Business lending: Sicindustria-Bper agreement
Special terms for member companies and support for investment in energy, the agri-food sector, tourism and the blue economy
Key points
A response to funding applications within twenty working days of the submission of the complete documentation. This commitment to timely processing lies at the heart of the framework agreement signed in Palermo by the president of Sicindustria, Luigi Rizzolo, and the regional director for Calabria and Sicily at BPER Banca, Salvatore Pulignano. The agreement, signed at the industry association’s headquarters in Palermo, aims to speed up access to credit and support investment by member companies, with bespoke financial terms.
From energy to the blue economy: the sectors involved
The scope covers some of the key sectors of the Sicilian economy: energy and the environment, agri-food, tourism and the blue economy. Within the latter sector, the focus is on the port system, logistics and shipbuilding – sectors through which the island’s links with international markets can be strengthened.
Support for investment will also cover energy efficiency, the development of renewable energy sources, digitalisation, cyber security and innovation within the context of Industry 4.0. The credit facilities will be complemented by information and advisory services to help businesses access the opportunities offered by the Single Special Economic Zone for Southern Italy, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the Structural Funds.
Rizzolo: ‘Credit, expertise and clear timelines’
The key issue for industrialists is to make the available tools genuinely usable, thereby reducing the uncertainty that accompanies investment decisions. “These days, it is not enough for an entrepreneur to know that investment resources exist: they need to know whether they can actually rely on them, within what timeframe and under what conditions,” said Rizzolo. This need applies just as much to the purchase of machinery as it does to the expansion of a factory, energy-saving measures or entering a new market.
“Our aim is to ensure that these opportunities reach businesses and translate into construction sites, new facilities, innovation and jobs,” added the president of Sicindustria. “To achieve this, we need access to credit, expertise and a clear timeline.”
