Diapositiva 1

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an enterprise may born ... but if it would like
to increase competitiveness its necessary to
want it and changing

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CNA, the National Confederation of Crafts and
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, was created
in Rome in December 1946. In over 60 years of
existence, its history has followed and developed
in parallel with the Italian democracy. CNA has
been influenced by and contributed to it. The
whole of CNA structure participates to the
definition of its identity and to the fulfilment
of its mission through a) rights to
representation and protection of interests
b) economic promotion of undertakings c) set
up and delivery of services to enterprises.

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CNA represents the crafts sector within various
organisations, Institutions, Commissions,
Furthermore it takes part in the activities of
commissions and working parties of several
Ministries the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and
Environment, Agriculture, Food and Forestry
Foreign Trade and Community Policies, Treasury
Department, Industry, Commerce and Crafts,
Employment and Social Security, Public Works,
Home Affairs Civil Service Department.CNA has
the absolute majority of seats within the
category self-government bodies (Provincial
Committee of the Crafts Sector).Moreover CNA is
represented in the councils of 90 renewed chamber
of commerce (authorities) according to Law
580/93.

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Roughly 8000 people work in 1152 Confederation
offices. They not only provide services,
information and advice but also have the
credibility, professionalism and strength that
makes them directly involved with the success of
small enterprises and the development of a sector
that over the years, continues to create jobs and
new enterprises. The structure of CNA consists
of 19 regional offices CNA Regionali, 105
provincial offices CNA  Provinciali, and the
pensioners CNA Pensionati section that
associates 220.000 pensioners. CAN has national
offices in Rome and Brussels.

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The CNA structure, is composed by 10 National
Unions CNA Food (Food, Agriculture, Medicinal
and all the other activities related to the food
sector) CNA Art and Tradition (Manufacture of
Metals and Precious Stones, Ceramics, Restoration
of Movable Goods of Cultural interest, Wrought
Iron, Traditional Musical Instruments and related
activities) CNA Well-being and health (Dental
technicians, Foot Specialists, Opticians,
orthopaedists, Beauticians, Hairstylists,
Fitness, related and similar activities) CNA
Communication and advanced Services (Graphic Art,
Image, Press, Informatics, Information and
Communication Technology, related activities) CNA
Building Sector (Building and similar activities,
Stone Cutting, Restoration and Conservation of
architectural goods) CNA Fashion Federation
(Textiles, Clothing, Shoes, Furriers, Dress
Making, related activities) CNA Transport and
logistic (Merchandise and People Road
Haulage) CNA Plants and Equipment (Plants Fitting
and Maintenance) CNA Production (Mechanics, Wood,
Furniture, Interior Design, Chemistry,
navigation, various other products) CNA Community
Services (Motor Mechanics, Laundromats, Cleaning
Companies, Community Services) CNAs bodies
are the Assembly, the Direction and the
Presidency.

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Crafts have always been the expression of
progress and development and attested the
evolution and creativity of mankind. Furthermore,
each of the products reveals the relations
existing between economic action and social
usefulness within the persistent fusion linking
craft and its towns in a continuous exchange of
cultural, social and economic experiences.   The
value of individual liability proper to crafts
creates economic democracy and legality through
its wide spreading and social integration.   In
the Italian economy, crafts represent 33 of the
total number of enterprises and roughly 21 of
the employees. Moreover they represent 15 of the
GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

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Through its established facilities, the CNA
System implements increasingly qualified and
innovative strategies needed for the on-going
development of markets and related changes in
companies requirements. Its offer of services
includes training promotion innovation
marketing environmental, legal, financial and
credit counselling contract support assistance
in relations with employees specialised tax
counselling and support services. In addition,
CNA concentrates its efforts on such fast-growing
sectors as businesses run by women or young
entrepreneurs and technologically innovative
businesses, with the ultimate aim of sustaining,
qualifying and promoting the success of such
entrepreneurial resources.

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Further, CNA has been promoting counselling and
support in various aspects of the relationship
between entrepreneurs and the Inland Revenue, in
order to better protect its members and bring
their needs to the attention of public
administration. Assistance in Administration,
Fiscal Matters, Labour Legislation, Environmental
Legislation, etc. Assistance in the
establishment of new enterprises (e.g.
administrative authorisations) Fiscal services
Labour counselling Credit and financial
counselling for small businesses (e.g. access to
credit lines for craft businesses, consortium
associates and small industrial concerns)
Risk-Prevention, Safety, Environmental
Compliance (Workplace Safety Risk Evaluation
and Accident-Prevention/Protection Measures)

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CNA EPASA www.epasa.cna.it CAN EPASA was created
on 1971 by a Decree of the Employment Ministry.
It develops its own consultancy, social security
and insurance information services that equally
address issues such as those involving foreign
workers and disabled. CNA EPASA deals with these
subjects in its Italian offices and in various
other countries such as Switzerland, Germany,
Belgium, USA, Australia and Canada. CNA
ECIPA CNA Ecipa is a Confederal Body dealing with
Vocational Education Crafts and Small and Medium
Enterprises and it has been recognised as such
according to Law 40/1987. It acts in the field of
vocational and cultural training of entrepreneurs
and workers of the Crafts and SMEs sector on the
whole national territory with its regional and
provincial offices. Internationally, CNA Ecipa
is part of a European network of organisations
having the same field of activities. Within this
frame, CNA Ecipa has a dynamic and pro-active
role in the implementation of transnational
activities.

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for further informations Confederazione
Nazionale dellArtigianato e della Piccola e
Media Impresa Via G. A. Guattani, 13 00161 ROMA
(Italia) 06-441881 info_at_cna.it www.cna.it