Confindustria, a new chapter

The annual meeting of Confindustria was held in Rome and formalized the election of the new president Vincenzo Boccia. Efficiency of the national economic system, relationships with banks, constitutional reforms and specific values of the Italian industry were the main issues of the speech by Boccia, who will also have the task of implementing the Pesenti reform

On May 26 was held in Rome, in the great central hall of the “Parco della Musica” Auditorium, the Confindustria general assembly. Before the large audience of the association’s industrial leaders and in the presence of the head of state Sergio Mattarella, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini and Economic Development Minister Carlo Calenda, made his debut the newly elected Confindustria president Vincenzo Boccia. Fifty-two, from Salerno, Boccia comes from the graphic industry, as the Chief Executive of the family business Arti grafiche Boccia. After the nomination as a presidential candidate last March, he won the formal election by the assembly in May. In his speech Vincenzo Boccia expressed his opinion on the Italian economic situation, which appears slightly improved but that still remains well below the desirable levels of an important production system as the Italian one. “Italy’s economy is undoubtedly back to positive growth – said Boccia – but is not on a full recovery. It is a modest and unsatisfying economic recovery, that is not going to bring us back to the pre-recession levels. The consequences of the double fall in demand and production activities are still very deep”. In recent years, the gap between Italy and other European countries has increased, considering that from 2000 up to date the productivity of Italian economy has increased by only 1%, against the average of 17% of the main European partners. If we consider in particular the manufacturing sector, the growth of productivity was even more significant: in Italy the sector has recorded a productivity increase of 17%, while Germany has increased by 33%, Spain 34%, Great Britain 43% and France 50%. However, productivity is the result of rational and virtuous behaviours and is a challenge involving the country as a whole system and calling into question important issues related to salary and credit system. “To the banks we want to extort a promise – said Boccia in this regard – that is to visit the companies and talk with us entrepreneurs”. “Not in your offices, but rather in our plants – said Boccia – they have to see what we produce, how we do it and meet the people who do it. Come and meet the intangible assets: relationships with customers and suppliers, management, patents, trademarks, our reputation, territory, commercial networks, second-level contracts that relaunch productivity”.

The big challenge for Italian businesses – as highlighted several times not only by the president’s speech but also by the speeches of Ministers Franceschini and Calenda – is focused on internationality. The cultural heritage as well as Italian products and entrepreneurial activities have a huge innate quality and determine an image of a high-profile country, on which it is possible to build important and long-lasting economic and cultural relations.

Essential in this regard, according to Boccia, is the implementation of constitutional reforms that should make the country more efficient and the institutions more reactive to contemporary challenges.

However, Confindustria itself has embarked on a path of institutional renewal with the implementation of the Pesenti reform, on the basis of which the confederation has created a new statute, with the internationalization of businesses as the clear mission of the Confederation, a whole system of export-oriented services to businesses for international  cooperation of industries and attraction of foreign investment in Italy.

The Pesenti reform was born from the need – at a federal level – to strengthen identity and sense of belonging, by restoring a more compact system and the unity of purpose. Along with that, has emerged the need to have a better management system, with the consequent simplification of authorities (Presidential Council and General Council) and of decision-making mechanisms.

The reform intervenes on some critical issues concerning the structure of Confindustria, with particular reference to the interference of competences and activities of trade and local associations.

It aims to strengthen the relationships between productive sectors and districts, by promoting business integration. Above all, the reform takes account of markets’ global size and the role that EU has taken on in the organisation and support of entrepreneurial activities. It is specifically intended to direct Italian industry to foreign markets, by strengthening and developing customized structures and services such as International Representations and Technical Boards dedicated to export, Italian investment abroad, as well as foreign investment in Italy.

The structure of the statute and its operating mechanisms will have a guiding principle established by the new “Code of ethics and associative values” with a statutory value, that will link the permanence of companies in the system to the compliance with well-defined rules and practices, monitored by a specially formed Ethic Council.

The new charter represents a remarkable commitment for Confindustria, and president Boccia will have to put it into effects, by transforming rulings into practical projects and initiatives.

FederUnacoma, the new statute has kicked off

 

The Italian Federation of agricultural machinery manufacturers has a new statute. The assembly of the associated industries, held in Bologna on May 6, approved its new charter, which recognises the last dispositions by the Pesenti reform implemented by Confindustria, to which all organizations are required to adapt.

Simplification of statutory bodies, turnover, direct commitment for the development of foreign markets and compliance with the new ethic code are the distinctive characteristics of the reform and of FederUnacoma new statutory arrangements. The new Statute, which was drafted in accordance with the schedule set up by Confindustria and with the appropriate forms, was developed by a specifically formed Commission (that is the last FederUnacoma Executive Council). The final text – examined and evaluated in its entirety by Confindustria and the Committee for the implementation of the reform – was submitted in the assembly to the approval of the member companies. In the new statute, the Commission also included the “transitional regulations” needed to harmonise the institutional deadlines of the Federation and Confindustria, in order to ensure the repositioning of roles (President of the Federation, Presidents of several associations and other statutory bodies). The transitional regulation approved by the Statute Commission postponed to June 2017 the election of the new President of the Federation and the Presidents of sectors (which, in ordinary circumstances would have terminated their mandate in June this year) and specified that by that date the outgoing president will no longer be re-elected. The other presidents will be allowed to apply, but for a period of two years.

As of June 2017, the new system of election of the other federative bodies (General Council, Auditors, Board of Arbitrators, Bodies of the associations) will be fully operational, establishing the replacement of Board members in June 2018 and so the necessary deferral to ensure the repositioning of elective bodies. Each elective body is expected to have a two-year duration, renewable according to specific roles. The Presidents can be re-elected for two full mandates, that is for four years in total, while members of General Council and associations can be re-elected three times after the first appointment, for a total of eight years. In a nutshell, it is a process that will be involving a greater number of associations in representative functions.