Economy – A new competitiveness index would allow Italy to rise in the world rankings. Les Echos reports on the initiative, just presented at Cernobbio, that proposes to revise the World Bank’s Ease of doing business index by valuing the country’s strong points in terms of attractiveness abroad (September 6 – l’Italie lance un nouveau classement économique international*). In the meantime, privatization remains a key test for attracting capital from abroad: according to Reuters, reporting the words of the Group’s CEO Stefano Mazzoncini, it might be Ferrovie dello Stato’s turn in 2017 (September 2 – Italian railways aiming for IPO in 2017: CEO). Italian museums are also turning toward private capital: The New York Times explains the phenomenon, stressing how the new trend will help the budget of these cultural institutions (September 6 – Italy’s Museums Turn Toward the Private Sector for Funding*).
Innovation is also making news in the foreign press: Les Echos reports the birth in Italy of sceglibanche.it “the Tripadvisor of banks,” which uses reviews by other users to provide help in choosing current accounts and savings products. The project may soon turn to the French and Spanish markets (September 5 – Italie: un Tripadvisor pour les banques*).
Lastly, there is also coverage of the successful entrepreneurial history of Arturo Prisco, the man who, with his real estate projects, “has brought Dresden back to life” (September 8 – die Welt: Dieser Stoffhändler verhalf Dresden zu neuem Leben).
Tourism, cinema, wine & food – In tourism coverage, The New York Times recounts a journey to discover Via Francigena (September 7 – On the Via Francigena in Tuscany, Monasteries and Fellowship*); other news outlets are visiting the places of some “exciting Italian wines”: Financial Times explains that Sardinia is a veritable “treasure island” for oenology (September 2 – Treasure island: Sardinia’s unique and exciting wines*), while The Wall Street Journal reports on the “rare” and “opulent” Gewürztraminer wine (September 2 – Gewürztraminer: A Rare, Rewarding Wine (Even If You Can’t Pronounce It*). El País, on the other hand, includes cultural coverage, landing in Venice to report on the first films competing in the Film Festival (September 6 – Caníbales contra ‘hippie).
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