At Milano unica, Adolfo Urso announces a new bill for the industry

«The government believes in the Italian production system», Adolfo Urso stated, inaugurating the 38th edition of Milano unica yesterday morning. The event, showcasing the spring-summer 2025 collections from 609 companies, including 93 international participants, will run until tomorrow. «In 2024, our country will also play a significant role in the field of Artificial Intelligence, linking with the year of Made in Italy. In the coming spring, we intend to present a comprehensive legislative proposal, seeking approval for Italian legislation on the use of enabling technologies within the industrial and production sectors, such as blockchain, Metaverse, virtual reality, and everything else that will have an impact on our life».

The Minister then emphasized Leonardo’s genius, which will be celebrated on April 15 during the first national day of Made in Italy, as well as ongoing efforts to organize several events. «In the fall, the first 100 Made in Italy high schools are set to open their doors in the country’s major industrial areas a remarkable success following the law passed on December 20, 2023», he explained. «All European resources must be used by 2025 for modernization. Our goal is to provide businesses with a robust legislative framework and substantial financial support for ecological transition and technological innovation», he added.

Alessandro Barberis Canonico, president of the high-end textiles and accessories fair, also drew attention to small and medium-sized enterprises. He took the opportunity to issue an appeal to the government, stating, «We require a strategic industrial and energy policy, along with considerations regarding labor costs and non-EU exports. Precise regulations for tariffs, in line with those of other nations, are essential. While the Made in Italy law supports the trade fair system, we hope that a portion of the non-repayable contributions linked to participation in international fairs will also benefit Italian SMEs. It is crucial to attract buyers to Milan and show them not only collections but also our factories», he added.

Among the novelties, a significant leadership transition at the helm of the trade show was announced. Canonico invited Simone Canclini, ceo of the eponymous company, on stage. Canclini is set to take the leadership of Milano unica from the July edition onward. «The fair is a leader in the industry, capable of attracting buyers from around the world. We will work to further enhance it», he commented. Roberto Foresti, deputy general manager of Fiera Milano, added that «this is the most sustainable trade fair venue in Europe. As Fiera Milano, we take pride in offering our support to an iconic showcase of Made in Italy. Artificial intelligence could be a crucial element for many companies». Echoing this sentiment, Carlo Capasa, president of the Cnmi-National chamber for italian fashion, remarked, «The trade show has succeeded because it chose to form partnerships, focusing on three elements that define Italy: creativity, efficiency, and sustainability».

As regards figures, this latest edition has confirmed the consistent growth of exhibitors, marking a robust recovery that has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. In July 2022, there were 446 exhibitors, which increased to 475 in January 2023 and further to 562 last summer. These numbers closely align with the peak of 608 exhibitors recorded in 2019. As for business, the Italian textile sector faced challenges in an unpredictable environment, leading to a slowdown in the industry. According to estimates from the economic office of Smi-Sistema moda Italia, the turnover reached 7.7 billion euros in 2023, marking a 2.5% decline from 2022. However, this performance remains resilient, with a 2.2% growth compared to pre-Covid levels. While exports, totaling 4.4 billion euros, experienced a 2.7% slowdown, a significant 16.8% decrease in imports resulted in a positive trade balance of more than 2.4 billion euros the best performance in the last seven years. In the first nine months, the China-Hong Kong market became the main driver of foreign sales. Taken individually, China (-3.2%) secures the third position behind France and Germany, which report flat performances. Meanwhile, Hong Kong (-22.5%) takes the 16th spot with a 22.5% decrease. However, most countries are showing signs of recovery from the effects of the health crisis. Compared to the January-September 2019 period, among the top ten destinations, only the US and France report a decline of approximately 15%. In terms of product categories, the most significant growth in international trade is observed in combed woolen fabric (+23%), followed by linen, pure silk, and carded woolen fabric. On the contrary, sales of cotton (-11.2%) and knitted fabrics (-7.4%) experienced a decline. (All rights reserved)