| Latest reports released on Nov 13 from Bloomberg | | | | Of the 200 or so industrial districts in Italy, almost all |
| show Italy has emerged from recession and GDP | | | | have some connection with the chemical industry. |
| grew by 0.6 percent. The recovery of Germany and | | | | The main concentration of Italy's chemical business is |
| France, the country's largest export markets, also | | | | in the north of the country, which accounts for 68% |
| sounded a note of optimism. | | | | of the chemical companies. Lombardy (Lombardia) |
| Mechanical machinery and equipment | | | | alone accounts for almost half of that percentage |
| Italy's engineering sector, covering mechanical | | | | and is the top region in Europe in terms of number of |
| machinery and equipment, is now the second largest | | | | companies in the chemical industry and second largest |
| in the EU and fast catching up with leading | | | | region in terms of employees. |
| manufacturer Germany. It produced 18.7% of | | | | Italian association Fedechimica conducted a recent |
| machinery in the EU in 2008 and also made significant | | | | survey on why foreign companies appreciated doing |
| gains in Russia, Africa and South America. | | | | business with the Italian chemical industry and the top |
| The sector is dominated by small, family-owned | | | | factors included: the quality of human resources, the |
| businesses, with the average size of workforce being | | | | market size and quality of customers, the quality and |
| around 13 people, which is the lowest in Europe. | | | | reliability of equipment suppliers and the quality of |
| There are over 41,000 manufacturing and engineering | | | | R&D. |
| companies in Italy and while some claim the sector's | | | | The spread of ownership in the Italian chemical |
| strength lies in the very personal and 'small is | | | | industry is 41% Italian SMEs, 23% medium and large |
| beautiful' approach of a family business, others claim | | | | Italian companies and 36% foreign companies. |
| that this is a risky strategy as old-fashioned attitudes | | | | In June 2009 Italian oil and gas group ENI announced |
| and family loyalties may impede progress in a global | | | | it was investing 700 million euros in the industry |
| market. | | | | between 2009 and 2012. |
| Italy's growing success in the sector has been | | | | Electrical Equipment, Electrical, Electronic and Optical |
| through focussing on its strengths - quality of design | | | | Apparatus |
| and steady output of mid-range engineering products | | | | Estimates put the value of the global electronics |
| from small, flexible companies with their sites firmly | | | | market at $2 trillion per year, $275 billion of that is on |
| set on the world markets. | | | | semiconductors. The sector has suffered from the |
| Basic metals and fabricated metal products | | | | global economic crisis, but analyst firm Gartner |
| Considering Italy has very few mineral resources and | | | | reported in October 2009 that the industry is |
| has to import most of its raw material, its metal | | | | showing signs of recovery, although this will not |
| industry is a large and important one in the nation's | | | | stabilise until 2010, with mobile phones expected to |
| economy, particularly regarding exports. Half of the | | | | lead the recovery. |
| country's iron output comes from the Isola d'Elba off | | | | Italy's electronics industry suffered a decline at the |
| the coast of Tuscany. | | | | end of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, but a |
| Italy has 50,000 businesses and 850,000 workers in | | | | recent report by the ISAE (Istituto di Studi e Analisi |
| the metal industry, the majority in the north. In the | | | | Economica) on how the industry itself felt about |
| iron and steel industry many of the large companies | | | | recovery showed that companies in the centre and |
| are in the centre and south of the country. | | | | south of Italy felt more optimistic about the future. |
| Transport equipment | | | | This was probably because they were less affected |
| Italy's automobile industry is the country's largest | | | | by the international market while the larger |
| employer with an estimated (2004) 196,000 | | | | companies in the north west and north east had |
| employees. The automobile sector is dominated by | | | | been harder hit and so were more cautious. That |
| Fiat which ranks number ten in the world's top motor | | | | said, the signs of recovery are more widespread in |
| vehicle manufacturing companies, although as a | | | | the north. |
| country Italy ranks only 17th in terms of motor | | | | Another report from the Servizio Studi e Ricerche di |
| vehicle producing countries. Fiat went into partnership | | | | Intesa Sanpaolo focussed on the vital role of human |
| with US auto manufacturer Chrysler in May 2009, a | | | | resources in the electronics industry. The sector |
| clear indication that is now seeking to conquer | | | | employs 6.8% of Italy's manufacturing workforce |
| international markets after its dominance of the | | | | and has the highest percentage of workers in the EU |
| domestic one. It also intends to bring the Alfa Romeo | | | | The sector has seen a 10% rise in the number of |
| back to the US market. The company posted its | | | | highly skilled white collar workers in the last ten years |
| highest ever profits in the last quarter of 2008, | | | | from 20% in 1997 to 30% in 2007, higher than other |
| defying the global downturn. As well as production | | | | manufacturing industries. Add to this the high |
| and export of iconic luxury brands like Lamborghini, | | | | percentage of high sklilled blue collar workers and the |
| Ferrari and Maserati, the transport export sector also | | | | electronics industry in Italy has one of the most |
| includes city cars, passenger vehicles, transport | | | | highly skilled workforces in Europe, with the |
| vehicles, trailers, and auto parts and accessories. | | | | exception of Garmany. |
| The government's introduction of incentives to trade | | | | Italy continues to invest in renewable energy and |
| in older cars for more energy efficient ones has | | | | this, combined with the government's aim to invest in |
| resulted in new car registrations rising by 16% in | | | | the south of the country has led to some interesting |
| October. | | | | developments. Northern Italian photovoltaic and solar |
| Chemical products and synthetic fibres | | | | power plant construction company Enerqos plc of |
| This is a crucial sector for Italy With a turnover of 57 | | | | Milan, has a one billion euro contract with NextEnergy |
| billion euros it is the fourth largest chemical producer | | | | Capital and is building four solar in Puglia, in the heel of |
| in the EU. There are three thousand companies in the | | | | Italy's boot. The company also has a licence for |
| sector employing around 126,000 people. | | | | projects in Sicily. |