The CEO of Condotte 1880 reflects on the decision of the Court of Auditors and invites a constructive discussion: «We need balance, but we cannot give up confidence in our ability to build»
The decision of Court of Auditors to suspend the process of Bridge over the Strait of Messina has reignited the debate on a theme that has accompanied Italian economic and political history for over half a century: the relationship between vision and bureaucracy, between infrastructural ambition and regulatory constraints. On the one hand, the legitimate need to guarantee transparency, financial sustainability and administrative coherence; on the other, the need to demonstrate that Italy is still capable of thinking and creating works on a national scale.
Among the rumors that emerged after the decision of the accounting judiciary was that of Valter MainettiCEO of Conducted 1880which chooses the path of reflection rather than controversy. “I only learned the news last night, like many others, and I must say that it really shocked me,” he says. «However, I believe it is appropriate to wait for the clarifications that the Court has promised to provide within a month. It is an important step, which will provide clarity and allow us to identify the best way to proceed.”
While maintaining a cautious tone, Mainetti he does not hide his concern about the possible consequences of a prolonged blockade. «If the operation were to remain on hold, it would be a negative signal for Italy. Not only for the 13.5 billion investment, which does not represent an excessive figure, but for the message it would send: that of a country struggling to complete its strategic projects”.
The entrepreneur also recalls a personal memory that gives the measure of a national paradox. « Many years ago when I was in San Francisco and I observed the Golden Gate Bridge, I heard myself ask ironically when the‘Italy he would build his bridge over the Strait. At the time I didn’t imagine how much bureaucracy could have an impact. Today I understand that the balance between control and decision is what really determines a country’s ability to grow.” Hence, a broader reflection on the state of Italian entrepreneurship: «Our companies face a complex regulatory system, made up of overlapping appeals and procedures. It is not a problem of legality, but of efficiency. The rules must accompany the projects, not slow them down.” In the face of these difficulties, Mainetti observes that in many international contexts the decision-making process appears more fluid: «Abroad, we work with greater linearity. The procedures are clearer, the times quicker. This does not mean lowering controls, but making them compatible with the need to act.”
From here also comes his appreciation for the “Piano Mattei”which he considers «an intelligent vision consistent with our industrial tradition». «Mattei he was a pioneer of economic cooperation. He sought mutually beneficial relationships with emerging countries and promoted an idea of shared development. It is a model to be rediscovered.” Then Mainetti cites the Morocco as an example of realization capacity. «It is a country that has been able to plan and build quickly: infrastructure, motorways, airports. It is the demonstration that, with a governance efficient, the results arrive.” A reference, his, more evocative than comparative, but useful to reiterate how the timeliness of decisions remains a central element of development. On the financial front, the CEO recognizes the difficulties facing the Italian construction sector. «Banks today are more cautious, but there is no shortage of alternative tools. There World Bankthe SACE and the Italian economic diplomacy they can support strategic projects, offsetting the rigidities of traditional credit.” And right here, in the relationship between trust and rules, Mainetti identifies the key to overcoming the uncertainty phase. «The Strait Bridge is not just an infrastructure: it is a symbol of our ability to believe in the future. Stopping it definitively would mean giving up on the idea of a country that looks forward. But every great project must also be able to respect the rules of its time. It is from this balance that the maturity of a nation is measured.”
