Letter from Northern Regions Calling for Extension of SME Guarantee Fund
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The Regions of Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto have written to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, and the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, asking for the Guarantee Fund for small and medium-sized enterprises to be extended beyond 31 December 2026, so that the instrument does not come to a halt from 1 January 2027 [1][2].
The signatories
The letter is signed by the regional councillors responsible for economic development (assessori): Vincenzo Colla for Emilia-Romagna, who is also deputy president of the Region, Alessio Piana for Liguria, Guido Guidesi for Lombardy, Andrea Tronzano for Piedmont and Massimo Bitonci for Veneto [1][2].
Background
The initiative stems from cooperation among the five administrations within the Northern Manufacturing District, and follows a meeting held on 23 October in Milan with representatives of the Italian Banking Association (Associazione bancaria italiana), at which access to credit was identified as one of the strategic priorities for the competitiveness of the production system [1][2].
The requests
The signatory councillors argue that the rules currently in force have produced concrete results, supporting companies' access to credit and investment, particularly in innovation, growth in company size, digital and energy transition, strengthening of supply chains and competitiveness on foreign markets [1].
The five Regions stress the weight of their territories in the national economy, where most of Italy's manufacturing output is concentrated, along with more than half of exports and a significant share of private investment in research and innovation [1][2].
The main request concerns timing: the Regions are asking the Government to decide in advance, using the first available legislative vehicle, so as to give banks, credit guarantee consortia (confidi) and businesses a stable and predictable framework for planning industrial plans and medium- to long-term operations [1][2].
Related articles: Piedmont, Piemonte Tu
Sources
- TorinoOggi — 29 October 2026
- Il Torinese — 30 October 2026