By
Alex Smith |
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has signed a memorandum of understanding with SIMEST, a company within the publicly owned Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) Group, aimed at promoting new investments, greater competitiveness and market growth for Italian companies in the shipbuilding supply chain.
The agreement is intended to increase the capacity and skills of Fincantieri’s suppliers, enabling new investments for growth in Italy and abroad. It will enable SIMEST to identify the needs of suppliers in line with Fincantieri’s objectives, providing financing for investments in innovation, sustainability and capital strengthening. These investments may also support the training of personnel, the involvement of temporary managers to drive digital and ecological transitions, process innovations and safety improvements.
The partners will also aim to support growth in international markets through the establishment of facilities, the acquisition of certifications and patents, and specialised consultancy for internationalisation projects, in line with Fincantieri’s strategy to diversify and increase market share.
“It is a pleasure for us to sign this agreement with SIMEST, in Milan, during our second suppliers' summit,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and general manager of Fincantieri. “Fincantieri wanted to introduce a new and practical way of working with all partners, focused on innovation and competitiveness, also in view of the strong growth we are experiencing. SIMEST's innovative tools, available to the entire supply chain, are a major boost for our supplier system in terms of internationalisation and sustainable innovation.”
As part of the CDP Group, SIMEST is tasked with supporting the growth and competitiveness of Italian companies that operate abroad, supporting them throughout the international development cycle. Fincantieri is the first company in Italy to subscribe to SIMEST's “Filiere d’Impatto” supply chain initiative.
“Supporting companies in the supply chain is one of the main objectives behind SIMEST's efforts,” said Regina Corradini D'Arienzo, CEO of SIMEST. “SIMEST positions itself as a partner that not only finances these investments, but also helps companies in the supply chain - especially small and medium size enterprises - to identify and select the most suitable international markets for their growth. This approach facilitates the process of choosing the internationalisation tools we provide to thousands of small and micro enterprises, including non-exporting companies within Fincantieri’s supply chain.”