“Today is a historic moment, I am the first female president of Confindustria Catania in 98 years. The association will have to take on ever more strategic importance, and go not to words but to deeds. AND you know that you have not elected a quiet country housewife. Today we must, all together, enthusiastically explode the sense of pride of being entrepreneurs”. These are the first words spoken by Maria Cristina Busi Ferruzzi as new president of the Etna industrialists’ association. An election formalized in a major event on the occasion of the 98th general assembly of Confindustria Catania entitled “Business values. A model of responsible and sustainable development” which took place this morning 10 May, in the auditorium of the Benedictine Monastery of Catania. In front of the first woman at the head of Confindustria Catania, an audience made up not only of industrialists, but also of some leading figures in Sicilian and national politics, including the president of the Senate Ignazio La RussaThe Minister for European Affairs, the South, cohesion policies and the Pnrr Raffaele Fitto and the president of the Region – and former president of the Senate – Renato Schifani.
Busi: “We can increase GDP by 10% in a few years”
Busi is not Sicilian but has been in Catania for “fifty years”, specifically at the helm of Sibeg Coca-Colaa company active since 1960. From this long entrepreneurial experience in the Etna capital, he immediately remembers the potential of the territory, which, only considering the companies linked to Confindustria Catania, counts “26 thousand directly employed, i.e. 26 thousand families”. And the territory of Catania, which represents “19% of the Sicilian GDP, can see it increase by 10% in a short time“. An objective that can be achieved by intervening on the role of women in the workplace. “Today here only one worker in three is a woman, which is not good. And the work is there, we say, ”she said to applause. Ample space, in her programmatic speech, also at nthe need to accelerate the ecological transition and the objectives of strengthening competitiveness at national and Mediterranean level, with Catania which can “become its capital”. And there was no shortage of requests to politicians, with a message addressed to the minister in the audience: “Decontribution in the South becomes a structural measure. Minister Fitto, let’s make our voice heard in Europe.”
Fitto: “Decontribution in the South continues, but in another form”
And Fitto’s response was not long in coming: “The government’s commitment is not lacking, and I believe that it can be achieved at one structural definition of decontribution. But it won’t be in its current form“, said the minister in his long speech”. Recalling how useful and important a discussion with those in the area is”, Fitto reiterated that the government’s line, and in particular the various delegations assumed by his ministry, is that of an overall strategic vision. A vision against the “pulverization of funds, because only 34% of the 120 billion of the 2014-2020 programming was spent“, and which led to the centralization of decisions relating to the use of European funds, PNRR funds and the elimination of 8 special economic zones in the South in favor of a single SEZ. “In the next few days – recalled Fitto – I will present a report to Parliament on the eight SEZs which will allow us to understand how things are. In Sicily the two SEZs they concerned just over 60 municipalities. Now it is the whole region, and without territorial opposition. There were also businesses cut in half by the SEZ line,” specified the minister.
Schifani: “I am the first to share centralization of funds”
An approach, that of Fitto and the government led by Giorgia Meloni, shared by president of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani. “I was the first regional president to say yes to the centralization of funds. There reform is strategic because it looks at the South and does not accentuate territorial differences. First I found myself with an attribution transferred to the Regions and then we remained blocked. Today the government holds the attribution and we bring the projects. I was the first president to say yes. It’s one thing to have it in cash and say ‘then I’ll spend it’, it’s another thing to say ‘I can only have it if I plan’”. Schifani then recalled some results achieved by his regional government, first of all the improvement of the accounts. “We have collected 1.8 billion euros more, Fitch has improved the rating, and we are paying off the Region’s debt”. Furthermore, Schifani also recalled a practical objective, but deeply felt by companies: the maintenance of provincial roads, which remained “orphaned” by the former provinces, and which could be resolved with an agreement conveyed with the Fitto ministry.
La Russa recalls Catania as the “Milan of the South”
The President of the Senate La Russa closed the congress. In his speech he thanked Busi, recalling a personal acquaintance that has been going on for years. “Dear Cristina – said La Russa – What can the president of the Senate do? It can stimulate the government to maintain a commitment it has made to businesses. That of no longer being an obstacle, that of being a friend of businesses.” And taking up the theme of the SEZs, reiterated that it is “a wonderful idea”, but that it must be made operational “with the implementing decrees. And it will be my care in Rome to stimulate so that there is no delay“. La Russa, born in Paternò but resident in Milan “since the age of 13”, recalled how as a child “Catania was called the Milan of the South, because he has always shown entrepreneurial, imaginative and innovative skills. Today this ability must be put at the service of Sicily, of Catania itself but also for the project Mattei Plan. Which is achievable only if Catania presents itself as a true protagonist. And I am convinced that you will make it”, concluded the president of the Senate.
The presidential team elected with Busi Ferruzzi
Maria Cristina Busi Ferruzzi was elected this morning by the general meeting of members which effectively ratified the vote of the general council of the last April 24th. His appointment follows a long period of vacancy in the position after the resignation of Angelo Di Martino, who resigned last December 4th. The team of vice presidents was also elected: Franz Di Bellapresident and CEO of Netith Care (acting vice president), Marco CausaranoCEO of Sicania Chimica, Lucio ColomboCEO of STMicroelectronics Italia, Mario Guesssole director of Le Dune Sicily Hotel, Arturo Lentini, account sales manager at Tim Enterprise. Treasurer of the association was elected Michele Pennisisole director of Sicilenergia.
