PROVINCES OF COMO AND LECCO Diverse economies concentrate on quality manufacturing based on highly-skilled labour
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the north of Milan, two of Lombardy’s most important provinces,
Como and
Lecco, are
working hard to maintain their strong competitive profile. Both provide
a key strategic link between northern Italy and the rest of Europe via
Switzerland.
Como’s diverse economy includes manufacturing, especially silk
and textiles, which date back to the 16th century, furniture, design
and machinery. Unemployment is among the lowest in Italy, while per
capita income is among the highest.
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Marco
Citterio, President of the Como Chamber of Commerce,
says there is tremendous dynamism in the local economy which supports
large numbers of smaller export-driven firms and lots of business start-ups
each year. “We were the first in Lombardy to develop a manufacturing
industry.”
He believes the extension
of infrastructure around Milan – including roads and plans to build
a railway line before the new Swiss Saint Gotthard tunnel opens –
will open up Como to further development.
“This entire region is going to have
a different look. Milan will be the capital of services and exhibition-related
trades – north of the motorway, in the lake district, there will
be high-class tourism, state-of-the-art companies focusing on clean,
environmentally-friendly production and technological innovation.”
| Villa Erba is a modern congress centre located in the stunning surroundings of Lake Como |
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According
to Como’s President, Leonardo Carioni, tourism is a priority sector
for the area, already one of Italy’s best-loved destinations. “Tourism
development is our main challenge for the future.”
Infrastructure investments
are set to open up the province to more visitors although the authorities
are keen to cultivate elite tourism and tap the expanding business tourism
market. Villa Erba, a modern congress centre sited on the shore of Lake
Como, is one of the jewels in the crown of the local administration.
It boasts exhibition space, conference facilities and luxury accommodation
all set against a stunning natural backdrop.
The tourism push includes the promotion of Campione
d’Italia, a tiny enclave of Como, located entirely in Switzerland,
beside Lake Lugano. Its economy is solely dependent on the local casino,
which has been open since 1933.
Britt-Marie Gustafsson
Muzi, Mayor of Campione d’Italia, says intensive efforts are being
made to improve our casino facilities to stay ahead of the pack, with
Switzerland opening its own gaming centres. A new casino is currently
under construction, with the existing one earmarked as a hotel. The
complex will then be the largest casino in Europe. “It will be
the largest and most beautiful casino here in this area.”
Armando Selva, President of the Casino
di Campione, says the current expansion project reflects the city’s
ambitions. He wants Campione d’Italia to become a point of reference
for international gambling, offering a unique product. “We feel
that in Europe we are competitors with Monte Carlo.”
The province of Lecco is another affluent
part of Lombardy with low unemployment and a well-diversified economy
based primarily on industry and agriculture. Similarly, it boasts countless
small and medium-sized companies producing a range of high quality products
and services. Lecco, on the eastern side of Lake Como, used to be part
of Como province – it is a part owner of the Casino di Campione
– until about 10 years ago. The Lecco economy is another major
export region with strong trade links to the UK and other major European
states.
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Mario
Anghileri, Lecco’s President, says there are notable
differences between the two provinces, however. “Our province features
a higher degree of product diversification. We have so many activities
in so many echelons of production.” Although the province is not
home to Italy’s biggest corporate names, the emphasis is on a high
standard of manufacturing. Lecco also boasts a large pool of skilled
workers and a high degree of technical and academic excellence. “We
may not have big names, but we do have top quality products thanks to
the skills of our business operators. In fact, the unemployment rate
in our province is the lowest in Italy,” says Mr Anghileri.
A major challenge for the Lecco authorities
is the promotion of the tourism sector, especially high-value tourism.
The area is renowned for its wilderness, home to the western part of
the Dolomites and some very rugged terrain, including the mountains
of Grigne. “Our landscape is great for tourism – high mountains,
very close to Milan, the lake and in the southern part, the hills,”
adds Mr Anghileri.
Vico Valassi, President of the Lecco
Chamber of Commerce, believes that tourism is a natural progression
for the provincial economy. As well as the positive economic benefits
it would also impact on the growing labour market, an important consideration
given that Lecco is one of Lombardy’s most densely populated areas.
The Chamber plays an important role in
promoting the move towards a more sophisticated, service-based economy
with initiatives covering education and training and the advancement
of IT among businesses and the public sector. The intention is to improve
Internet use and technology in the province. “Among the IT initiatives
is a Net Economy screening activity which took shape last year based
on the Lecco metal-working sector,” says Mr Valassi.
On the educational side, the Lecco Chamber of Commerce works closely
in support of the local economy with provincial academic institutions.
The aim is to prepare people for the challenges ahead in economic transition.
There are plans to establish Lecco as a “citadel of knowledge”.
This includes “the development of centres of excellence, first
and foremost the presence of the polytechnic, and the spreading of both
the material and intangible infrastructural network.”
One of the main tasks facing the Lecco
administration is the upgrade of its overall infrastructure to handle
the prospect of sustained economic growth. The province is expected
to play a significant role in Italian trade with the EU. “We need
to match the ever-increasing population and the high density of production
facilities with new and improved infrastructure,” adds Mr Valassi.
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