The Business Promotion Programme 2013-2014

 

The regional policy for the promotion of internationalisation is part of a broader, integrated framework of regional strategies for the support of SMEs and local production clusters.

The Apulia Region intends to provide the Apulian economy with support in opening up to a more international dimension through initiatives favouring the greater and more incisive participation of businesses in different forms of internationalisation, based not only on exports but also on relationships of collaboration, investment and integration with the various sectors concerned (industrial agreements, technology transfer, distribution systems and so on);

The Apulia Region intends to provide the Apulian economy with support in opening up to a more international dimension through initiatives favouring the greater and more incisive participation of businesses in different forms of internationalisation, based not only on exports but also on relationships of collaboration, investment and integration with the various sectors concerned (industrial agreements, technology transfer, distribution systems and so on);

In order to define its strategy for the support and consolidation of the internationalisation processes ofApulian businesses, the Apulia Region has adopted an instrument known as the Programme for thePromotion of the Internationalisation of Local Production Systems, approved by the Regional Council andjointly financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the OP 2007-2013 – Line ofAction 6.3. “Initiatives in support of local business internationalisation” to be carried out by the ApuliaRegion’s International Business Promotion Department.

The 2013-2014 Programme for the Promotion of the Internationalisation of Regional Production Systems, approved by means of the Decree of the Regional Government No. 51 of 29/01/2013, is structured in a series of distinct actions:

1. Actions in the context of institutional events and promotion of “Sistema Puglia”.

These actions promote all aspects of the Apulian economic system on the occasion of high-profile institutional and/or commercial events programmed at national or international level, or promoted directly by the Region within the Apulian area.

2. Interventi di sostegno alla promozione dell’internazionalizzazione dei sistemi produttivi locali attraverso:

  • Participation in specialist fairs and sectoral events of particular relevance both in Italy and abroad
  • Institutional missions designed to build up a network of international relations
  • Organisation of scouting initiatives in order to identify specific opportunities for collaboration and potential business partners
  • Organisation of incoming missions and actions raising awareness and disseminating information on opportunities and approaches for business expansion within foreign markets
  • Organisation of business to business meetings and corporate visits
  • Themed workshops and seminars presenting foreign countries
     

3. Support for the promotion of the internationalisation of the regional research system.

These actions are designed to build functional links between internationalisation support policies and policies in support of research and innovation, and involve the launch, together with the Apulia Region Industrial Research and Innovation Service, of a series of joint initiatives intended to support the search for production and technological alliances within the regional system.

4. Initiatives intended to rediscover and develop economic links with communities of Apulians living abroad.

These internationalisation initiatives involve the Pugliese Nel Mondo association, which is officially recognised by the regional authority. Communities of Apulian emigrants, their descendants and young Apulians who have moved abroad can become “agents of development” and “facilitators” of entrepreneurial and commercial relations.

 

Internationalization towards Smart Puglia

For the new European 2014-2020 programme, the Apulia Region has developed a shared participatory definition of the Smart Specialization Strategy, drawing up the profile of Smart Puglia 2020 founded on the close integration of cross-cutting policies for research, innovation, internationalisation, education and training, work and the strengthening of links with the vertical policies concerning the environment, transport, welfare and health.

In  2014 the regional government launched an experimental new internationalisation model moving towards a Smart Puglia, rooted in the need to ensure the necessary integration between regional intervention policies for the promotion of internationalisation on the one hand, and regional policies in support of enterprise competitiveness, on the other.

Regional Government Decree No. 595 of 8/04/2014 approved the updating of the Internationalisation Programme with the aim of focussing promotion actions on enhancing “smart specialization” and making international markets aware of the value of the enterprises, the production, specialisation and technology that our region is capable of bringing to key sectors for development.