Ministero della Difesa

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Minister Pinotti held a speech today at the AIAD meeting. The event was opened by the presentation of the study -carried out by Prometeia, a major business consulting agency- aimed at analysing the contribution of aerospace, defence and security sector companies (AD&S) to the Italian industry.

"In the last two years Italy's economic system  made some important steps forward  in favour of the defence industry", the Minister said, adding that she sees AD&S companies as a "strategic resource for the nation".

According to data illustrated during the meeting, AD&S companies are a direct and indirect source of jobs along the whole production chain, for a total  159,000 jobs; their added value amounts to €11.6 billion, i.e. 0.8% of the GDP,  with  € 4.9 billion in tax revenues for the state.

Many speakers underscored the need for Italy to optimise Gov-to-Gov cooperation regulations concerning defence procurement.

With regard to the implementation provisions  for the White Paper on International Security and Defence, the Minister  confirmed that  all the preliminary stages have been completed. The provisions can therefore be introduced to the Parliament. In the second part of her speech Roberta Pinotti  underscored that  the effective engagement of various institutions that were able to work as a real "national production system" has originated the incredibly positive results  achieved in the last few months by our national industry in the export of high technology system.  .

The operational effectiveness shown by the Italian Armed Forces, who are  "respected and appreciated all over the world", is a fundamental pre-requisite to provide our Allies with the training and logistical assistance they require from us. This operational effectiveness was "enhanced by the accurate intervention of the Government".

"The success of Italian export in  Kuwait and Qatar confirm the effectiveness of measures adopted so far", the Minister added, explaining that those measures "can be further improved by the Parliament during the discussions on provisions connected with the implementation of the White Paper".

The meeting, coordinated by AIAD Secretary General, Carlo Festucci, was also attended by AIAD President, Guido Crosetto,  Leonardo- Finmeccanica CEO, Mauro Moretti,  Defence Secretary General/NAD, General Carlo Magrassi, and the Chief of Defence Staff,  General Claudio Graziano.