Meeting between industrial leaders and Governor Attilio Fontana on Autonomy, infrastructure and the Olympics

Milan, 11 July 2019 – The President and the Presidential Council of Confindustria Lombardia met today with the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, at the headquarters of the Lombardy industrialists in Milan. Many topics were addressed during the meeting, in which the industrialists and Governor Fontana strengthened existing synergies and outlined priorities for the challenges facing Lombardy, above all the discussion on Autonomy, infrastructure and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics.

For the President of Confindustria Lombardia Marco Bonometti, the meeting with President Fontana was an opportunity to ‘take stock of the continuous and constant collaboration between institutions and businesses in Lombardy, a winning model, as demonstrated by the recent awarding of the Winter Olympics to Milan-Cortina. Listening to the Lombardy Region and collaborating on the challenges facing Lombardy’s industry is fundamental to increasing the competitiveness of our territories. Today, the Lombard industrial system, following the discussion with President Fontana on strategic issues such as Autonomy, infrastructure, the environment, healthcare and simplification, expects further concrete steps forward in line with the work done so far. Confindustria Lombardia wants to make its contribution so that our region continues to represent that excellence and point of reference for the whole country. But,’ concludes Bonometti, ‘what is even more important for businesses is that today we have had further proof that in Lombardy, regardless of the decisions and choices of the national government, we are looking to the future without stopping’.

“It was a productive moment – highlighted Fontana – to share choices, consolidate relationships and structure qualifying partnerships to achieve common goals. A method – he added – that is what the Region has been pursuing since the beginning of the legislature, based on discussion, sharing and strategic interaction with the various stakeholders and intermediary bodies that – like Confindustria – best represent the needs of the entrepreneurial fabric and enhance its strengths”

“During the meeting – explained the Governor – we addressed, in particular, the issues of differentiated Autonomy, a tool to act on the competitiveness and development of the entire country thanks to the ‘driving’ effect of regions like Lombardy; the 2026 Winter Olympics, as a winning model of alliance between institutions and between the public and private sectors; and infrastructure priorities as a keystone to making our Region increasingly attractive and connected to international markets”. “Great attention – he concluded – was paid to the new legislation on urban regeneration, as a very significant step forward in the overall sustainable development strategy, the constant focus on simplification and the role of trade associations as a link between businesses and the Public Administration”.

During the working meeting, the industrialists confirmed their support for the path towards Autonomy, identified as a tool to act on competitiveness and development, potentially capable of unleashing Lombardy’s still untapped potential in terms of growth capacity and competitiveness in Europe, as well as acting as a driver for the whole country. Autonomy is also an opportunity to improve the quality of legislation and the efficiency of public administrations, dedicating the right attention to safeguarding the principles of legislative and administrative homogeneity on issues that are critical for those doing business. A priority for Confindustria Lombardia is to avoid increases in the tax burden and to focus on the application of standard costs for all administrations.

The challenge of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics for businesses represents a great opportunity for development and territorial marketing, not only for the territories directly affected by the games but, as happened with Expo, for the whole of Italy. For this major event to express its full potential, the industrialists believe it will be necessary to develop effective synergies between the public and private sectors, primarily between the two regions involved.

Regarding infrastructure, the industrialists indicated the Pedemontana motorway and the Cremona-Mantua motorway as priorities, among others.

The meeting was attended by: Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region, Marco Bonometti, President of Confindustria Lombardia, Alessandro Spada, Vice President of Assolombarda, Stefano Scaglia, President of Confindustria Bergamo, Roberto Zini, Vice President of AIB, Aram Manoukian, President of Confindustria Como, Stefano Allegri, Vice President of AIC, Lorenzo Riva, President of Confindustria Lecco and Sondrio, Diego Rossetti, President of Confindustria Altomilanese, Edgardo Bianchi, President of Confindustria Mantova, Nicola de Cardenas, President of Confindustria Pavia, Roberto Grassi, President of UNIVA, Luca Guffanti, President of ANCE Lombardia, Matteo Dell’Acqua, President of Young Entrepreneurs Confindustria Lombardia and Alvise Biffi, President of Small Industry Confindustria Lombardia.