The president of Ance, Gabriele Buia, has picked up the cry of pain that rises from small builders and this is part of the rules of the game, they are the majority of its members. But the interview granted to Corriere della Sera has two basic objectives. The first target is simplification (the Genoa model to understand), the second is the Webuild group formed around Salini with the participation of Cdp.
The trait d’union is represented by the infrastructures. Buia, who talks about the “disproportionate” use of negotiated procedures without bids, takes it with priority to the great works carried out by great builders who are the only ones able to do them. According to the president of Ance, deregulation was introduced with the latest “Simplifications” decree. The attack on Webuild is very direct. “We are against creating a monopoly that deals with major works as well as maintenance, relegating all other companies to the role of subcontractors.”
But is Webuild too big a monopoly or are the other companies too small? Webuild has a 6 billion euro bounty that looks great, but it’s nothing out of bounds. The French Vinci exceeds 50 billion, Bouygues still French 40 billion more or less like the Spanish ACS, the German Hochthief about 28 billion. We are not talking about the Chinese giants that far exceed 100 billion. Any of these competitors could swallow Webuild in one gulp. Crushing and dwarfism are two defects that have prevented the development of a competitive construction industry.
This is also true in other sectors, from mechanics, which is also a strong point of Italian manufacturing, to pharmaceuticals. From the pandemic, Italian industry can emerge stronger even if leaner, with efficient and competitive companies on an international scale (and even without the help of CDP). It is a process that should not be hindered, but supported, favoring concentration, the strengthening of capital, the technological leap. The Italian model has produced flat growth, this crisis and the resources of the Next Generation Eu offer the chance to change it, not to return to the small ancient world.