Following Brexit – A Way forward for ITALY – UK economic cooperation
We hoped for a different result for the UK Referendum on Europe and indeed with our members and the members of the European Chambers of Commerce we stressed the importance of a United Europe to face the many problems of the world which are not exclusively economic.
It is really bad that a process that made people feeling in a common area for business has been interrupted and we hope will be soon resumed.
Prime Minister Cameron announced that he will step down and there will be a period of reflection before a constructive approach towards redefining the British relationship with its European parties can be developed.
We have to continue to cooperate and we will with the British Chamber of Commerce for Italy and the other European Chambers in the UK so that business will continue to prosper for the advantage of the economy and the people involved.
At the Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK, our commitment towards our mission will match the challenge and although for at least two years nothing will change in the regulatory framework, we will have to give also our contribution in the many areas that will be renegotiated. Aspects such as trade, investments and competition can be enhanced with a well prepared representation of the legitimate interest of our members.
The financial markets reacted as expected in case the of a Leave victory although it is still impossible to draw conclusions in this very moment about their future behaviour on a global scale. The Italian Chamber of Commerce will continue to offer its support in order to facilitate the dialogue between Italian companies and investors. The Chamber is already working on a series of related projects which will be given maximum visibility.
This is a time when more than ever before we have to work together, to solve practical problems and if possible, increase the opportunity for business as a fundamental element of economic prosperity. We encourage our members to be very proactive.

L'articolo Post Brexit – un passo in avanti per l’Italia – Cooperazione Economia nel Regno Unito proviene da ItalPlanet.

Italy-Great Britain Forum in Florence
International Cooperation for the Research of Efficiency and Excellence between Innovation and Tradition
The relationship between the UK and Italy is historically solid and flourishing, so much so that trade flows of exceptional importance exist even at a regional level. In the period 2009-2015, Italy was ranked as one of the largest investors in the UK, totalling 460 projects and creating around 9,750 new jobs. In particular, there is a privileged relationship between Tuscany and Scotland and the cities of Florence and Edinburgh, as well as Florence and London. Between Imperial College in London and the University of Florence there is also a strong academic relationship.
On 21st March 2016, to celebrate this alliance the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK, in cooperation with the British Chamber of Commerce for Italy organized “Italy-Great Britain Forum – The International Cooperation for the Research of Efficiency and Excellence between Innovation and Tradition” at Sala Luca Giordano, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence.
The Forum, with the patronage of the Mayor of Florence and the Città Metropolitana, dealt with the importance of international cooperation as an opportunity for the economic development and increasing competitiveness for the SMEs that work in a globalized market. The best practices presented have contributed to showing how successful business models, excellence and efficiency, necessary characteristics for competing at an international level and with a focus on innovation, can preserve the best local and traditional aspects as an integral part of a brand’s identity.
After the welcome from the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, the Italian and UK institutions involved presented policies and agreements to support the internationalization process for business. Afterwards, entrepreneurs presented their personal experience and the development trends in four different fields: Manufacturing, Health & Good Food, Fashion & Design and Research & Innovation.
Many businesses spoke during the conference: Tratos Ltd, headquartered in Arezzo, which has communicated the end of a recent investment of £15 million in the UK and the future increase of its Italian establishment; Nuovo Pignone – GE Oil and Gas, recently transferred their Oil and Gas division headquarters from Florence to London, and Stefano Ricci S.p.a, which has an historical relationship with important stores in the UK, for example Harrods, which sold their products in the fashion field and that announced plans to expand its presence in England.
There were also the references to current issues such as Brexit, discussed by the British Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, Christopher Prentice and Italian Ambassador in London Pasquale Terracciano.
The event has created a real platform to share experiences, strengthening the historical relationships between Italy and UK and contributing to create new opportunities for collaborations.

L'articolo Forum Italia-Regno Unito a Firenze proviene da ItalPlanet.

Italian forum at the 2016 China Green Companies Summit
Dear Entrepreneurs,
This month, the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce was proud to promote the yearly China Green Companies Summit that took place from April 22nd to April 24th and was organized by the Chinese Entrepreneur Club (CEC) under the theme “Redefining the Jungle: A new Business Order”.
The CEC, founded in 2006, gathers the most influential entrepreneurs of China, representing together more than 10% of the Chinese’s GDP. The China Green Companies Summit is dedicated to promoting smart, long-term economic and social growth. Established in 2008, the Summit, held on Earth Day (April 22) each year, hosts over 1000 guests from China and abroad, including business leaders, political decision-makers, academic authorities, NGO representatives, and influential journalists.
In 2015, a delegation of the CEC had the opportunity to meet with the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi. Returning the favor, the CEC offered Italy the chance to lead its own and exclusive “Italy-China Business Forum” session built into the 2016 Summit Program called “The Italian Advantage: Tradition, Technology, Sustainability”. The Panel was held on Friday April 22nd. Prof Marco Simoni, Special Envoy and Economic Advisor of the Italian PM, delivered the institutional greetings, while Riccardo Monti, President of the Italian Trade Agency, was hosting the Italian Panel.
Among the high-level participants to the panel were also: Liu Donghua, Founder and Vice President of the CEC; Xia Hua, Chairwoman of the CEC from the EVE Group; Glan Chen, Chairman of the CEC and CEI of Dare Technology Co., Ltd; Massimo Bagnasco, Managing Partner at Progetto CMR and Beijing Executive Committee Member at EUCCC; Sara Marchetta, Partner of Chiomenti Studio Legale, Beijing; Giuseppe Cattaneo, CEO Pirelli APAC; and Mario Almondo, President & CEO of BREMBO China.
On Friday April 22nd, Davide Cucino, former Chairman of the CICC and of the EUCCC and Head of China Region, Finmeccanica Spa, participated in a Round Table entitled “Preventing the Rise of “Big Company” Issues”. This Round Table focused on how companies have to adapt to an environment of shared resources, mobile offices and quick organizational transformation in the Internet era. Later during the afternoon, Guido Romagnoli, VP Sales APAC – Technogym, took part in an In-Focus Forum called “Tomorrow’s healthcare: Everywhere”, an area in which Italian expertise is well acknowledged. The main topics tackled during this Forum were: China’s future of healthcare; Barriers in reaching Healthcare Everywhere; and Business models drawing the next era of healthcare closer.
On Saturday April 23rd, Giuseppe Cattaneo, CEO Asia Pacific – Pirelli, whose company’s cooperation with China substantially increased since last year, was invited to an International Business Leaders Breakfast given his significant position as a leader business between Italy and China.
During the afternoon, myself, as Chairman of the China Italy Chamber of Commerce, delivered a speech during the session “The Supply-side Reform Bottleneck”, sharing the Italian experience on the issue, and explaining why it is important for China to develop a healthy completion inside China for its own companies.
Those various panels gathered around thirty Italian institutional and economic representatives, brought together by the coordinated work of the Embassy of italy in China, the Italian Trade Commission and the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce. These sessions offered a first-class opportunity to highlight the best of Italian companies to a distinct audience of Chinese private sector leadership, allowing audiences to more deeply understand the advantages Italy offers across a number of sectors, encouraging trade, cooperation, and investment into Italy. The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce is therefore very proud to have taken part is this prestigious summit and to offer to its members such opportunities. Through an extensive network, each new member brings a new stone to make the CICC every day greater and more efficient.

L'articolo Il Forum Italiano al China Green Companies Summit del 2016 proviene da ItalPlanet.

Italian Delegation at the Second Edition of the Liverpool International Festival for Business 2016
The Rt Hon David Cameron, Prime Minister: “Britain is open for business, so for anyone involved in enterprise the International Festival for Business is the place to be. Make sure you are there to make the most of it”
Located in the new Exhibition Centre Liverpool, the International Festival for Business is the world’s biggest business festival that provides a global marketplace to exchange ideas about opportunities for businesses, innovation and industries and for creatings connections between the world’s most influential business leaders, entrepreneurs, free-thinkers and investors.
The IFB2014 edition saw more than 190 delegations from over 92 countries, 400 events in over 50 days, 3350 companies secured deals, £300m worth of deals struck and 15000 IFB Business Club members.
According to Ste Lingard and Dr. Katherine Davies IFB 2014 Report1:
•    3000 companies have secured or expect domestic sales
•    1400 companies have secured or expect export sales totalling an estimated £100m over three years
•    More than 350 companies expert to sign investment deals worth an estimated total of £200m over three years
•    An estimated 10000 new jobs could be generate over three years
•    10% of participants are now actively exploring exporting for the first time
•    11% of participants are now looking to expand in to new markets
•    81% of delegates and 77% of sponsors are keen to take part in IFB2016 or other similar Liverpool vision events in the future
•    30% of participants will use UKTI services in future
•    59% of delegates say that their market profile will benefit
•    More than one in three participants have been helped to improve their strategy or skills
•    Delegates spent more than £15m in the UK economy, creating 200 jobs and supporting many more
From Monday 13th June 2016 to Friday 1st July 2016, the IFB2016 will offer more than 70 top conferences, events, workshops and key-note speeches led by globally-renowned experts offering inside analysis, context and connection.
Each week will be dedicate to a specific theme:
•    Monday 13th – Sunday 19th June 2016 = Manufacturing
•    Monday 20th – Sunday 26th June 2016 = Energy & Enviroment
•    Sunday 26th – Friday 1st July 2016 = Creative & Digital
Science & Innovation, Professional Services, Infrastructure & Logistics, International Skills sectors are also covered during the three weeks of the Festival.
By registering at the IFB 2016 Business Club, members will automatically be enrolled in the state-of-the-art digital matching service and will be paired with a potential customer, investor or supplier, based on their unique requirements and their business strategy. Members will also be given an exclusive opportunity to meet with leading industry experts and receive and access advice that is tailored to their business needs including legal and financial aspects of commerce, patent searches, intellectual property rights and guidance about all sort of issues that help them to understand how to accelerate their business growth or optimise operations.
For more information about the IFB2016 and the schedule of events, please visit www.ifb2016.com
Also for the IFB 2016 edition the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK has confirmed its presence organising an Italian delegation with the aim of facilitating the increase in bi-lateral trade between the two countries and supporting them to maximise their time at the festival.
If you work in manufacturing, energy and enviroment or creative and digital sector and would like to be part of the Italian delegation at the IFB 2016, please contact Lucrezia Chiapparino at: manchester@italchamind.org.uk

L'articolo Delegazione italiana alla seconda edizione del Liverpool International Festival for Business 2016 proviene da ItalPlanet.

FEDERLEGNOARREDO
FEDERLEGNOARREDO é una pietra miliare del settore dell’arredo e del legno Italiano. Sino dal 1945 ha rappresentato l’intero settore, dalla materia prima al prodotto finite, in Italia e nel resto del mondo. La Federazione opera attraverso la sua sede centrale di Milano, con i suoi uffici di Roma e Belgio cosí come il Desk di Belgrado, Chicago, Mosca, Shanghai e Londra. Ad oggi vanta un totale di 2.800 aziende associate, includendo sia piccole aziende e leaders di mercato.
SIAMO QUI PER ASSISTERVI
La Camera di Commercio e Industria e Italiana per il Regno Unito – assieme a FederlegnoArredo SpA Events – è lieta di annunciare la nascita della “FLA UK Business Development Desk” con l’intento di promuovere il settore italiano dell’arredo e del legno in UK. Il progetto mira a consolidare la presenza delle aziende Italiane nel mercato UK attraverso attività informative e di promozione, così come la creazione di nuove possibilità di business. Allo stesso tempo, il Desk si propone a promozione del brand “Made in Italy” in UK e fornisce gli imprenditori italiani con il know-how necessario a rispondere velocemente ai cambiamenti del mercato.
Per ulteriori informazioni, preghiamo di contattare il nostro ufficio di Londra.

Chair Game
An overview of the Italian wood and furniture sector and the opportunities in the UK market
Editorial by Leonardo Simonelli Santi, President of the CCIE in London
The wood and furniture sector is one of the pillars of the Italian economy. According to data provided by FederlegnoArredo*, the sector employs 10% of the Italian manufacturing labour force and includes 17% of the total number of companies (67,000 comprised of 367,000 employees). In 2014 the sector’s total production turnover amounted to 26.4 billion Euros; this value confirmed Italy as the main furniture manufacturer in Europe but, at the same time, represented a decrease of 2.7% compared to 2013. The sector is in fact still suffering the consequences of the economic crisis and this is reflected especially in the domestic market where consumption – despite the tax incentives provided by the Italian Government – recorded a decrease of 4.1% compared to 2013.
Despite the crisis in the internal market, trade performance on the international front registers positive outcomes. In 2014 export levels confirmed the trend of the previous four years (+2.9%) and accounted for 49.1% of total revenue for the wood and furniture sector. The main markets are represented by France, Germany and the UK, which account for a third of the total export. Among the most important markets also stand the United States, Russia (third market in 2013), Switzerland and China, confirming Italy as the first European exporter to non EU destinations.
The UK furniture market. The recovery of the British economy (+2.6% in 2014) and the subsequent improvement of the real estate sector triggered the UK demand for interior products. According to The British Furniture Confederation, UK furniture manufacturing turnover has increased since 2011, reaching £7.8 billion in 2013. Over the same period, total imports rose to £4.6 billion (whilst exports fell from a 2011 peak of £992 million to £958 million). Also, in 2013 consumer expenditure on furniture and furnishings reached £12.6 billion, which was a 6.4% increase on 2012.
The last economic crisis – together with the strengthening competition coming from the Far East – has strongly affected the UK imports of furniture, revolutionising the chart of the top 10 supplier countries. Since 2008, traditional furniture manufacturers such as France, Italy and Germany have lost important shares (respectively -30.2%, -28.6% and -20.8%), while Poland, Vietnam and China have seen their shares grow by 65.1%, 50.8% and 31.6%.
Despite this, Italy is still the UK’s second largest market for the procurement of furniture and parts, surpassed only by China. The main products imported from Italy are lighting and upholstered furniture, which respectively count for 10% and 17% of total furniture imports from Italy. As well, Italy is the UK’s second largest supplier of kitchens (28% of the total kitchen imports) and upholstered furniture (12.4%).
The positive trend of Italian furniture exports is related primarily to the recovery of the British economy. To this one must add the known propensity of British consumers towards the Made in Italy brand, synonymous with exclusive design and high quality. The product origin and quality continue indeed to be central elements in the area of ​​consumer goods, especially in the high-end sector.
Entering into the UK market. Despite the strong British demand for Made in Italy products, Italian companies (especially the smallest ones) often struggle to get into the market across the Channel. These difficulties are due both to unsurprising problems, such as language barriers, lack of business contacts, inefficient logistics etc., and more complex issues, such as the unawareness of consumer preferences or the selection of the wrong entry channels.
Furthermore, many Italian SMEs do not possess the skills or resources necessary to consolidate stable and lasting relations in foreign markets. The participation in trade missions and international fairs is indeed a very effective means of internationalisation; it allows the meeting of potential partners, the presentation of products and the gathering of feedback as well as checking competitors, following market developments and gaining new insights into a specific market. Nevertheless, once the first commercial relations are established, the exhibitors are often unable to ensure an efficient follow-up in order to consolidate their presence in the market and monitor the business opportunities that may arise.
All these issues emphasise the importance of strategic planning, efficient business tools and effective assistance by professionals who know the market and its players.
FEDERLEGNOARREDO
FEDERLEGNOARREDO is a cornerstone of Italy’s wood and furniture industry. Since 1945 it has represented the entire sector, from raw materials to the finished product, in Italy and throughout the world. The Federation operates out of its Milan HQ, with offices in Rome and Brussels as well as Desks in Belgrade, Chicago, Moscow, Shanghai and London. Today it boasts a total of 2,800 member companies, ranging from industry leaders to small businesses.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK – together with FederlegnoArredo SpA Events – are pleased to announce the creation of the FLA UK Business Development Desk with the aim of promoting the Italian wood and furniture sector in the UK. The project aims to consolidate the Italian companies in the UK market through informative and promotional activities as well as the creation of new business opportunities.
At the same time, the Desk aims to promote the Made in Italy brand in the UK and provide Italian entrepreneurs with the know-how needed to respond quickly to market changes.
For more information, please contact our London office.

L'articolo Il gioco della sedia proviene da ItalPlanet.

Italy Forum – Unbound London 2015
The Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK continues its commitment to foster Italian innovative start-ups and their growth in the UK
Editorial by Leonardo Simonelli Santi, President of the CCIE in London
In collaboration with ICE – London Agency and the association Italia Start-up, it will be organising a series of initiatives for innovative Italian start-ups at this year’s UnBound Digital, one of the most prestigious international conferences for digital technology. It is held every year in San Francisco, Singapore and London.
This year’s London event will be held from the 30th of November until the 2nd of December at Vinopolis, Bank End. More than 2500 entrepreneurs, investors, corporate & brand executives, media influencers (over 50 journalists and bloggers) from the US, Italy, Israel, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany and Ireland are expected to participate.
One of the main themes of this year’s edition will be the impact of innovation in the retail business and a presentation of the latest trends in various sectors, including AdTech & Media, Healthcare, Cybersecurity, Fintech.
The event, through a platform based on forums, networking events and competitions, will be an excellent occasion for our ecosystem’s start-ups to reach out to investors and brands that could potentially be interested in investing in innovation.
Italia Start-Up association will select the start-ups who will take part in the Italian Delegation. 10 scale ups (turnover €1mln), 10 series A start-ups (maximum €250K) and 30 early stage start-ups (minimum turnover €10K) will be chosen.
During the two days of the conference, the start-ups will have a space, the “start-up Bazaar”, in which they can showcase their products to visitors. There will also be a desk for eventual meetings with investors or potential clients and a series of activities to favour networking.
During the conference, an “Italy Forum” will be held: a two and a half hour parallel session where executives from various sectors, such as retail, manufacturing, tourism and fintech, will discuss the impact of digital technology in their fields. Members of the start-ups will also be given the chance to pitch themselves in front of an audience of investors and industry professionals.
On the 2nd of December, the Italian delegation will be guided through a series of visits and meetings: the Italian start-ups will be able to meet some London-based Accelerators and Incubators and stakeholders of the ecosystem in the UK.

L'articolo Italy Forum – Unbound London 2015 proviene da ItalPlanet.

Strengthening Business Investments between the UK and Italy
Following the recent London visit of the directors of Confindustria, the Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK, in collaboration with Method Investment and EnVent, organized an interesting round table on corporate finance.
The participating Italian companies were SMEs of highly specialized sectors, ranging from manufacturing, “internet of things”, nuclear physics instrumentation to art. The event aimed to create a direct dialogue between entrepreneurs and experts of debt and to help identify development solutions for Italian companies.
The debate has highlighted the need to bring the two parties closer and to coordinate better the services of finance firms with the needs of companies that want to grow, both in private equities and bonds. The meeting was a great success and it has been decided to replicate the formula in a number of other future initiatives.
In the same days Minister Andrea Orlando visited London. During his visit he met lawyers at the Law Society and representatives of the financial world at the Italian Embassy. The Minister spoke of the progress made in Italy on justice reform and civil trial. The measures introduced by the grinding of litigation backlog led to a reduction of 20% of cases. He spoke of the acceleration in the legal process linked to the assurances on the so called ‘non performing loans’ a very important issue especially for Italian banks.
Many assets, mostly in real estate, have been blocked by slow justice. In this case, probably, the Enterprises’ Court could become a useful tool for solving similar tasks.
Hopefully the judicial change described by the Minister will allow foreign investors to resize their aura of scepticism and to foster significant capital flow to Italy.
We must strengthen our competitiveness and at the same time reassure investors protecting their legitimate interests, providing them with a legal framework much more efficient and transparent, no longer burdened by conflicting rules and differing judgements.

L'articolo Rafforzare gli investimenti tra il Regno Unito e l’Italia proviene da ItalPlanet.

Internships: A Useful Tool To Grow in the Work Environment
The influence of stages offered by the Italian Chambers abroad and the example of the United Kingdom
Italy has the highest number of offered internships among the European countries (approx. 35% of the total). The Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad offers the transition from academia to work life.
As a good example the UK chamber is devoted to promoting the partnership between the United Kingdom and Italy and it has strong links in various UK sectors and gives an approach to practical work. The Chamber offers an internship, which helps candidates to deepen their knowledge in business and participate in formal events such as exhibitions, conferences and festivals. After graduating, interns can develop their ideas on commercial activities, networking, workshops and fairs throughout the UK.
The Italian Chamber of Commerce in London has several regional branches such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester where stageurs can work. The Chamber emphasises the importance of a sound knowledge of the English language which today is essential in business. The internship gives the opportunity to work with the Secretary General and President and to meet auditors and councillors.
With other events such as Talented Young Italians, it collaborates with the Italian Embassy to build networks in the Anglo-Italian community. The Chamber praises the young generation and presents their success, which helps them integrate in the working world. Interns are involved in all activities and have the ability to choose between business trade fairs, events management, marketing publicity and contact with members. The internship is full time work with the support of professionals’ who can give advice on how to move forward in the work environment.

L'articolo Stages: un utile strumento per crescere nel mondo del lavoro proviene da ItalPlanet.

 
Protecting Italian values
The importance of Italian business communities abroad and the key role of the Chambers of Commerce abroad
Editorial by Leonardo Simonelli Santi, President of the CCIE in London

An infamous bogeyman looms over Italy: the brain drain, combined with the fear of foreign businesses entering our industrial system. These fears and the controversies they create go entirely against internationalisation, an inevitable challenge which, if met with courage, can not only be won, but also represent an opportunity for growth.
The success of Italians abroad is due to their courage, their commitment, and their willingness to accept fair competition. The success of Italians abroad is, in fact, well noted: it is as if we became more committed, having left our national borders. Perhaps herein lies our constructive ‘nationalism’ which, on the one hand assimilates itself with the host country, and on the other maintains pride in its roots. Consequently, cross border movements, which can not only increase trust and mutual understanding, are both welcome and crucial.
When one talks of the evolution of business communities, it is only natural to think of the United States. I was recently in New York, and I visited the Italian Chamber of Commerce on the famous 5th Avenue in Manhattan (where you can also find many other branches of Italian companies). The New York Chamber, founded over 100 years ago and seen as the ‘father’ of all the other Italian Chambers in the States, is a classic example of an aggregate which generates and manages a multi-business community, made up of Italians with interest in the United States, and Americans with interests in Italy.
What is particularly interesting is that the relationship the Chamber has with its local business community is different to that of the ‘official’ Italy of its local diplomats. Whilst Italy wants first of all to maintain its national character, the Chamber’s business community instead acts in a significantly less patriotic way. It is about more than feeling part of a national system; Italy identifies itself with such qualities as tradition, good taste and creativity, which we could define as ‘Italian values.’
In order to be long-lasting, a business needs to benefit more contractors from different nationalities. In this way, it can unite differences and build on faith. Italian business communities prove to be very useful for our home country, and could be even more so if they built on their contacts and connections, something which the Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad are striving to do. The hope is to receive more continual support from public organisms, so as to bring forth the idea of a network of companies and professionals which on the one hand look to Italy with interest and fondness, but at the same time believe in values such as openness, proficiency, fair competition with others, and the propensity towards constant improvement, which I think revives the fundamental aspects of our being Italian people who live on a global scale, which in turn is one of business.

L'articolo Preserviamo i “valori italici”! proviene da ItalPlanet.