Presentation of the Lombardy Region

1. Four Motors for Europe Presentation of the Lombardy Region Foz de Iguaçu, 29th of January 2010

2. Lombardy regionin Italy • Lombardy is one of the European Union’s leading regions : • Surface area : 23 862 km² • Population : 9,475,202 (16,1% of Italy), of which 18,7% over 65 and 6,3% foreigners • Density: 397 inhabitans/km² • Lombardy is at the junction of two main communication axes: East-west (from the Iberina peninsula to the Balkans) and North-South (from continental Europe to The Mediterranean) • 47% of the region’s area is made up by plains, and slightly over by mountains • International airports: 4

3. Economic structure Lombardy is among the most developed economic and social systems on the continent. It has the demographic dimensions and economic levels of a medium-sized European nation state • GDP 212 billion € (one-fifth of Italy’s GDP) (2004) • GDP per capita of 28,900 € (2004). • Many foreign and national companies have their headquartes and production facilities in Milan and its province. • Around 800,000 enterprises are located in Lombardy (15,6% of those opersating in Italy). • Lombardy’s economy is centred on manufacturing and services. • 21,3% of workers are employed in the region. • 16,832 foreign-ownes companies area based in Lombardy. • In Milan province these represent 53.95 % of firms operating in the whole sale market.

4. Excellencies • Agro-food • Biotechnology • Chemical • Finance • University system, research activities and human capital • Health system

5. Excellencies Agro-food Lombardy contributes 25% of turnover to Italy’agricoltural sector, for 113 billion euro. The region is third in Italy for the number of agro-food certificated products. Biotechnology Lombardy is home to 35% of italian biotech firms. The sector employs 11,555 people and generates revenues of 2.4 billion euro. Lombardy region accounts for 73% of national investment in biotechnology R&D

6. Chemical Lombardy has over 2,000 companies manufacturing chemicals, synthetic and artificial fibres, representing 34% of the national total. 60,000 in terms of employee numbers Finance Milan is the country’s financial capital and the location of Italian stock exchange, it is one of the 5 financial centers in Europe and Italy's sole gateway to the international capital markets.

7. University system, research activities and human capital Lombardy has 12 universities, in addition to 225 public and private research centers. 7 universities are located in Milan. Each year 250,000 students enrol at Lombardy’s universities. The Lombardy region has sponsored and promoted the creation of 9 centers of excellence in the sectors of biotechnology, genomics, nanotechnologies, new materials with a total investment of 77 million of euro and a regional contribution of over 32 million euro.

8. Health system • The Lombardy Region has: • about 200 hospital centres, • 1,200 clinics and no fewer than 4,000 pharmacies, 130,000 dedicated staff and 15 local health Authorities. • CRS-SISS (the Regional Services Charter-Social and Health Care Information System) • It is a tool to shorten the “distance” between public administration and citizens in the health care sphere by raising the level of efficiency and the standard of services offered while optimizing the use of available resources.

9. Lombardy Regional Government: Structure and Functions • The Lombardy Regional Government is made up of three main structures • with diverse functions: • The President of the Regional government is elected every five years by the citizens of the region. He is the head of the regional government and passes all regulations. The President also appoints the members of the Giunta (assessori) and is held responsible by the ConsiglioRegionale regarding the Giunta’s work. • The ConsiglioRegionaleis also elected every five years by the citizens. It is considered the regional legislative assembly and is composed of 80 members. In addition, the ConsiglioRegionale passes regional laws, approves the regional budget, new taxes, and plans for new infrastructure. • The Giuntais appointed by the President and the ConsiglioRegionale. It is the Government of the Lombardy Region and is composed of the President and 16 assessori. The Giunta mainly proposes legislation.

10. 1. Environment protection 2. Cultural heritage protection 3. Health service planning 4. Justice of the Peace 5. Communication 6. Civil protection 7. Supplementary social security 8. Infrastructure 9. Research 10. Universities 11. Cross-border cooperation 12. Savings and loans, land banks Lombardy’s Regional Government: 12 Main Priorities

11. Lombardy : International Relations • In the course of its history, Lombardy has always had a very strong international vocation. • In recent years relations with foreign countries have intensified and have been formalized with important agreements. In order to promote the Lombard model abroad and facilitate its enterprises’ commercial relations, the Lombardy Region has signed almost 28 protocol agreements with local and national governments of many areas of the world. • Although Milan is not the capital, it houses the consulates of 98 countries. • The Lombardy Region is committed on an international level is that of development cooperation. • Since the early ‘90s the Lombardy Region has chosen to enhance • the role of co-operation, including it among the priorities of its international operations, along with institutional missions and the internationalization of the economic system. • In Lombardy there are 3,500 voluntary associations; 600 non-profit organizations; 1,100 social co-operatives.