PORTOFINO (GENOVA) (ITALPRESS) – The energy shock and the consequences on the competitiveness of the Italian production system, the risk of a new inflationary drive, the future of industry and the former Ilva, but also nuclear and renewable. It was the energy the great red thread of the first day of the second edition of the Portofino Talks, the event organized by Philia Associates that brought in the pearl of the Tigullio representatives of the government and the institutions, entrepreneurs and leaders of the main Italian companies.
To launch the most clearly alarm was the Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, intervened in video connection from Dublin during the work of the Ecofin. “The energy shock is becoming an economic emergency,” said Giorgetti, pointing out that the increase in fuel prices has already begun to weigh on families and is intended, in perspective, to reflect on the bills of citizens and enterprises. A particularly delicate situation for a country like Italy, in which manufacturing continues to have a decisive weight. “We cannot forget that we are a manufacturing and transformer country, where industry still has a lot of energy, as in Germany. It is a serious problem of competitiveness and is an economic emergency,” the minister explained. To weigh is also the uncertainty of the international scenario.
“If the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue, inflation is inexorably destined to increase”, warned Giorgetti, recalling also the consequences of the increase in debt burden and the need for a reflection on rate policy. On the European front, the Minister recalled that the Government already asked Brussels to use the derogation from the Covenant with regard to energy expenditure: “The maximum amount we have is 0.6%. I think the Commission will be open to giving us this space.”.
Energy has gone through many appointments of the day, comparing politics and industry. The Genoese deputy Ilaria Cavo, Vice-President of the Commission Production and Relator of the Nuclear Law, intervened in the panel dedicated to “The Energy of the Country”, while on the future of the Italian energy mix confronted Riccardo Toto, director general of Renexia, Fabrizio Fabbri, managing director of Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare, and Marco Realfonzo, CEO and Cco of Optima Italia. To complete the picture the intervention of the managing director of Terna Pasqualino Monti. Among the protagonists of the first day also Marco Tronchetti Provera, executive president of Pirelli, and Antonio Gozzi, president of Federacciai and national vice president of Confindustria, who from the stage of Portofino has linked the theme of competitiveness to that of the certainty of the rules for those who make business.
Gozzi pointed his finger in particular against the order of the Court of Milan on the former Ilva: “It works against the interests of the economy and industry. If an enterprise respects the limits established by the Integrated Environmental Authorization and a judge says that they are not enough, without indicating which limit should be respected, this is not a country of law”. “Businesses need certain rules, which of course must be respected, but cannot change every five minutes,” added Gozzi, confirming that the Italian cordta interested in the plants of the former Ilva “is still united and is doing everything that must be done.”.
After the nicknames in Taranto, Monday will be the turn of Cornigliano. For Gozzi, however, one of the main obstacles to the competitiveness of the Italian industry remains energy: “Of course. In Italy we have very high costs and energetic companies do wonders to try to stay competitive despite this disadvantage.” The first day of the Portofino Talks has widened its gaze to the other great challenges for the country’s growth.
On tourism, Minister Gianmarco Mazzi spoke in connection, while the president of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana faced the role of local authorities. The new frontiers of the economy of the sea and the skies have seen among the protagonists Sandro Pappalardo, president of Enav and Ita Airways.
The programme also devoted space to sport, with Minister Andrea Abodi and Giovanni Malagò in connection, and to the Public Administration with Minister Paolo Zangrillo, who on the occasion of Portofino Talks recalled the results achieved by his Ministry: “In the last three and a half years we have made 800 thousand assumptions, with almost 65% of the new entrances under 40 years.”.
Among the themes addressed also the health with the Ligurian Ornella Barra (Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Boots Group) awarded the Confartigianato prize for the results obtained as a successful entrepreneur “who loves to do and not say, as the ingenuity of Liguria teaches”.
Health that has also been faced from the point of view of the public and private strategic investment, with the interventions, among others, of Massimiliano Dalla Via, managing director and general manager of Intesa Sanpaolo Protection, and Andrea Pezzi, managing director and general manager of Poste Assicura.
“Portofino is not only glamour and tourism – said the mayor of Portofino, Matteo Viacava -. Hosting moments of confrontation like this is an important opportunity for us to grow. Listening to entrepreneurs and protagonists of the economic world, dealing with the great national and international themes, can help us to gather new ideas and to promote even better our territory”.
-Photo Press Office Philia Associates-
(ITALPRESS).
