Two thousand people in the hall. Thousands of users reached via live streams and digital platforms. Eight distribution channels. Institutional participation at the highest level. But above all, a day that brought the role of Italian industry takes centre stage in the major challenges of the present and the future.

Confindustria’s 2026 Public Assembly, held at the Roma Convention Centre “La Nuvola”, It brought together representatives from institutions, the Government, Parliament, the voluntary sector and the business community at one of the key events of the year for discussing the country’s economic and industrial future.

The presence of the President of the Republic is a testament to the significance of the event Sergio Mattarella and the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, together with the Speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate Lorenzo Fontana e Ignazio La Russa, to the President of the Constitutional Court Giovanni Amoroso, to the Deputy Speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate Giorgio Mulè e Licia Ronzulli, as well as a large delegation from the Government.

A number of ministers were present. Among them were Giancarlo Giorgetti, Antonio Tajani, Adolfo Urso, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Orazio Schillaci, Giuseppe Valditara, Matteo Piantedosi, Marina Calderone, Carlo Nordio, Luca Ciriani and Gianmarco Mazzi, alongside Deputy Ministers Francesco Paolo Sisto, Maurizio Leo and Edoardo Rixi. Representatives from both the ruling coalition and the opposition were also present.

Record figures for the 2026 General Assembly

The 2026 edition recorded particularly impressive figures. OOver two thousand participants attended in person, with the same number joining via the live stream broadcast across eight digital platforms. More than 200 accredited journalists also took part in the event.

Alongside the figures for direct attendance, the Assembly benefited from significant digital and media coverage: during the same time slot as the event, the homepage of Il Sole 24 Ore It attracted over 50,000 unique users, helping to further boost the visibility of the event and its content.

A participation that confirms the extent to which Confindustria’s Public Assembly is one of the main opportunities for discussion and dialogue between the production system, institutions and local areas, at a time in history characterised by increasingly rapid economic, geopolitical, industrial and social changes.

Priorities for the manufacturing sector, as set out in Orsini’s report

The highlight of the day was the speech by the president of Confindustria, Emanuele Orsini, which covered the main themes that have been at the heart of the economic and industrial debate in recent months: energy, competitiveness, Europe, innovation, business growth and employment, highlighting in the trust one of the key factors needed to get investment and development prospects back on track.

In his speech, Orsini highlighted the need for a “a great act of responsibility”, emphasising that this is the time for “courage“. The head of Viale dell’Astronomia then identified five strategic levers to strengthen the production system: energy, the growth of SMEs, development and innovation contracts, simplification and reform of Law 231, and resources commensurate with the objectives.

To find out more about the contents of the Confindustria president’s report, you can read the article on the subject here.

Meloni: “Let’s set up a joint initiative to tackle bureaucracy”

Another highlight of the morning was when the following took to the stage at La Nuvola: Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, which emphasised the relationship between institutions and the productive sector, highlighting the need to strengthen competitiveness and industrial capacity.

“Thank you for your work: if Italy is recognised as the home of beauty, goodness and craftsmanship, it is thanks to you,” said Meloni in her speech (here the full version) one of the key points was the proposal for a joint approach to administrative simplification:

“I propose that we work together towards a radical reform of bureaucracy in Italy,” added the Prime Minister, whose speech also highlighted a convergence of views on certain European issues already mentioned in Orsini’s report: the need to reduce red tape, speed up decision-making processes and strengthen the continent’s industrial competitiveness.

Metsola’s video message: “We need adequate resources”

The speeches by Orsini and Meloni were interspersed with a video message from the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who emphasised the need to strengthen the Union’s capacity to tackle economic and geopolitical challenges.

A video message from Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, during the Confindustria 2026 Assembly at La Nuvola in Rome.

According to Metsola, making Europe more self-reliant will require appropriate tools and resources, alongside closer collaboration between industry, technology, energy and defence.

This call forms part of the wider debate on European competitiveness and the role of industry in shaping the Union’s future policies.