swiss label - Com Consulting SA

Cc-Ti – Chamber of Commerce for industry,
craftsmen and services of the canton of Ticino
by Luca Albertoni, Director of the Cc-Ti, Chamber of Commerce for industry,
craftsmen and services of the canton of Ticino
The umbrella association of the Ticino economy is making efforts to help businesses respond to the challenges of a highly
competitive environment
The Chamber of Commerce for industry, craftsmen and services
of the Canton of Ticino (Cc-Ti) has been working to protect the
interests of Ticino’s business world for over 90 years, first and
foremost those of the around 800 companies and 44 trade associations
affiliated to it, which in total represent more than 6,000 companies and
nearly 90,000 jobs.
In essence, the Cc-Ti has two main types of activity. The first is to act
as a link between the economic world and the political world, in order
to create and/or maintain conditions that are favourable to business, by
working in close contact with the canton’s government, local authorities
and parliament. The aim is obviously to facilitate the establishment of
manufacturing businesses in the region and to facilitate the work of those
already operating there. Recurring topics of concern include taxation
and the bureaucratic burden imposed on
businesses, both of which are basic factors
that affect Ticino’s competitiveness. The
work of the Cc-Ti in this “political” context
benefits all businesses operating in the
canton, given that results obtained in favour
of business have a general effect that is not
limited to members of the Cc-Ti.
The second but no less important task of
the Cc-Ti is providing services to its own
members. These services range from legal
advice, creating contacts with professionals
to resolve specific problems relating to direct and indirect taxation,
getting companies to join forces in order to confront market challenges,
through to organising meetings with operators in every economic
sector and country in order to identify new business opportunities.
This service is by its nature reserved to members of the Cc-Ti and
constitutes a significant added value, because it enables businesses to
concentrate on their work, while relying on the Cc-Ti to resolve problems
and uncover new opportunities.
Although the first of these activities, that of “lobbying” on behalf of
business has always been and remains extremely important, the second
activity connected with the services that Cc-Ti can offer has become
just as fundamental. There are multiple but very simple reasons for
this. First and foremost the general economic environment has
changed a lot over the past decade, with much more open markets and
hence more competition at both national and international level.
Hence also the need for businesses in the Ticino to consolidate and
respond to new challenges with the support of cutting-edge and highly
Swiss Label Ticino 2010
The Ticino economy: an increasingly diversified environment
specialised services. Furthermore, Ticino’s economic infrastructure has also
changed profoundly and is now characterised by a wide diversification
in the business structures and types of activity now present in the
region. Gone are the days in the mid-nineteen-nineties when the
industrial sector was assumed to be finished, as it now represents 20%
of gross domestic product, and includes many small businesses that
have the highest level of know-how and are not afraid to compete at a
global level. The logistics sector has also undergone significant
development, thanks to the generally favourable conditions that Ticino
can offer in terms of communications, quality of services, efficiency of
public administration, moderate taxation and quality of life in general.
It has for example attracted Italy’s biggest fashion houses, some of
whom have moved to Ticino with their production divisions, but
most with their management and logistics centres. These newcomers
are joining sectors already well established in the canton’s economy,
including craftsmen and service companies,
all of which are seeking to achieve the
highest quality, and a retail trade that has
undergone considerable expansion and
diversification.
All these developments, as mentioned
earlier, have obviously enriched the Ticino
economy and diversified it to the point of
making it more resistant to difficult
economic times, because there is no excessive
dependence on any single sector. Another
interesting effect has been on the situation of border workers, more
and more of whom now work in the tertiary sector and no longer only
in the secondary sector. It is clear that these multiple changes have also
created new professional functions that have required and still require
legal regulations to be adapted or at least interpreted more flexibly so
as not to hamper the pursuit of important economic activities. These
are challenges that have to be faced daily, by being ahead of the times
and reacting promptly. The function of an umbrella association such
as the Cc-Ti is fundamental for guiding and supporting businesses
and trade associations in an environment that is increasingly complex
and undergoing constant and rapid change.
Camera di commercio, dell’industria, dell’artigianato e dei servizi
del Cantone Ticino
Chamber of commerce, industry, handicraft and services of Canton Ticino
Corso Elvezia 16, CH-6901 Lugano
Tel.: +41 (0)91 911 51 11 - Fax: +41 (0)91 911 51 12
E-mail: info@cc-ti.ch - www.cc-ti.ch
19