Termini Imerese in Sicily, long dominated by the giant Fiat car factory, has put forward exciting plans to safeguard the plant's long-term future.

Termini Imerese, built around a seaport that has been of strategic important through the ages, has long and rich history. Well known for its lively annual carnival, and its famous hot springs, which pump out hot water rich in chloro-iodide salts, it is also long-term home to a Fiat factory that builds the Fiat Punto 'supermini'.

A planned 'mothballing' was swiftly reversed after heavy political pressure, but with a string of temporary shutdowns taking place late last year as Fiat strove to reduce chronic overcapacity, real fears are presently being expressed for this plant's future.

The Industrial leaders of Termini Imerese give the go-ahead for a 'technology' future

Under this long shadow, the major players of the 'Commune of Termini Imerese' got together yesterday to put the finishing touches to a plan that will seek to 'relaunch' carmaking activities in the area. Under the stewardship of Termini's Auditor, Enzo Giunta and Vice-Auditor, Franco Piro, representatives from Fiat and other car manufacturing-related industries, together with the General-Secretaries of the Fiom, Fim and Ulim unions, and local organisations, including Cgil, Csil, Uil and Ugl, met to thrash out a future strategy.

The situation that Fiat finds itself in, together with the outlook for the auto industry in general, was discussed and a decision was taken to "form a unified front that will be able to press the company and the region by defining certain prospects for the re-launching of Fiat's stability, and the industries linked to car-manufacturing."

With a major government investment programme waiting to be unlocked, a move to push towards a 'high tech' status for the region was the considered response. This would see funding targeted in the area of research and development, particularly new forms of energy and transportation.
 

According to the Commune, "an investment of Fiat for the stabilisation of new production models needs to be brought into line, as well as a commitment for the use of the production lines, an investment in infrastructures on the part of the region and prioritising the new commercial port of Termini Imerese."

They continued that "a strategic choice for the region would be focusing on the new technologies, research, innovations linked to electric-explosion hybrid motors, and new forms of energy such as hydrogen, with, once again, a considerable public investment on the part of the region, the University and the other centres of research."

Termini Imerese is also to be the location of one of six planned new 'Enterprise Incubators'

This new strategy comes hard on the heels of an announcement by the central government last month that Termini Imerese would be the location for one of the six new 'Enterprise Incubators' which will be built across Southern Italy this year. This initiative, funded to the tune of 20 million euros by 'Sviluppo Italia', the state-controlled body for enterprise development and investment, will see structures provide a 'general HQ' area for cutting-edge business start-up ventures.

Location will be for a period of no more than 24 months, after which theses new businesses will be required to move on. The new companies will also benefit from financial support, training and networking. As well as Termini Imerese, these ventures will be located in Modugno, Grumento Nova, Montalto Uffugo and Porto Torres.

At present 365 enterprises, employing 2,472 people, are members of the Sviluppo Italia incubator initiative, while 358 enterprises, employing 1200 staff have already successfully come out of the scheme.