Innovation, sustainable development and training are the watchwords of post-Covid-19 Italian entrepreneurship, at the center of the Apulian stage of "Entrepreneurs of Italy", the roadshow of meetings organized by Ernst & Young, world leader in professional services for companies , in progress in Bari.
During the event, the results of the analysis conducted by EY, in collaboration with Luiss Business School, on the attractiveness and development opportunities of the main industrial districts of the Puglia region were presented.
"We are proud to be here to recognize and enhance the Apulian realities that have been able to face the pandemic phase by demonstrating foresight, resilience and innovation - says Flavio Deveglia, EY Partner and EY office manager in Bari -. The data portrays an Apulian region. strengthened by its sectors of excellence including textiles, clothing and footwear, agribusiness and pharmaceuticals, which are more recently developed but with strong growth potential. To ensure that the region is able to accelerate its growth, also thanks to the incoming European resources, it is essential to focus on innovation as a driver of growth and attractiveness of investments, increasing training and skills development projects and supporting initiatives forvanguard in the field of environmental sustainability and circular economy ".
The research data shows that the impact of Covid-19 resulted in a sharp decline in exports by Apulian companies in 2020, which affected all sectors except for food and utilities, which decreased overall by 9.4% compared to the 2019, in line with the decrease from the national average (-9.7%) but less strong than the average of the other southern regions (-13.7%). The reduction in sales involved both EU countries (-8.3%) and non-EU countries (-10.7%). The data also reveal that the Tac sector accounts for about 9% of the total of the regional manufacturing sector with an annual turnover exceeding 2 billion and with 7% of export capacity; agribusiness constitutes about 25% of the turnover of the manufacturing sector, absorbs 17,5% of the workforce and boasts regional exports (22%) higher than other regions of the country; the pharmaceutical sector grew during the pandemic reaching 700 direct employees and 1000 in the supplier sector.
Some of the local companies, involved in debates on the enhancement of Made in Italy, Pnrr and innovation, gave their testimony to the initiative.
In collaboration with:
Ey
