There are two major limitations of the Zona Zes Unica Sud, the exclusion of broadband and all investment projects below 200,000 euros, as explained by the vice president of Assoprovider in this interview. 

"We must make ourselves heard, shut down our services for a few days, to make this government understand how essential small and medium-sized enterprises in the South are for the entire country," this is the message that Antonella Oliviero launches against the Single ZES Zone in Southern Italy.

The entrepreneur and vice president of Assoprovider has launched a battle against the serious distortions of the measure that replaces the old Southern Italy Tax Credit. We reached out to her to learn more.

What is contained in the measure that is a burden for small and medium-sized enterprises in the South? 

"There are two points against which all SMEs in the South should raise their voices. The first is the exclusion of all investment projects below 200 thousand euros, which effectively prevents small and medium-sized enterprises from accessing incentives in every sector."

And then there is the broadband issue?

"Yes, this is another incredible paradox. The broadband sector, which is the driving force for technological development and the growth of business competitiveness, has been excluded from the incentives. This is how many fellow providers from the South, who fight every day to combat the digital divide, are reacting. Another bitter pill to swallow for us local operators after AGCOM's Piracy Shield, which effectively forces us to bear costs solely to serve the interests of large groups."

Meanwhile, are the investments blocked?

"When we were able to benefit from the Tax Credit (Southern Italy Investment Bonus), we made investments with peace of mind, knowing that we could offset taxes and contributions. Today we are groping in the dark, unable to think about the future, while many small and medium-sized enterprises risk having difficulty maintaining employees, causing harm not only to them but also to their families. Institutions must put us in a position to move forward and plan the future of our companies and the territories in which we live."

What are you doing to raise your voice against the measure?

"We questioned everyone, from politicians to trade associations. Even other entrepreneurs, whom we discovered were often unaware of such drastic regulatory changes. We also managed to have an amendment to the Milleproroghe decree presented by Naike Gruppioni, a deputy of Italia Viva, which unfortunately did not pass. We have initiated a press office activity to inform journalists about our situation. Furthermore, we are organizing events to raise awareness among entrepreneurs in the South about the serious limitations of this measure and are preparing demonstrative actions in the coming weeks."

For further details, you can watch the interview our vice president gave to Cusano Tv here.