Date:
30 July 2019
Statement by Marco Bonometti, President of Confindustria Lombardia
Milan, 30 July 2019 – “The data for the second quarter presented today are worrying but not surprising: for a year now, industrialists have been sounding alarms, often unheeded, regarding the slowdown in production and the climate of mistrust surrounding Lombard and Italian businesses. As emerged during the presentation of the quarterly analysis at Unioncamere Lombardia, it is undeniable that the slowdown is largely due to the Lombard model’s heavy reliance on exports – as confirmed by the drop in the share of foreign turnover to 38.7% of the total. Dependence on international volatility, the uncertainty generated by the trade war currently penalising Europe (particularly Germany, with which our manufacturing sector is closely interdependent), and the slowdown in the automotive sector should have prompted us long ago to implement expansionary policies to stimulate domestic demand and increase the competitiveness of our industries, rather than imposing a tax on cars produced in Italy. A major plan for the competitive relaunch of the automotive sector must be promoted. Furthermore, the following are necessary: a reduction in the tax wedge, investment in infrastructure, and the elimination of the bureaucratic burdens that hinder competitiveness.
Instead, while the manufacturing sector continues to deteriorate – as also stated by ECB President Draghi – and with the risk of a sector recession becoming increasingly concrete, at a national level we are suffering from the shortcomings of an ineffective economic policy that is unable to provide answers to businesses or establish confidence. Preference has been given to postponing measures to support development, wasting precious time, and welfare-type provisions that create debt have been introduced, while measures to relaunch growth are lacking. Such choices have had severe repercussions on investment and confidence: the engine of our economy, the industrial sector, is stalling, and those in Rome are just watching. Entrepreneurs are concerned because they do not see a competitiveness project in the Government’s actions. A logic of inaction is prevailing, which is blocking the country and costing a great deal: one only needs to look at the cases of infrastructure and the ‘end of waste’ regulations. These are two emblematic examples where time is being wasted, while businesses want decisive and concrete action.
Fortunately, Lombard businesses can count on a public-private system that supports them and works in synergy. However, this is not enough: for virtuous regions like Lombardy, Autonomy is required to implement the simplification process and increase the competitiveness of the territories.Lombard entrepreneurs want this process to move forward, to achieve a truly positive result, without downward compromises.”
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