Memo: VP Tajani visits Italy’s Sicily region to jump-start the recovery of local SMEs

On 27 march 2014, the Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, travelled to Palermo to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sicily emerge from the downturn and help them participate in the next economic growth cycle. He will be accompanied by representatives of about 600 European companies, who will participate in more than 1300 bilateral meetings with SMEs from Sicily to form new partnerships and discuss opportunities for collaboration in key sectors active in the region such as aerospace, agro food, biotechnology and fashion industries.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Enterprise and Industry: Missions for Growth http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/mission-growth/missions-for-growth/index_en.htm

European Commission: Enterprise and Industry: Missions for Growth: EUROPE 2020 Strategy for Growth - Creating a business environment for more and better jobs - Mission to the Region of Sicily (Italy) http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/mission-growth/missions-for-growth/antonio-tajani/europe/italy-sicily/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: COSME: € 2.3 billion to foster the competitiveness of SMEs over the next seven years http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-cosme-e-2-3-billion-to-foster-the-competitiveness-of-smes-over-the-next-seven-years/

European Commission: Enterprise and Industry: Enterprise & Industry Magazine: Articles: SMEs and entrepreneurship http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/magazine/articles/smes-entrepreneurship/article_11090_en.htm

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