Pagina 44 - Progettare International 2013

Europe’, which is currently being penalised by
an unfavourable exchange rate with the leading
currencies, first and foremost the dollar”.
One problem that companies in all indu-
stries still have is access to credit. How can
they get round this problem?
“Many answers to this question appear in the
aforementioned Confindustria document.
Among the measures that are hoped-for the fol-
lowing need highlighting: to improve the use of
the resources that are available to companies
from the CDP S.p.A Bank; to ensure the con-
tinuity of the Guarantee Fund for small- and
medium-sized companies; to financially streng-
then collective loans and promote the aggrega-
tion process; to step up credit instruments that
are different from those that banks have to offer;
to promote the creation of specialised funds that
underwrite the issuing of bonds from smaller
companies; to expand the Private Equity mar-
ket, by promoting initiatives that are similar to
the Italian Fund for direct investments to inclu-
de the sectors of venture capital and corporate
reorganisation.
Access to credit really is a big obstacle in terms
of company development and, as such, it should
be tackled in-depth in the appropriate places.
For instance, I believe that the business system
should have sound back-up through forms of
finance and credit that can be paid back in in-
stalments, without any exorbitant interest rates,
as well as the possibility to defer payments which
well-rated on the worldwide market, qualities
such as flexibility, customer care, the ability to
invent and the ability to solve problems in a
personalised way; in short, ‘Made in Italy’ is
still much appreciated and recognised (and not
only in industries such as haute couture) and we
have the skills and the abilities that are needed
to ensure that this situation improves more and
more in the future, but, at the same time, it
is also indispensable that companies are given
support, with the right tools, by the country sy-
stem”.
For some time now, Assofluid, just like
other trade associations, has been sprea-
ding the word about the benefits that are
on offer from the industrialisation process.
How should Italian companies present
themselves abroad?
“As far as the fluid power industry is concer-
ned, Italian companies export about 65% of
what they manufacture and this means that
companies already have a big leaning towards
foreign markets where they are a great success.
Obviously, much more can and must be done,
especially in those countries that have the hi-
ghest industrial growth rates, where various op-
portunities are opening up for those who are in
a position to make the most of them.
In this context, however, support from public
bodies is fundamental, ICE in particular, for
the right promotion of ‘Made in Italy’, but also
from Simest and Sace, which provide instru-
40 progettare international
INTERVIEW
will enable companies ‘to breathe’. Potentially,
this would lead to the creation of a liquidity
tank that is capable of re-launching investments
with the possibility of handling major orders
with greater peace of mind.
Obviously, what we are up against are issues
that are highly complex to deal with and often,
when making proposals, one runs the risk of
being seen as someone who always has the right
answer for everything.
This is definitely not what I want: personally, I
would just like there to be greater harmony in
the interventions, with the involvement, when
it comes to decision-making, of everyone con-
cerned, Trade Associations included, something
that, sadly, does not happen often, so leaving a
number of dark areas that are both difficult to
identify and deal with, with a view of interest
that is not sectorial but global”.
What else extensively hinders the competi-
tiveness of small firms compared, for exam-
ple, to our German competitors?
“It is a well-known fact that the Italian indu-
strial framework, more than 95% of which is
made up of small- and medium-sized compa-
nies, compared to other countries where there
are bigger corporate concerns, Germany for
instance, is affected by a number of competiti-
ve factors, such as investments in research and
development and the ability to take on foreign
markets. At the same time, however, we do ha-
ve some specific qualities that result in us being