The Calabrian economy, despite being in a global phase characterized by strong uncertainties, continues to give signals of vitality. This is what emerges from the analysis of the president of Unindustria Calabria, Aldo Ferraracommenting on the data published yesterday by Banca d’Italia on the state of the regional economy.
“In a complex context, marked by growing risks, geopolitical instability, high energy costs, commercial duties and a stagnant internal market – says Ferrara – The Calabrian production system demonstrates significant resilience. Not only does the regional economy retalo, but continues to advance, albeit at a more moderate rhythm than last year, but in any case in line with the national average, reaching a growth of 0.8%».
For the president of UNOCHIOTRUSTRIA CALABRIA, these data confirm the effectiveness of expansive policies and public incentives that have stimulated private investments, in particular on sustainability, digitization and energy efficiency: “The occupation has grown, as well as exports, which continues its positive trend, consolidating the opening of Calabria to international markets. While remaining on absolute values still contained, the value of the regional export has doubled compared to 2021, approaching the billion euros. An important result, the result of an industrial strengthening process and modernization of the productive fabric».
Ferrara highlights how some tools, also promoted by Unindustria Calabria, are already helping to face the critical issues highlighted by the Bank of Italy: “I think – he said – to the agreement signed between the Region and SIMEST for the internationalization of companies, fundamental in an still weak internal market. As well as the regional fund for innovation, which intervenes on the still low rate of innovation and therefore represents another important step in the right direction. I believe that public investment support actions of companies and the qualification of the offer, on which UNINDUSTRIA has paid particular attention, have contributed significantly to making the Calabrian production system more solid and resilient».
Equally strategic, according to Ferrara, is the collaboration with the Calabrian university system:
“Universities are an excellence of the territory and can concretely contribute to the increase in the innovative capacity of companies. With this in mind, support for innovative startups is also a crucial lever. “
However, the president invites you not to lower the guard: «We must consolidate these positive signals and intervene with determination on structural weaknesses. In particular, two are the priorities: the MISMATCH between demand and demand of work – with many companies looking for qualified personnel – and the deficit of administrative capacity, which slows down the implementation of concrete measures and responses for the production system».
Finally, Ferrara emphasizes the strategic topic of the attraction of investments: «It is an essential lever – explains -. For this reason, it is essential to accelerate the redevelopment process of industrial areas, especially in the context of the new Single Zes and the opportunities connected to the reta retaliation of Gioia Tauro. Only in this way can we make Calabria truly competitive in the new geography of investments».