The history of the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano (Sardinia) is very recent. The institution established on 1 December 2020 following the unification between the Chamber of Cagliari and the Chamber of Oristano. However, the Cagliari Chamber has over 160 years of activity, being founded in 1862. In these years, the chamber of commerce has played a key role in promoting the economic and sustainable development of the central-southern Sardinian territory, supporting local businesses and fostering innovation, competitiveness, and internationalization. In the following interview, Mr. Cristiano Erriu, General Secretary of Camera di Commercio Cagliari – Oristano, dives into the institution’ commitment to developing the local economic system, strengthening ties with other Mediterranean countries and supporting the transition towards a greener Mediterranean.
What companies and sectors does your institution represent?
Our chamber of commerce represents and supports all businesses in the territory. In Italy, all businesses must be registered in the Chambers of Commerce Business Registry. There is a wide variety of companies and sectors represented, ranging from agri-food to tourism, from craftsmanship to technology, to name a few. We cover a broad spectrum of economic activities characterizing the Cagliari and Oristano territories.
Your chamber of commerce was established only three years ago. What are the main achievements during this period?
Our history is relatively short only because three years ago there was a merger between the Cagliari Chamber of Commerce and the Oristano Chamber of Commerce. However, both have a history of over a decade. In particular, the Cagliari Chamber has over 160 years of activity, being founded in 1862. In any case, after the merger, we have already achieved important results in supporting local businesses, facilitating access to financing, promoting training and innovation, as well as creating networking and internationalization opportunities.
In December 2022 you celebrated an event titled ‘Sardinia, a hub of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation’. Could you tell us about your contribution to cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region?
For over 15 years, the European Commission has entrusted the management of the main European program for Euro-Mediterranean cooperation to the Sardinian Regional Government (called ENPI until 2013, ENI CBC MED until 2020, NEXTMED until 2027), with a budget of over 500 million euros. The centrality of Sardinia in the Mediterranean is one of the paths of the island’s future development, which will have an impact on the economy, employment, and other factors such as demographic increase (favouring regular migration flows) and multiculturalism. In terms of the economic impact, our companies will be able to gain market share in the transfer of new technologies to African countries and in mediating commercial flows between Africa and Europe.
Our contribution to cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region is manifested through projects and initiatives aimed at promoting commercial exchange and collaboration among Mediterranean companies. The event ‘Sardinia, hub of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation’ highlighted our commitment to promoting Sardinia as a commercial hub and meeting point for companies in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
What are the main keys to promoting cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean?
For us, the main keys are facilitating trade, promoting an entrepreneurial culture, and implementing shared economic development policies.
Could you cite some examples of public-private partnerships in your region?
Some examples of public-private partnerships in our region include infrastructure development projects, vocational training programs, and territorial marketing initiatives. If we think about projects funded by the Sardinia Region through the European program for Euro-Mediterranean cooperation ENI CBC MED, one initiative involved the application of innovative technologies (3D, augmented reality) to improve the use of the archaeological site of Byblos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Lebanon. Furthermore, still through the ENI CBC MED program, the University of Cagliari, with which our Chamber of Commerce collaborates, promoted training through driving simulators that will improve the work performance, especially in terms of safety, of logistics and transport operators at the port of Beirut. In both initiatives, our colleagues from the Chamber of Commerce of Beirut, leading member of ASCAME, did an excellent work. Our chamber also has an important partnership with the Sardinia region for the tourist promotion of the Sardinian territory on international markets.
What are the main challenges that Sardinian companies are facing today? What are their main concerns that they share with you?
The main challenges that Sardinian companies currently face include access to credit, digitalization, competitiveness in international markets, and environmental sustainability. Their main concerns revolve around bureaucracy, the scarcity of financial resources, and global competition. To address these challenges, the chamber of commerce provides support through consulting services, training, networking, and facilitating access to financing.
The main keys to promote cooperation in the Mediterranean are facilitating trade, promoting an entrepreneurial culture and implementing shared economic development policies
What are the main differences between companies in Cagliari and Oristano?
The main differences concern the diversification of activity sectors and the presence of transportation infrastructure. In Oristano, there is an industrial port and a strong presence of activities related to agriculture, and many of these are indeed agri-food businesses. In Cagliari, in addition to the port, there is also an international airport, controlled by our chamber of commerce, and in terms of businesses, there is a greater variety of sectors, including services, tourism, and technology.
What business opportunities do Sardinian companies seek in the Euro-Mediterranean region?
Sardinian companies mainly seek business opportunities in sectors such as sustainable tourism, high-quality agri-food, renewable energies, environmental technologies, digital technologies, and advanced services. These sectors represent the excellences of the Sardinian territory and offer great opportunities for development and collaboration in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
What is your opinion on entrepreneurship in Sardinia? Are there many women entrepreneurs in your economic ecosystem?
Entrepreneurship in Sardinia is on the rise, and we are pleased to see more and more women involved in the business world. In recent years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of women entrepreneurs in our economic ecosystem. The chamber of commerce actively promotes female entrepreneurship through the Women Entrepreneurship Committee, an important institution dedicated to promoting and supporting female entrepreneurship in the region. Through targeted initiatives, the Committee seeks to overcome specific challenges that women entrepreneurs may face in their entrepreneurial journey, such as balancing work and family, access to credit, and gender discrimination. Furthermore, the Women Entrepreneurship Committee works in synergy with other local, national, and international organizations to create networks of support and collaboration, thus expanding opportunities for growth and success for women entrepreneurs in the region.
A few days ago, you celebrated a business summit between Sardinia and Turkey. What is the current trade relationship between both regions, and what are the main business opportunities for both countries?
Currently, the trade relationship between Sardinia and Turkey is in a developmental phase but holds great potential. The business summit offered a unique opportunity to strengthen this bond and identify new collaboration opportunities in sectors such as tourism, agri-food, craftsmanship, and technology. Both territories can benefit from increased economic and commercial cooperation.
In our region, numerous initiatives have been launched to promote sustainable tourism, such as the promotion of eco-friendly itineraries, the enhancement of natural and cultural resources, the adoption of sustainable destination management practices, and the implementation of awareness-raising policies for responsible tourism
We would also like to ask you about the main initiatives and actions launched in your region to develop sustainable practices in the tourism sector. Could you put any example?
In our region, numerous initiatives have been launched to promote sustainable tourism and reduce the environmental impact of tourism activities. This includes the promotion of eco-friendly itineraries, the enhancement of natural and cultural resources, the adoption of sustainable destination management practices, and the implementation of awareness-raising policies for responsible tourism. This change in trend represents a new model of tourism aimed at preserving the environment and reducing the ecological footprint, thus contributing to the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector.
Finally, in your opinion, what is the role of the chambers of commerce in contributing to the economic and sustainable development of the Mediterranean?
The role of the chambers of commerce regarding this question is crucial. Our institutions facilitate trade, promote collaboration between businesses and institutions, support innovation and competitiveness in the territory, and contribute to the promotion of sustainable economic policies. By collaborating with other institutions and organizations, the chambers of commerce can significantly contribute to the economic growth and social welfare of the Mediterranean region. Therefore, we believe in the strategic role of ASCAME, and we are proud to be vice-presidents of the association.