Statement by the President of Confindustria Lombardia, Marco Bonometti

Milan, 6 February 2018 – “The manufacturing economic analysis for the fourth quarter of 2017, presented by Unioncamere, confirms that in 2017 Lombardy successfully joined the recovery currently underway in Europe and, more generally, is benefiting from the widespread global upturn more decisively than Italy as a whole. As the study clearly shows, this sustained growth was driven by two factors in particular: exports and investments in Industry 4.0, which subsequently impacted company turnover. We must now create the conditions for this recovery to become structural; we need a pact for systemic competitiveness that involves all institutional and economic stakeholders.”

THE DATA – The annual average for all key indicators is highly positive: production +3.7%, turnover +5.6%, domestic orders +5.2%, foreign orders +7.5%, and the Wage Guarantee Fund (CIG) at 7.2%. For Confindustria Lombardia, the consistency of this growth is even more significant: all provinces and industrial sectors recorded positive average production.

EMPLOYMENT – “The net-zero change in employment should be viewed as a waiting phase: the growth recorded in 2017 will have positive effects on employment in the medium term. We must not forget that the regional labour market is at European levels in terms of unemployment (6.3% in Q3 2017, Istat data), skills, the presence of employed graduates, and inclusivity. However, a clear message must be sent to young people: companies need medium-to-high-level skills, whether provided by graduates or technicians, depending on the role. We must promote Higher Technical Institutes (ITS) and manufacturing-related industrial degrees linked to these schools.”

INVESTMENTS – “The manufacturing sector has responded positively to the stimulus provided by the National Industry 4.0 Plan. The entire renewal linked to Industry 4.0 is driving this growth, and our companies were ready: this is confirmed by the data presented today regarding investments (64% of Lombard companies made investments in 2017: 91.6% in machinery, 62.5% in IT).”

COMPETITIVENESS POLICY – “In this highly positive context for our region’s economy, Confindustria Lombardia’s goal is to develop a competitiveness policy that enables Lombardy to consistently compete with the most dynamic and innovative regions in Europe. This policy must commit institutions, starting with the next regional government, to focus on developing Lombardy’s manufacturing sector as a fundamental vehicle for economic and employment growth. We must achieve a high and growing level of productivity, which must involve the private sector, public administration, and the country’s intermediary bodies equally. For this reason, Confindustria Lombardia will release a document in the coming weeks outlining the proposals of Lombard companies for a competitiveness policy, and on 19 February, these proposals and strategic guidelines will be discussed with the candidates for the presidency of the Lombardy Region during a private meeting.”