There are those who invest almost one hundred million and double the production capacity of a single plant and those who strengthen the site by reorganizing research. Who believes in the development of broadband and who maintains a prudent status quo, but believes in a new headquarters and heavy investments in infrastructure over the next few years.
Despite the difficulties of the country system, for the "made in Italy" divisions of some multinationals, Italy remains an interesting market, whose domestic demand is, by value, almost always one of the top 10 "customers to be satisfied". But it is also, geographically, a "bridge" to the Mediterranean and the Maghreb area, a reality that is growing rapidly but equally instable.
The multinationals that operate in Italy and almost always intend to stay there, however, have been established for decades (in some cases for more than a hundred years) with tested production sites and research centers whose wealth of skills may not be easily "transplantable" elsewhere. However, the problem – as demonstrated by the halving of foreign investments in Italy in 2011 – is to attract new subjects. And this is where the balance becomes negative.
«We have every intention of staying in Italy, where we have been since 1971, and the Italian branch is the second after the French one – underlines Arturo Zanni, CEO of Sanofi–Aventis Italia -. We maintain 6 factories and 3,000 employees. Between 2009 and 2013 we are investing 130 million euros in industrial expansion and 80 million in research. Of course, the Milan research center is closing even if we are looking for someone to take over, because the group has decided to concentrate its scientific research in 4 macro-hubs around the world, but we will strengthen partnerships with private institutes and universities. Even if we are dealing with delays in payments from the PA. Some regions pay the health costs even three years later ». For the pharmaceutical industry, an aging country like Italy is also a consolidating market.
«We invested 70 million, between 2009 and 2011, to double the production capacity of our Bergamo site - explains Enrique Manzoni, CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Italy - where the 50% of a drug for the prevention of stroke already sold in the USA and Japan will be produced. Hopefully soon in Italy as well, because if in other European countries a drug approved by the European agency is put on the market after 90 days, in Italy the Aifa takes another 12-15 months, delaying the marketing ».
«Our commitment is to remain in Italy, where we have been since 1999 also thanks to the joint venture established in 2007, with the research and development centers of Milan and Catania - Chiar
