A preferential location from which to operate on the global market

CARPI IS LOCATED IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REGIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, A REGION WHICH IS RENOWNED FOR ITS HIGH LIVING STANDARDS, MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE FACTORS WHICH MAKE THE AREA ATTRACTIVE TO INDUSTRY AND WHICH MAKE IT COMPARABLE TO OTHER REGIONS SUCH AS HAMBURG, ILE DE FRANCE, HESSEN, AND BADEN WLITTEMBERG, MAY BE SUMMED UP IN SEVEN KEY. WORDS: HUMAN RESOURCES, INNOVATION, TOTAL QUALITY-CONSCIOUSNESS, SERVICES, INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK, NETWORKING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. A CLOSER ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY REVEALS MANY AND IMPORTANT FACTORS WHICH MAKE IT PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE TO INDUSTRY.

A STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION

The district of Carpi is ideally located not only for reaching out into northern and southern Italy but also into eastern and western Europe. It is in fact close to the meeting of the major motorways linking northern and southern Italy, and Italy with the rest of Europe. Its proximity to Bologna, a motorway and railway junction of primary importance, and to Ravenna, a major port, is an edge for trading with the entire Mediterranean region as well as with the rest of Europe. The international airport of Bologna is only 40 minutes away, while the airports of Verona and Milan can be reached in 60 and 90 minutes, respectively. What's more, Carpi and its neighbouring towns are at the industrial heart of the Emilia-Romagna Region, being at one of the corners of a quadrilateral area comprising Sassuolo (internationally renowned for its tile industry), Maranello (famous for the Ferrari automobile factory), and Modena (highly reputed for its mechanical and automation industry and for the Maserati automobile works). Many international companies have their headquarters and plants within a radius of only 30 kilometres from Carpi.

A WIDESPREAD ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

As compared to the national average of one firm every 12 inhabitants, Carpi has one firm every 8 inhabitants. It is not by chance that Carpi can boast an industrial district with one of the most longstanding traditions. Quality human resources together with other favourable ambient factors such as easy access to dynamic markets, to advanced technology, to abundant financial resources, to highly skilled labour and expert management have been crucial in building up and consolidating the success of so many industrial concerns. The strength of local industry lies not only in the diffuse presence of small- and medium-sized businesses but also in that of large concerns operating in major sectors such as food processing, chemicals and mechanics.

AN ADVANCED NETWORK OF TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURES AND SERVICES

The advanced network of services Carpi has to offer the entrepreneur is an important support in promoting business operations and initiatives on a large scale. The so-called service centres operating in the territory which have specialised themselves in given sectors are veritable collaborators to small-sized businesses, offering innovative technology and consulting services aimed at improving the productivity and overall efficiency of the companies seeking their assistance. The advanced financial services offered by local banks represent a further asset to companies setting themselves up in the district. Carpi Formazione (Training Centre), Lat (Textile Analysis Laboratory) and Citer (Textile Information Centre of the Emilia-Romagna Region) are just a few examples of the services available to any entrepreneur wishing to locate in Carpi.

MANUFACTURING FOR EXPORT

About 50% of the local product is intended for export. Notwithstanding the area's vocation for textiles and clothing, other important industrial sectors for which Carpi is renowned include agriculture and food processing, farming machinery, wood working machinery, electronics, automation and plastics. The diffuse and articulated presence in the territory of small- and medium-sized concerns go to make up highly diversified export-oriented activities. The institutions available in Carpi are an important aid to the entrepreneur in ensuring competitivity and high quality standards.

LOW RISK AND GOOD INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Considering the low number of bankruptcies and protests, the reliability of Carpi concerns can be considered to be well above the national average. Maintaining commitments and undertakings is a hallmark of local entrepreneurship. Being competitive also means having good industrial relations. In fact, bargaining is conducted in a spirit of partnership and collaboration, and labour conflicts are rare as trade unions are reasonable and dependable.

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND LOWER COMPANY TAXES

In addition to regional laws providing for incentives and support to manufacturing activities in the form of subsidies and low-interest loans, companies located in the area can also have access to EU structural funds. A good number of consortia and savings and loan associations with a mix of public and private participation are available in the various industrial sectors which means widespread credit facilities and easy access to financial services. The Municipal Authorities of Carpi make available fully developed areas for industrial and commercial estates.

HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING FACILITIES

Carpi can boast five higher education and technical and vocational training institutes and university facilities are also close at hand with the university of Modena only twenty kilometres away and that of Bologna, renowned as Europe's oldest university, only fifty kilometres away. What distinguishes the local offer in the field of both public and private education and professional training is its responsiveness to market demands and its ability to anticipate developments and future requirements. In fact, a number of agencies ever attentive to overall trends, analyse the effects of technological changes on manufacturing processes and product evolution as well as on labour

THE HIGH SAVING PROPENSITY OF THE LOCAL POPULATION

Twenty per cent of family income in Carpi and its hinterland are set aside for saving, thus constituting a considerable basis and a veritable generator for new productive investments. Bank deposits, which continue being the major source of the financial wealth of families, have been stable for several years now, amounting to around 23 million Italian lire per capita, which ranks Carpi second in Italy, immediately after Milan. But bank deposits are only one of the items making up family mobile assets. In fact, if overall savings are considered, the amount of liquidity per capita increases to about 60 million Italian lire.

HIGH STANDARD AND QUALITY OF LIVING

The standard and quality of living in the area truly sets it aside from the rest of Italy. In fact, national and regional ratings always rank Carpi as one of the top medium-sized urban centres in this respect. Together with the provincial capitals of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Carpi is amongst the smaller towns which attract population thanks to its excellent and exhaustive public facilities such as a highly equipped hospital, a railway station, high schools, banks, sport centres and medium-to-large business and shopping centres. The needs of children and the elderly are particularly catered for, and special attention is given to the quality of the environment also thanks to the fact that local industry pursues a policy of low environmental impact. Voluntary associations, especially involving a large part of the younger population, are numerous and dynamic, operating in various social, educational, sports and environmental fields. Carpi's heritage in the arts, music and cinema not only witnesses to the town's illustrious past but also represents a stimulus for new talents. Tradition and innovation are therefore well integrated in the general outlook and values of the community.

CARPI ON LINE

A COMMUNITY 'ON-LINE'

Within the next few years, communication between private individuals and businesses will be to a large extent conducted via the web. Businesswise, Internet represents a real asset for small-to-medium sized companies and an increasing number of industrial concerns in the area are adapting to this new means of on-line communication. The web, in fact, is not only a means of promoting business but also a veritable distribution channel. Numerous companies, whether selling under their own label or operating as sub-suppliers, have included Internet in their distribution and sales system, thus developing on-line management and learning for instant feed-back from the market.