Despite the crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic and the problems related to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine , with a consequent increase in energy and raw material costs, Sardinian manufacturing companies continue to create market movement, opportunities and jobs.

There are over 7,000 in the region, and of these 5,100 are artisans. They produce food, drinks, textiles and clothing, carve wood and cork and transform chemicals, rubber, metal and stone, combining the manual skills of self-employment with the most technologically advanced entrepreneurship.

The sector employs 29,460 people , of which 47.7% (14,052 places) are concentrated in artisan businesses.

The sector was the focus of research by the Study Office of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna .

At a territorial level, the north (Sassari-Gallura) stands out with 2,287 enterprises, of which 1,650 artisan enterprises, with 8,432 employees of which 4,416 work in SMEs. Followed by Cagliari with 1,555 enterprises, 979 artisans, with 8,158 employees of which 2,787 employed in artisan enterprises, then southern Sardinia with 1,309 enterprises (1,000 artisans) and 6,203 employees (3,006 artisans), again Nuoro (1,164 enterprises with 908 artisans) and Oristano (698 realities of which 563 artisans).

“The data - explains Confartigianato - also show that Italy is the second manufacturing country in the European Union and the first for those employed in micro and small manufacturing enterprises. In fact, 372 thousand companies operate in our country, of which 232 thousand are artisans (72%), which employ 3 million and 700 thousand employees, of which almost 900 thousand are artisans (47%).

Elements that "represent the reality and strength of these companies in a plastic way, and interesting because they say how, in the last decade, these realities have been able to renew and innovate, thus becoming more competitive and more capable of exploiting the novelties of technology - explains Maria Amelia Nai, president of Confartigianato Sardegna - They also remind us how these activities are about to unload all the unknowns and difficulties linked to the conflict in central Europe and to the sanction mechanisms against Russia ”. "For this reason, there is extreme urgency, on the part of the Government, of interventions aimed at the system of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises - continues Lai - on which significant procurement costs of raw materials and the cost of energy have already been reduced. ".

The association also underlines that it is “necessary to put the company back at the center of national and regional policies - comments the regional secretary Daniele Serra - which means enhancing the model of micro and small entrepreneurship which constitutes its productive backbone. However, targeted interventions are needed to enhance the quality of Made in Sardinia and Made in Italy production ".

(Unioneonline / ss)

© Riproduzione riservata