BELLUNO. «The eyewear shop is starting up again. Much of the manufacturing has never stopped and the refrigeration sector is in great shape. Construction and public construction sites are in recovery. Budget in the red, however, for tourism and services. But I am confident, thanks to the reopenings, although I would have preferred larger ones ».
So, in a nutshell, Mario Pozza, president of the Belluno Treviso Chamber of Commerce, takes stock of the economic situation, on the occasion of the last meeting of the board that managed the first five years of the merger between the two Cciaa.
In Belluno the fusion had been badly digested. Five years later what is the balance sheet?
«A reassuring balance sheet. Not only because we have simplified, rationalized and therefore saved, but also because the Belluno economy has strengthened and consolidated by integrating itself, in many respects, with that of Treviso. If the manufacturing industries of the province have strengthened, even during this pandemic, it is because they have received significant market support from the brand. Let’s not forget that 90,000 companies operate in Treviso, here 16,000. And, on the other hand, a district like that of eyewear has also offered a lot to the Treviso area ».
Treviso, therefore, has not subjected Belluno?
«Ask the vice president who is from Belluno. Treviso has not “bought” the Bellunese at all. In proportion, chamber investments were greater in this province than in the Marca. Treviso realized that it found an added value in Belluno. Of determination, of intuition; you have… sorry, we have really performing industries ».
Yet the work still does not stop the depopulation.
«Confindustria is right to promote“ intelligent ”work to stop, indeed to bring back young people. Jobs must also be brought to the most remote valleys. However, there is no interconnectivity, there is no adequate road network between the valleys. Only now is broadband arriving ».
Yet you have set out to continue the continuation of the highway which, coincidentally, will not receive the funds from the recovery plan.
«The economy and, therefore also the tourism of Belluno, absolutely needs a breakthrough to the north. Do they want to do it by train? Full speed ahead. But the tourist train of the Dolomites that stops in Cortina and does not allow goods to travel is not a solution. We in Austria must arrive with our productions ».
What is the situation on the labor market?
«In percentage terms, the decline on an annual basis was –25.1% for recruitments and –14.2% for terminations. Overall in 2020 in the province of Belluno there were 25,650 contracts activated and 28,465 those terminated. The balance is positive by +600 units for public employment (thanks to the education sector) and negative by -3.415 units for private companies, especially tourism ones ”.
But what has the Chamber of Commerce done for Belluno in these 5 years?
«In the meantime, we are present in all institutions to make our contribution to development: from Certottica to Dmo, from the Dolomiti Unesco Foundation to the Gal. We collaborate with the Prefecture and the Police Headquarters in the fight against crime, for the promotion of legality in the economy. We have promoted important experiences of alternating school work. The contribution to digitization is noteworthy ».
Would you have opened the services more at this stage?
«Of course yes, obviously with all the precautions. For example, the curfew at 10pm makes no sense. I hope that the Government will consider postponing the closures to 11pm as soon as possible. In any case, Draghi’s was an important signal also because it can help mitigate the climate of tension that , as we have seen with some street demonstrations, it is very worrying and expresses the level of fatigue and suffering of some categories that has reached the limit and risks leading to riots and protests. The Government’s decision represents not a point of arrival, but a starting point to definitively exit the tunnel and reopen all sectors and all activities. Of course, the expected refreshments cannot wait any longer ».
How much did the Treviso-born Pozza earn to be the president to step over?
“I didn’t earn a single euro, because the service is free. As well as that of the councilors. We also pay for gasoline and telephone ». –
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