MGI member joins debate at SME Week in Italy

Francesco Bartolucci from MGI member firm Studio Pragma took part in the recent SME Week event in Modolfo, Italy. Looking at cross-border trade and sustainable growth strategies for smaller businesses, the event was funded by the European Union and organised by one of the firm’s clients, Protecno.

Francesco, who is a partner at Fano-based Studio Pragma and chairman of the Coordinating Committee for MGI in Europe, was on a panel with experts from around the region to discuss opportunities for growth in the SME sector.

Speaking after the event, Francesco explained how small firms are starting to understand that growth must come from “innovative and sustainable ideas”. In order to encourage businesses to develop their ideas and to expand beyond their national boundaries they need to make the most of incentives from the EU and individual member states.

For example, until 2020 the EU will provide funding to all those SMEs which have innovative and sustainable ideas and need economic support to develop them, says Francesco, who thinks accountancy firms have a key role to play in leveraging their own expertise and the potential of their clients.

“The accountant and consulting firms must be a guide for the SMEs, which most of the time do not know how to cross the frontier of their countries,” he says. “It is possible to find the appropriate way to develop their ideas, to evaluate the single projects and to give customised advice.”

To speak to Francesco about the event or to learn more about Studio Pragma, head to the firm’s MGI member profile page.