In Lombardy a new network to support SMEs

Lombardy is preparing to strengthen its entrepreneurial fabric with the establishment of Business Value Lombardy, the new regional association created to support the growth and ability to react of small and medium-sized businesses. The official inauguration will take place on November 12th in Milan at the Hotel Quark, during the conference “A growth opportunity for the Lombard economic system”, organized by Valore Impresa, the network that brings together entrepreneurs and professionals in the sector.

The event will involve institutional representatives, experts and entrepreneurs, with the aim of analyzing challenges and opportunities for the relaunch of regional SMEs. Gianni CiceroPresident of Valore Impresa, highlights the value of this new initiative: “The establishment of Valore Impresa Lombardia marks the beginning of a consolidation of the Network’s activities in the various territories of the Region. Valore Impresa Lombardia wants to be a meeting and comparison point between Businesses and Professionals, to develop a shared proposal to support economic development policies in a region that is a leader in the national economy, but which is going through a difficult time. The mission of Valore Impresa Lombardia is to intervene and seek concrete solutions to respond to the needs of the regional economy: an objective that is in line with the mission of Valore Impresa throughout Italy” – concludes Cicero.

Event program

The conference will open at 09.30 with institutional greetings from Prof. Michele Vietti, President of ANFIR – National Regional Financial Association and from Prof. Gennaro Terracciano, Pro-Rector of the University of Rome “Foro Italico”. Furthermore, guests and awaiting confirmation: the President of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa; the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana; the President of the Finance Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, Marco Osnato.

The opening of the works will be curated by Massimo Trivella, President of Valore Impresa Lombardia, and by Alessandro Faglia, Coordinator of the Valore Impresa Study Center for the Lombardy Region. Following this, discussion sessions will involve representatives of the sector. The moderation of the morning speeches is entrusted to Sergio Luciano, director of the magazine Economy and his correspondent, the journalist Riccardo Venturi, while the afternoon speeches will be moderated by the journalist Veronica Gervaso of TG5.

Scheduled as the first theme, “Building our future – Businesses and Professionals united for a common project” will feature Gianni Cicero – President of Valore Impresa; Marcella Caradonna – President of the National Association of Catholic Accountants; Andrea Maria Mazzaro – President of Federprofessional. The objective will be to focus on strategic alliances between SMEs and Professionals for a shared relaunch.

The morning’s speeches conclude with the session dedicated to the Annual Law on SMEs, with particular attention to the Consortium Model and the new Procurement Code. Experts such as Gianni Cicero, President of the Valore Impresa Network will participate; Gianni Bianciardi, former Senior Manager of Enel Andrea Bordin, Valore Impresa Lombardy Board of Directors; Enrico Martini of the Technical Secretariat of the Minister of MIMIT (formerly MISE).

The afternoon session will begin with the greeting message from the President of Mediocredito Centrale, Ferruccio Ferranti, to continue with the focus “The tools of subsidized finance: an opportunity for a few?”, which will analyze the financing channels accessible to SMEs. Among the speakers Hon. Marco Alparone, Vice President of the Lombardy Region and Councilor for Budget and Finance; Enrico Martini of the Technical Secretariat of the Minister of MIMIT (formerly MISE); Riccardo Barbieri of the Steering Committee and coordinator of the ANFIR Sustainable Finance Commission; Mauro Cestra, coordinator of the Facilitated Finance sector of Valore Impresa; Luca Nerelli, Strategic Partnership Manager of Ayming Italia; Antonella Rossano, Vice President of Valore Impresa Lombardia.

The last session, “Growth, prevention and crisis management: the ‘changing skin’ of SMEs”, will offer food for thought and practical tools for companies in difficulty. Speakers: Francesco Grieco, Extraordinary Professor of Commercial Law at LUM G. Degennaro University – Casamassima; Prof. Francesco Di Ciommo – Vice-Rector of the Luiss Guido Carli University and Ilva Commissioner of Taranto; Marcella Caradonna – President of the National Association of Catholic Accountants; Giuseppe Scaletta – Coordinator of the Corporate Value Corporate Crisis Sector; Gianluca Postiglione – CEO D&P; Lawyer Umberto Ostieri – Fondazione Centro Studi Valore Impresa.

The event will end with question time and final reflections, an opportunity for discussion and the creation of new professional relationships. Valore Impresa is the national network of Small Businesses and Professionals. Its mission is to create advantages for the companies and professionals belonging to the network, supporting economies of scale and identifying regulatory interventions to support the entrepreneurial economic fabric.