Cersaie 2009 Events Report
Tuesday, 29th September 2009Competitiveness and credit market beyond the crisis
Press Releases
Cersaie begins with economic conference "Competitiveness and credit markets beyond the crisis"
More than seven hundred people attended the Economic Conference at the 27th Cersaie, the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings promoted by Confindustria Ceramica and organised by Edi.Cer.spa in cooperation with BolognaFiere.
“Competitiveness and credit markets beyond the crisis” was the title of the event held today in Palazzo dei Congressi in Bologna. Following the introductory remarks given by BolognaFiere Chairman Fabio Roversi Monaco, the roundtable discussion coordinated by journalist Maurizio Beretta saw the participation of Adolfo Urso, Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Vasco Errani, President of Regione Emilia Romagna, Roberto Nicastro, Deputy CEO UniCredit Group, and Franco Manfredini, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica.
Franco Manfredini was the first to speak, describing how the crisis that began last year hit the international property market and consequently the ceramic sector. However, the second quarter of 2009 saw a rise in sales compared to the first quarter of the year, showing that the Italian ceramic tile industry has been less severely affected by the crisis than other manufacturing sectors.“To deal with this situation it was necessary to reduce production using all available flexibility,” explained Manfredini. “Companies sought to cut their costs and restructure, making use of all the social shock-absorbers at their disposal.” In this context, Manfredini stressed the importance of the cooperation of all the social partners, an outstanding example of social cohesion in which a leading role was played by the regional councillor for production activities Duccio Campagnoli.
“The ceramic industry,” concluded Manfredini, “is highly export oriented and has always been a strong promoter of globalisation, although it is also convinced that the rules must be the same for everyone. We are not afraid of countries that benefit from low labour costs provided they do not adopt commercial policies based on the application of lower prices abroad than those practiced in their own countries. Finally, I must stress the need for Italy to have an energy policy that offers companies and the public tariffs in line with those of other developed countries.”
Next to speak was the Deputy CEO of Unicredit Group Roberto Nicastro, who argued that high-quality manufacturing, particularly that of the Italian ceramic industry, is one of the mainstays of our country’s growth. “This is one of the worst recessions in living memory,” added Nicastro, “and in a situation of this kind all the economic players become more wary, turnovers and investments fall, and cautious credit policies reflect a greater concern for the future. Nonetheless, Italian banks have resisted the temptation to resort to so-called “creative financing”, thereby sparing Italy from the disastrous consequences that these practices have had for other countries.” “Italian banks, and Unicredit Group in particular, believe in Italian industry and the growth of Italian companies abroad and it is in our interests to support them,” concluded Nicastro. “This includes establishing a stable international presence in order to successfully tackle new markets.”
The president of Regione Emilia Romagna Vasco Errani began his talk by commenting on Cersaie’s important role for our country, then went on to thank Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Franco Manfredini for his recognition of the efforts made by the regional administration, and by councillor Duccio Campagnoli in particular, in the handling of the crisis, describing some of the decisive actions taken by Regione Emilia-Romagna together with all the social partners. “First and foremost,” he said, “we have done everything possible to avoid reducing either the production base or the level of employment. In agreement with the Government, we have invested 520 million euro over the next two years in credit consortia and guarantee cooperatives to support the relationship between businesses and the credit markets.”“We are focusing on two points to optimise this relationship: the real evaluation of business and the ability to help and reward the small and medium sized enterprises that are the driving force of our economy,” he explained. “Our objective is to safeguard our region’s manufacturing fabric, an extraordinary heritage that in past years has reported outstanding export performances.”
Last to speak was the Deputy Minister for Economic Development Adolfo Urso, who stressed the Government’s efforts to promote greater transparency in markets with a view to achieving the much discussed liberalisation. “In this regard,” added Urso, “the deadline of 2010 has been set for the conclusion of the Doha Round, the trade negotiations aiming to lower customs duties and to eliminate protectionist practices. The Government is in favour of supporting and protecting companies in order to establish rules that are the same for everyone, particularly as regards the fight against dumping.”“As for energy policies, I believe it is our duty to reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment while focusing on renewable sources and nuclear energy,” he argued. “Energy is a key element for our companies and must not become an obstacle to their competitiveness.”The deputy minister concluded his address by praising the Italian ceramic industry for having succeeded in creating a high value-added product capable of competing at an international level while starting out from low-value raw materials. This has made it possible to create development opportunities in a number of foreign markets, combining production internationalisation with the added value of exported Italian ceramic tiles.
“Competitiveness and credit markets beyond the crisis” was the title of the event held today in Palazzo dei Congressi in Bologna. Following the introductory remarks given by BolognaFiere Chairman Fabio Roversi Monaco, the roundtable discussion coordinated by journalist Maurizio Beretta saw the participation of Adolfo Urso, Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Vasco Errani, President of Regione Emilia Romagna, Roberto Nicastro, Deputy CEO UniCredit Group, and Franco Manfredini, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica.
Franco Manfredini was the first to speak, describing how the crisis that began last year hit the international property market and consequently the ceramic sector. However, the second quarter of 2009 saw a rise in sales compared to the first quarter of the year, showing that the Italian ceramic tile industry has been less severely affected by the crisis than other manufacturing sectors.“To deal with this situation it was necessary to reduce production using all available flexibility,” explained Manfredini. “Companies sought to cut their costs and restructure, making use of all the social shock-absorbers at their disposal.” In this context, Manfredini stressed the importance of the cooperation of all the social partners, an outstanding example of social cohesion in which a leading role was played by the regional councillor for production activities Duccio Campagnoli.
“The ceramic industry,” concluded Manfredini, “is highly export oriented and has always been a strong promoter of globalisation, although it is also convinced that the rules must be the same for everyone. We are not afraid of countries that benefit from low labour costs provided they do not adopt commercial policies based on the application of lower prices abroad than those practiced in their own countries. Finally, I must stress the need for Italy to have an energy policy that offers companies and the public tariffs in line with those of other developed countries.”
Next to speak was the Deputy CEO of Unicredit Group Roberto Nicastro, who argued that high-quality manufacturing, particularly that of the Italian ceramic industry, is one of the mainstays of our country’s growth. “This is one of the worst recessions in living memory,” added Nicastro, “and in a situation of this kind all the economic players become more wary, turnovers and investments fall, and cautious credit policies reflect a greater concern for the future. Nonetheless, Italian banks have resisted the temptation to resort to so-called “creative financing”, thereby sparing Italy from the disastrous consequences that these practices have had for other countries.” “Italian banks, and Unicredit Group in particular, believe in Italian industry and the growth of Italian companies abroad and it is in our interests to support them,” concluded Nicastro. “This includes establishing a stable international presence in order to successfully tackle new markets.”
The president of Regione Emilia Romagna Vasco Errani began his talk by commenting on Cersaie’s important role for our country, then went on to thank Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Franco Manfredini for his recognition of the efforts made by the regional administration, and by councillor Duccio Campagnoli in particular, in the handling of the crisis, describing some of the decisive actions taken by Regione Emilia-Romagna together with all the social partners. “First and foremost,” he said, “we have done everything possible to avoid reducing either the production base or the level of employment. In agreement with the Government, we have invested 520 million euro over the next two years in credit consortia and guarantee cooperatives to support the relationship between businesses and the credit markets.”“We are focusing on two points to optimise this relationship: the real evaluation of business and the ability to help and reward the small and medium sized enterprises that are the driving force of our economy,” he explained. “Our objective is to safeguard our region’s manufacturing fabric, an extraordinary heritage that in past years has reported outstanding export performances.”
Last to speak was the Deputy Minister for Economic Development Adolfo Urso, who stressed the Government’s efforts to promote greater transparency in markets with a view to achieving the much discussed liberalisation. “In this regard,” added Urso, “the deadline of 2010 has been set for the conclusion of the Doha Round, the trade negotiations aiming to lower customs duties and to eliminate protectionist practices. The Government is in favour of supporting and protecting companies in order to establish rules that are the same for everyone, particularly as regards the fight against dumping.”“As for energy policies, I believe it is our duty to reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment while focusing on renewable sources and nuclear energy,” he argued. “Energy is a key element for our companies and must not become an obstacle to their competitiveness.”The deputy minister concluded his address by praising the Italian ceramic industry for having succeeded in creating a high value-added product capable of competing at an international level while starting out from low-value raw materials. This has made it possible to create development opportunities in a number of foreign markets, combining production internationalisation with the added value of exported Italian ceramic tiles.
