Year II July-August 2010 n. 7
in san marino
C ONTENTS
INFORMATION MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO
INTERVIEW Gian Carlo Venturini, Minister for Territory CHOCOTITANO 2010 INCENTIVES DECREE LAW ON TRADE MISSION TO MALAYSIA YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
E DITORIAL Massimo Ghiotti - General Manager
“If a man does not know to what port he is steering, no wind is favourable to him” Seneca The key to deciphering unknown aspects of our age is often to be found in the wisdom of the ancient philosophers. We can be sure that Seneca was not thinking about great international crises when he coined his aphorism, nor about the effects of the Incentive Decree and not even about the difficulties associated with internationalisation. And yet, with a simple but at the same time effective image, he well summed up what, today, renowned business experts - for large fees – are suggesting: at work, as in life, precise goals are needed, otherwise even the most favourable wind will take us nowhere. In the age of quality certification, it might seem superfluous to exhort everyone to set themselves clear goals, were it not that the economic crisis has literally put business improvisers, those without plans and the unprepared on their knees. The others, the smarter ones, never
took their sights off their goal and tackled the storm like any other obstacle, foreseeable but not always quantifiable, giving new shape to their ideas, finding new paths, and proceeding with determination towards their objective. An ability this that cannot be left to improvisation, but is the result of an awareness of the self, of one’s potential, of spirit of adaptation and of ongoing confrontation with external realities in a constructive perspective. For such confrontation to be truly effective, it is crucial that the set goals be realistic, viable and above all measurable over time. This way, it is possible to check, from time to time, what point has been reached, if necessary change course and, above all, not risk being passively overwhelmed by events and the passing of time. For example, it has also become indispensable for all Countries to have a list of precise indicators that assess how easy it is to do business and measure the amount of backing provided for the opening of new businesses, obtaining
permits and licences, the work system and the recruitment of personnel, access to credit, payment of taxes, safeguarding of investments, cross-border trade, execution of contracts, and winding up businesses. Indicators and parameters comparable with those of other economic situations and which, when adequately directed and controlled, are useful for defining, from time to time, the activities required to raise the level of competitiveness of a country, with beneficial consequences for the entire system. And it is here that all the other factors of international competition come into play such as innovation, a knowledge of foreign markets, quality, the good use of human resources. Substantial elements, each of which deserves special attention, but which manage to express themselves to the best when they interact in order to achieve a common, clear and above all shared goal.
in san marino
july-august 2010 1