Apulia is one of the twenty Regions of Italy which, together with the municipal and provincial government bodies, constitute the administrative infrastructure of the nation.
Established in 1970 as part of a new System of decentralized government, the regional administrations nave acquired an increasing level of autonomy over the years and have effectively become local governments with extensive regulatory powers in a great number of areas. Apulia's regional administration is divided into 14 Departments, each of which his responsible for a specific branch of the administration's activities. The main focus of activities for the Department of Economic Development and Technological Innovation is to sustain the conditions for growth, competitiveness, innovation and international development of regional businesses, whilst enhancing and promoting the distinctive strengths and factors of attraction of the local economy.
The Department's main operations include the development and provision of:
incentives for local businesses with a view to encouraging the formation of business cluster, facilitating access to credit and supporting business startups by female entrepreneurs
incentives to support business investments for the startup of small and medium sized enterprises and the industrial development of large companies.
business promotion support services and initiatives, aimed to foster international market expansion by local companies
programmes of support and assistance aimed at boosting local development, employment and business competitiveness
local marketing initiatives to attract business investments to the region
incentives and support for business research, innovation and technology transfer
support for improving the infrastructure of industrial estates.
Following the recent constitutional reform which has brought about increased powers in the field of international relations for the regional governments, Apulia's regional administration has adopted a new strategic approach with policies aimed at promoting the international business development of local companies, especially by encouraging them to become more proactive in and aware of the mechanisms of global competition. In the near future the Department of Economic Development and Technological Innovation will be increasingly involved in supporting local businesses as they deploy their efforts to become more competitive by providing access to financial incentives, promoting investments in R&D, reinforcing professional skills, establishing partnerships with national and international institutions - all with an aim to reinforce the image, presence and success of Apulian companies the world over.
>>>>> To Be Continued
