A new agreement between Sicindustria and Bper Bank has been signed to facilitate access to funds for Sicilian businesses. The deal took place during a meeting in Palermo where organizers discussed topics such as energy and environment, agri-food, tourism, and the blue economy. The understanding also includes acquiring machinery, expanding facilities, and entering new markets, all of which require financial approval.

Sicindustria President Luigi Rizzolo emphasized the importance of time in investment decisions. 'Today, an entrepreneur cannot just know that there are resources available for investing,' he said. 'They must also be able to determine if they can truly count on them, within what conditions and at what times.'

For this reason, credit is seen as a crucial element for ensuring the effectiveness of investment decisions. Salvatore Pulignano, regional director of Bper Bank, added that the agreement will have an annual duration with automatic renewal. "Our goal is to ensure these opportunities reach enterprises and become projects, new plants, innovation, and employment," he declared. "This requires credit, skills, and certain times." Support for investments also includes energy efficiency improvement, renewable resource development, digitalization, cybersecurity, and innovation within the context of Industry 4.0. Credit will be accompanied by information and consulting activities aimed at guiding enterprises towards the opportunities offered by the Single Zone for the South Coast, the Pnrr, and structural funds.

The agreement between Sicindustria and Bper Bank is an example of how Sicilian enterprises are trying to face the transformations of regional production systems. "The entrepreneurial fabric of southern Italy shows dynamism, innovation capacity, and strong growth propensity", Pulignano has underlined, indicating that the transition towards more digital and environmentally responsible models. Rizzolo considers the agreement important for promoting the growth of Sicilian enterprises. 'Today, an entrepreneur does not just need to know about resources available for investment; they also need to be able to count on them, within what time frame and with what conditions'.

This agreement aims to make concrete use of available tools by reducing the uncertainty that accompanies investment decisions. A partnership between Sicindustria and BPER Banca envisages meetings on the territory, workshops, and thematic tables to identify the needs of various sectors. Enterprises will be provided with sustainable financing instruments, public guarantee forms, and solutions to support financial relationships along supply chains. END SOURCES