Export, tourism, investments. These are the three factors allowing Tuscany to wade through the long economic crisis with better economic conditions than most of the other Italian regions, and that are maintaining Tuscany’s competitiveness abroad. These are the three indexes that give Tuscany better chances for a faster recovery and to attract new foreign capitals. According to “Toscana2020 – La ripresa è possibile [“Tuscany2020 – Recovery is possible] – issued by Regione Toscana [Region of Tucany] and propagated by Il Sole 24 Ore – exports grew by more than 16% in the 2008-2012 period, returning to pre-crisis levels, the attraction of foreign tourists is strengthening, and investments have remained steady, due partly to public spending.
In terms of international capitals, Tuscany is moving faster than it did in the past: according to regional statistics, yearly foreign investments averaged 300 million between 2005 and 2010, which have grown to 400 million in the 2011-2013 period. “On one had, there were no significant outsourcing: a good sign that there are good reasons to stay;” Toscana 2020 indicates. “On the other, of 80 requests for aid Tucany received (from nine countries) between 2011 and 2013, 29 lead to investments totaling €1.2 billion and created 1,031 new jobs.” The figures are therefore encouraging, and earned the prize for best strategy to attract foreign capitals among South Europe, awarded by the FDI magazine and the Financial Times.
The path to obtaining solid and lasting recovery is still long. The ingredients to increase Tuscany’s appeal and create the conditions necessary for development are a gamble on the region’s productive eminences, represented by both large groups and by dynamic SME’s, and the institutions’ systemic approach to promoting the region.
Both lines of action will be the focus of the “Una Toscana attrattiva per far ripartire l’Italia” [“An attractive Tuscany to jump start Italy”] that Confindustria Toscana (the business association) and Invest in Tuscany (a network of public partners geared at promoting investments in the region) organized in Florence for October 14. A common marketing project for foreign and investments will be on the table, as well as the strategies employed by those companies that export Tuscan creativity (Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Peuterey, Unoaerre) and the experience of foreign groups with long-lasting presences on the territory (Nuovo Pignone, Eli Lilly). The overall outlook will be analyzed with the collaboration of representatives from the Italian Ministry of Italian Development and Enrico Rossi, president of the Region of Tuscany, will close the session.
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