The former Ilva related companies are at risk of closure, with an incalculable impact on the territory. It is feared that once again the economic fabric of the city is the victim of a crime. According to Aigi, the association that brings together the majority of related and contracting companies, “there is no green light on the companies’ credits” claimed from Acciaierie d’Italia, the company, declared defunct, which manages rent the former Ilva steel plants. “The entry into the liabilities which certifies the pre-deduction of credits – for Aigi – confirms the strategic nature of the companies that have always worked in the plant but unfortunately does not translate into the resolution of the controversial issue”. The government commissioners have recognized a status, however not for road haulage companies, which will however have to be examined by the court on 19 June.
Businesses without payments
In short, there are no checks ready for local businesses. Aigi underlines that even in 2015, when the extraordinary administration of the then former Ilva was declared, many companies were recognized as pre-deductible. Today, 9 years later, the same companies have still not been refunded the payments that Ilva owed them and are left with a very complicated financial situation made worse by the events of recent months.
The state bin
In short, entrepreneurs fear a second “state waste” and say “it is certainly not with pre-deductibility that you pay taxes, salaries, contributions, VAT”. While recognizing the closeness of the government demonstrated with the decree, the so-called “save allied industries”, which is now law, local businesses explain that access to credit with the Guarantee Fund does not take into account the rules of bank credit which apply to all the other direction, due to the greater risk to which related companies are exposed even without any responsibility. In short, due to the steel debacle, companies found the bank taps closed, only for not having collected what they were owed.
New protocols
A different access to credit is needed to concretely support the continuity of related businesses while waiting for the pre-deductible credits – ascertained by the commissioners and close to verification by the court – to become concretely available wealth again. To do this, according to Aigi, memoranda of understanding are needed with the banking system and with the commissioners.
