cooking to archaeology – to enhance and defend the “Italy brand” around the world.
“Vivere all’Italiana” is a brand that blends beauty and creativity with technological skill, and is promoted by every member of our network.
But it is also a commitment to defend our geographical indications of origin, to counter the spread of “Italian-sounding” products and “food traffic light” policies, and to protect our intellectual and industrial property.
Just a few days ago, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I launched the 2017/2022 Strategic Plan for Tourist (PST), which will be a new economic diplomacy tool.
We want to continue attracting tourists to our cities and famous attractions, but we also want to promote the lesser known destinations, which are nonetheless full of unfulfilled potential: rural areas, ancient towns, small and medium sized cities of art, nature and marine parks.
We are determined to start from our regions to relaunch our country, supporting companies that contribute to the development of the areas where they operate. Greater attention is being paid to Southern Italy: along with Campania, Sicily and Molise, Apulia is among our Southern regions that has recorded an increase in the number of tourists and the revenue they generate. Over 3.5 million tourists visit Apulia every year.
As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs I have also launched a 2017-2020 Strategic Plan for the Internationalisation of Universities. My most cherished goal is to put young people back in the driving seat. We need to give absolute priority to training, entrepreneurship and access to employment.
The Plan identifies our geographical priorities. In addition to Mediterranean and Balkan countries – which remain our priorities – the countries where we intend to focus our actions are: China, India, USA, Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Israel and Mexico.
Internationalising our universities is good for students, but it’s also beneficial for companies, because they can pick the most talented students from the most internationalised universities.
I am extremely pleased that enrolments at the Polytechnic of Bari have increased by almost 20% and that foreign student enrolments have grown by a record 300%. There are many success stories about young Bari-based entrepreneurs who have developed their projects at our universities. This is another subject I intend to look at in more detail during the “South 4.0” conference later.
There is also a commitment on the part of economic diplomacy to attract more investments. We have made visa policies more attractive to foreign managers:
– Business visas issued within 72 hours by Embassies and Consulates, with the aim of reducing these times even further.
– Start-up visas to encourage creative and innovative companies interested in the Italian market.
– Visa for Investors, to allow foreign entrepreneurs to live and invest in Italy more easily.
Just a few weeks ago, a new Foreign Investments Office was established with a view to becoming a point of reference for multinational corporations and foreign companies looking to invest in Italy.
Furthermore, in addition to the assistance provided by Embassies and Consulates around the world, in conjunction with the Ministry of Economic Development and Italy’s Trade Agency, ICE, we have set up 7 new Foreign Investment Desks in Istanbul, London, New York, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai and San Francisco. A further 2 Desks will be opening shortly in Beijing and Hong Kong.
In order to promote foreign investments in Italy, I organised an investor conference – – “Invest in Italy” – at the Ministry on 13 June this year. I am pleased that many investors have already noticed the major steps being taken by Italy: a growing number of multinationals are considering operating in our market again; we are back on the radar of major sovereign and international funds, and we are moving up the global investment and business climate indexes.
For many long years after the crisis – which was much deeper than the one between the two World Wars – the Governments in which I have been involved, during this parliament, have worked day and night to make our economy secure.
Today we are beginning to see the fruits of this, following significant measures which include the “Destination Italy” investments programme, the “Jobs Act”, the civil justice reforms, the modernisation of public administration, the more transparent and predictable tax administration, and the Industry 4.0 Plan.
Italy has started growing again and even employment has fallen to the lowest level for the last 4 years (from 11.5% to 11.1%, according to Istat data for April).
In the first four months of the year, growth in the Eurozone was twice that of the United States, and, as of this month, the Eurozone investor sentiment index is the highest it has been since 2007.
I want to tell investors and entrepreneurs to have more confidence in the future of Europe and Italy, not only because the statistics are on our side now, but also because we are on your side in opening up markets and defending free trade.
Today the risks are more political than economic. Italy needs a long term political vision, because investors are asking Italy to provide certainties that don’t cast doubt on Europe or the Euro, as populists are doing “with their slogans”.
I attach the greatest importance to Italy’s role in the world, so I believe in opening up markets, and I believe in Europe. An exporting country like Italy is dependent on international trade, the EU and the Euro to export our products to the world and grow.
The stakes are high so, as entrepreneurs, I urge you to make an extra effort to defend free trade and to defend Europe, which is our guarantee of peace, growth and prosperity.
