Snaidero (Fla) stance on “upvaluation”

Roberto Snaidero, President of Federlegno-Arredo, commented to his disappointment the latest news on the umpteenth measure in favor of car and household appliances industries, declaring the government being “blind” and not able to change its measures on fiscal policy. Snaidero highlighted: “Vice Premier Francesco Rutelli is perfectly aware of our request to reduce VAT on furniture purchase for the first house of young couples.” This rightful request was utterly ignored as well as the so-called “hotels upvaluation”, that is the incentive for one-or-two-star hotel renovation with the support of wood-furniture companies, in order to expand hospitality capacity for Italian tourism. Snaidero continues: “I’m frightfully sorry that the mechanical industry has, once again, come first. It’s been ages since this industry has been living on government subsidiaries to the detriment of other fields having as well great or even greater economic impact on the system. Federlegno-Arredo’s request to Vice President Rutelli during the financial act discussion aimed at safeguarding more than 400 thousand industry employees. Besides, a positive response from the government would have helped revive the domestic demand which is stagnant because of general political and financial difficulties affecting our country”.