Invest in Bologna - promobologna - Local Development Agency

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a fundamental aspect of economic globalisation and concerns continents and countries the world over, despite widely varying trends and characteristics. World FDI flows for 2006 were to the tune of 1,230 billion dollars, with a 34% increase compared to 2005. Such is the impact of FDI that, not only in developing economies, but also in industrialised areas, there is growing interest among operators and policy-makers both at a national and a local level. The World Forum for Direct Investment is one of the key international events where those in the know can compare notes, share experience and keep each other up-to-date on the latest trends.
The Bologna appointment (Palazzo Re Enzo, 7th-8th June) has been organised by the British firm Red Hot Locations. After the four previous editions were held in Brussels, Amsterdam, London and Valencia, PromoBologna - the local territorial marketing agency - devoted itself to ensuring that the 2007 appointment would be held beneath the Two Towers. Partner in the event was Sviluppo Italia, the national investment development agency.

What are to be the policies adopted by local administrations in order to make use of creativity as a means of socio-economic development? What is the role of creativity and innovation in fostering competitiveness across the territories? In what way do the flows of foreign investment change? What are the key factors for businesses making foreign investment choices? The answers to these questions will be given during the course of the event.

Programme
After the preliminary introductions, the proceedings on 7th June will be inaugurated by the Mayor of Bologna, Sergio Cofferati; there will follow speeches by the International Trade Minister Emma Bonino and the Vice President of Confindstria and President of Telecom Italia, Pasquale Pistorio. The topic of 'creativity and development' will be introduced by the English expert Charles Landry, who, since the early 'Nineties, has authored numerous studies on the development of creative cities. His presentation will be supplemented by the direct experiences of the cities of Manchester and Vilnius, and a spokesperson for UNESCO will talk about the Network of Creative Cities (a title currently held by nine cities, including Bologna). The proceedings will continue on the theme of competition between territories with respect to the localisation choices of businesses. There will be numerous examples of innovative businesses involved in foreign investment, including Skylogic and the Italian firm Datalogic, and of 'creative industries' active in sectors where higher growth-rates are expected over the next twenty years (design, visual arts, the web, publicity, theatre and urban architecture).

On 8th June, the proceedings will open with a video message from the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, Romano Prodi, who has long held the question of the attraction of foreign investment to be a priority on the government's agenda. This will be followed by a speech by the new Managing Director of Sviluppo Italia, Domenico Arcuri.
The keynote of the day's proceedings will be the role already played by emerging economies today (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa - BRICs) not only in attracting investment, but also as investors themselves in new areas of industrialisation and in advanced economies, particularly Europe. After a presentation of some examples, such as Singular ID of Singapore and the Indian firm Videocon, both of which have invested in Italy, the conference will wind up with a discussion on prospects for the future.

"The 2007 edition focuses on the cities and regions of the future - says Cathy Dawson, the Managing Director of Red Hot Locations - and the importance of 'creativity' as an attraction factor. The themes debated will range from collaboration of territories and cities with universities to the analysis of emerging sectors and creative industries. A central feature of the forum will be the multinationals of the future, especially those in emerging countries which are becoming increasingly important in the global economy. Bologna has proved itself to be the right city for representing aspects connected to creativity and creative industries."

"It must be remembered that economically advanced areas, particularly the countries of the European Union, are still considered to be the most attractive for foreign investment. In 2006, a total of 800 billion dollars was reached," explains Giuseppina Gualtieri, PromoBologna's Managing Director. "The choice of Bologna to host such a high-calibre event fits in with PromoBologna's strategy to promote the territory internationally. The event places Bologna at the heart of international debate, showcasing the degree of attention on FDI in our territory, and establishing direct contact with foreign operators and businesses with an aim to understanding, in real economic terms, areas of improvement and opportunity in our system."

"Sviluppo Italia," says the agency's Managing Director, Domenico Arcuri, "decided to be a partner of PromoBologna in this project as a result of the role conferred upon it by the government as national agency for the attraction of foreign investment and business development. Sviluppo Italia today is therefore the national contact point for foreign investors wishing to establish or expand their business in Italy. By making radical internal changes, our aim is to offer an increasingly wide range of tools and methods for entering into direct contact with foreign investors, over and above the existing consultancy services which cover each step in the process: from investment project assessment to the identification of optimal localisation, from assistance during the 'settling-in' phase to support when applying for financial incentives, right down to after care services."

All continents will be represented at the World Forum for Direct Investment 2007. There will be over 200 institutional and private sector participants and delegates from Austria - Borneo - Belgium - Canada - Chile - China - the Dominican Republic - France - Germany - Hong Kong - Hungary - Greenland - India - Italy - Lithuania - Saudi Arabia - Slovenia - South Africa - Singapore - Spain - Switzerland - the Netherlands - Turkey - the Russian Federation - the United Kingdom - Ukraine - the United States.