" Are 15% tariffs tolerable? It's obvious that any type of cost increase added to our businesses right now is a problem . But it's not just the issue of tariffs; there's also something we must never forget: the dollar-euro exchange rate, currently at 13.5%, with a forecast that it could reach 20% in March . So a 20% exchange rate plus 15% tariffs would be 35%: enormous damage to our businesses." This was stated by Confindustria president Emanuele Orsini on the sidelines of the Confindustria Sardegna Meridionale assembly in Cagliari. "However, it's obvious that from 50% to 30% to 15%, 15% is always better," he observed.
"The single ZES , with its streamlined bureaucracy and tax credit for investments in the South," he added, "with an allocation of €4.8 billion in public resources over the last two years , has already generated €28 billion in investments and 35,000 jobs , with a GDP growth rate of 4%. This is the right path for the country's growth." "Now we need to ensure continuity for these effective tools, which create opportunities in development policies, from South to North," he specified.
Then he reflected on the country's bureaucracy : " If we eliminated it, it would be like having two extra budgets a year, or 78 billion ." "What I'm saying is that we will continue to do everything we can to support our businesses, but we can't do it alone." And addressing the politicians in the room, he observed: "For your part, you have to do it with your own structures, because I know the political will is there, but very often things stall because, unfortunately, the political will can't be harnessed by the structural will ."
During the meeting , Antonello Argiolas, a food industry entrepreneur, was reappointed president of Confindustria Sardegna Meridionale. Along with him, Francesca Argiolas, of the eponymous winery, was elected deputy vice president.
The new team of vice presidents responsible for each thematic area has also been established: Carlo Guarrata (Saras) for Energy Transition; Davide Garofalo (Portovesme Srl) for Investments for Development; Barbara Porru (Andesiti) for Industrial, Economic, and Customs Areas; Andrea Scroccu (Entusa Srl) for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety; and Cristiana Vinci (Vinci&Campagna) for Air and Maritime Territorial Continuity.
The meeting devoted considerable time to a reflection on the challenges facing the regional industrial system. In his inaugural address, President Antonello Argiolas outlined the priorities of his new mandate. "Our goal," he stated, "is to work to create the conditions to compete on equal terms with businesses from other Italian and European regions . If we are guaranteed equal opportunities, we Sardinian entrepreneurs will be able to demonstrate our full value on international markets as well."
Topics discussed included digitalization, investments, credit, and human capital development. The meeting also marked the inaugural celebrations for the centennial of Confindustria Sardegna Meridionale, officially launched with national president Emanuele Orsini.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of the new, completely renovated headquarters spaces.
(Unioneonline)
