Veneto economic system priorities have been presented to Mr Pierluigi Bersani, “Ministry for the Growth”, as Mr Tomaso Padoa-Schioppa (the other ministry, the “accountant one”) called him.These priorities are reckoned as essentials to build a Veneto fitted for the third millennium.This interview took place in Padua during a meeting restricted to representatives of Veneto economy world that followed the Foundation Northeast morning presentation of the seventh “Report on society and economy”.The report is made up by six an a half pages, completed by figures and presented by Mr Federico Tessari as Veneto Unioncamere President.He remembered to the Government which are the bottlenecks slowing down the growth Veneto development, which is an area already engaged in a double competition.In fact, Vento economic system is competing with others European districts much better organised on the one side and on the other with emerging economies productively and commercially always more aggressive.

Which is the first priority into Veneto Unioncamere agenda, illustrated to Ministry Bersani?

Before our requests, we presented to the Ministry a picture on Veneto figures.In fact, Veneto produces the 9.1% of the national GDP, which is equal to €95.6 billions, it registers 510 thousands enterprise, it holds the higher number of industrial clusters, 46, which employee 203 thousand people, the number of employees in Veneto represents the 9% of the Italian employment basis, exports are the 13.4% of the national overall with almost €490 billions and a commercial positivebalance equal to €7.5 billions.

These are the figures in Veneto, and which is the first priority?

I will be concise even though there would be the availability of a whole library on the issue: Veneto first priority is the needs of tangible and intangible infrastructures.Particularly, Veneto economy is interested in to the on completion of works of Corridor 5, Lisbon-Kiev, in the Mestre circular, in the development of Corridor 1, Berlin-Brenner-Palermo, in the realisation of the junction between the A23 Udine-Tarvisio and A27 Venice-Belluno motorways, in the Adriatic harbours integration between Venice and Trieste and in the Sea motorways.Northeast could become a logistic platform at the European level if the infrastructures are integrated.However, first we have to know if these infrastructures will be entirely realised and be assured they would be completed within a reasonable time.

What about intangible infrastructures?

Same engagement.Because intangible infrastructures are as much as needed as the tangible ones.I am referring to the Galileo project, the civilian satellite localisation and navigation global system, to the SESAR project, a new generation system for the air traffic management.Nevertheless, I am referring also to the development of the digital signature in the electronic Identity Card and to the national services chart, to the realisation of infrastructures to short cut the digital divide and to the revision of the national power programme, before increasing costs would bring the power bill out of any control.

Another priorities presented to the Ministry?

The attention to the industrial clusters is a strategic move for Italian economy.We have to find efficient incentives and supports for our districts which are not just the ones pointed out by territorial borders, they also are the ones defined through bottoms-up approach, by the ability to networking without territorial limits.Chambers of Commerce network could be powerful development agents of districts because, beyond territorial characteristics they can rise the value of social and institutional potentialities.

How enterprises, even the ones which take part to a district, can protect their productions from some emerging countries’ dumping or from forgeries?

We pointed out to the Ministry indeed this Priority: origin protection of our production, it means to say the “made in” because we recon that tolls or other kind of customs barriers it would be short term measures which do not take the problem at the root.Last year we sent to the European Commission a “Commercial policy proposal for the development and protection for the European entrepreneurship system”.We asked to the Ministry Bersani for the Italian Government to take a position towards the “Made in Italy” and to make any effort for Brussels to adopt this proposal bill.The indication on products of the “Made in” would help consumers in understanding safe products and acknowledge products arriving from Countries not equipped with safety and protection rules as for instance, the child labour, the environment, the health and safety.

What answers the Ministry to the presented requests?

I think he appreciated the fact that we did not ask small and short-term measures but specific interventions aiming to free Veneto energies which are kept compressed.

Veneto sends to Rome €18 billions.Rome gives back to Veneto just €5 billions.How we can be competitive?

We need of a more effective State that would be more flexible, less bureaucratic, in the due respect of general rules.We also need a tax system more similar to the “Angular stone of a Democratic State”, how Ezio Vanoni used to say.In fact, Veneto enterprises are citizens of this Italy, too.

Giovanni Scomparin - giovanni.scomparin@tv. camcom.it
Tratto da "L'Economia della Marca Trevigiana", n.4 - 2006