The “InvEst” initiative, organised on 14 October in collaboration with Assolombarda and in partnership with UniCredit, was an occasion to present to companies in Lombardy the mission of Confindustria Est Europa, the support the network offers on a path of growth towards the strategic neighbouring markets of the area, and the business opportunities in the 11 countries of the Network, with a focus on those that weigh most heavily for Italian exports (Albania, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Poland).
The interest shown by Lombard companies in these markets, as Assolombarda underlined, is the result of growing near-shore internationalisation and of the search for stable destinations for the region's companies, as demonstrated by the positive trend of Lombard exports to the markets of the CEE countries.
The presentation by the President of Confindustria Est Europa, Maria Luisa Meroni, on the Federation's objectives helped to frame a strategic neighbourhood towards which Italian companies can and must look in order to grow and strengthen their activities, not least thanks to the support of the Representative Offices.
The activities and services of the International Representative Offices, and the country opportunities, were explored both through focus contributions from the boards of Albania, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Poland and through the session devoted to one-to-one meetings between the Representative Offices and the companies present.
In support of companies interested in starting business in the area, SACE's contacts also spoke: Alessandro Terzulli, Chief Economist, and Fabio Guglieri, Global Relationship Manager, SACE Milan, with a careful analysis of export data highlighting the strong commercial projection of Italian companies in the countries of the CEE network. Alessandro Paoli, Head of UniCredit International Center Italy, examined the UniCredit Group's instruments to support companies expanding their business abroad. Closing proceedings, Confindustria's Director of International Affairs, Raffaele Langella, underlined the strategic importance of Eastern Europe, highlighting the need to invest more in relations with these countries, in particular as regards their accession process. He also recalled the importance of association, highlighting the need and the importance, today more than ever, of working as a system with the aim of consolidating the presence of a strong Italian business fabric in Central and Eastern Europe.
