CONFINDUSTRIA AND IL SOLE 24 ORE PRESENT 'ITALY X', THE CERTIFICATION OF EXCELLENCE FOR ITALIAN COMPANIES

The award will last two years and is aimed at Italian manufacturing companies

Rome, 16 November 2023 - The new certification initiative for Italian companies developed by Il Sole 24 Ore in collaboration with Confindustria was presented today in Rome. A unique project in Italy created to recognise, attribute value and give visibility to companies that embody and represent the values of being Italian: pursuit of quality, style, attention to detail and creativity. The certification, which lasts two years, identifies companies with the ability to conceive, design, innovate and produce according to the distinctive traits of Italian tradition, going beyond the mere manufacture of the product.

The attainment of the label by the individual company is subject to passing a audit conducted by leading independent certification bodies on the basis of a Specification defined by Il Sole 24 Ore. Certification is aimed at two targets of companies in the manufacturing sector: on the one hand the SMEs up to 50 million turnover per year and on the other Large companies with a turnover of more than 50 million per year. Upon expiry of the certification, renewal through a new audit is foreseen.

At the presentation of the project by Mirja Cartia d'Asero, Managing Director of the 24 ORE Group, and Maurizio Marchesini, Vice President for Supply Chains and Medium-sized Enterprises of Confindustria, was followed by a debate on the value of Italianness in the competitive positioning of companies with some top managers of companies, different in size and sector, representative of the values of Italianness: Faithful Usai, Managing Director Dolce&Gabbana, Cosimo Rummo, President and CEO Pastificio Rummo SpA, Fabio Rossello, Managing Director Paglieri SpA, Filippo Lintas, General Manager Sapio Life Italy, Tiziana Di Gennaro, Board Member Centro Orafo il Tarì, Massimo Centonze, Managing Director ITP Industria Termoplastica Pavese, Francesca Nonino, Nonino Web Communication Manager Distillers.

"Valuing Italian companies and the excellence they represent means supporting our economy and promoting the growth of our country. This is a commitment that Il Sole 24 Ore has been pursuing for 158 years and the certification we presented today responds to this mission. With ItalyX, Il Sole 24 Ore and Confindustria want to support with a concrete initiative what is one of the riches of our country, the manufacturing sector, strengthening its recognition on domestic and foreign markets". commented Mirja Cartia d'Asero, Managing Director of the 24 ORE Group.

"Italianness is a lever of competitiveness for our industry, which is based on the ability to create beautiful and well-made products with attention to detail and design. With this initiative we want to strengthen the visibility of the skills and know-how of Italian companies and their strong identification with the Italian way of producing. Protecting and enhancing these characteristics is our goal', said Maurizio Marchesini, Vice President for Supply Chains and Medium Enterprises of Confindustria.

During the event, the brand was presented "ItalyX - Certified Italian Excellence developed with the support of the communication agency Pomilio Blumm and registered by Il Sole 24 Ore. The logo represents the DNA that characterises Italian manufacturing companies, expressed in the three words of his pay off: Italy and Excellence, an inseparable combination when it comes to quality, style, attention to detail, creativity, and Certificationto emphasise the rigour behind the specification and the process by which the mark is licensed to applicant companies.

The certification project will be accompanied by visibility initiativesdedicated to certified companies, both at Italian and international level, jointly promoted by Confindustria and Il Sole 24 Ore with the involvement of territorial and trade associations, the Professionals of the Partner 24 ORE network, and the organisation of events that will see the participation of national and international institutions and the academic world.

All information on the initiative is available on the dedicated website: www.italy-x.com