"To revive the economy and meet the world challenges we have to look to our strengths, while never forgetting our ancient problems and those of today. We can start from an Italy that looks confidently to the future because it does not deny its soul - says the President of Fondazione Symbola Ermete Realacci in the premise of Italy in 10 selfies 2017. An Italy competitive thanks to cohesion, care of the human capital, strong relationship with the territories and the communities. Italy can be an outpost of that stronger, more sustainable economy that emerges from the Paris and Marrakech conferences on climate, a perspective that we CAN ALSO read in the auspices of Pope Francis. An economy that can provide AN adequate response to the new demands of global consumers of the XXI century: equity, sustainability, beauty. These are the themes that Italy has to put at the center of its government and of the G7 that we will host in May".

These are the 10 "Selfies" for Italy 2017

1. ITALY IS ONE OF THE FIVE COUNTRIES THAT BOASTS A SURPLUS IN MANUFACTURING OF OVER 100 BILLION DOLLARS

2015, with a manufacturing trade surplus with other countries of $ 103.8 billion, confirms us fifth in the world after China (1062.1 billion), Germany (362.3 billion), South Korea (201.8 bln) and Japan (174.7 billion). This consolidates the leading role of our country in the global economy, and the ability of our companies to compete in global markets.

2. THE GREEN ECONOMY GIVES STRENGTH TO ITALIAN COMPANIES

More than 385,000 Italian companies (26.5% of the total industry and services, even 33% in manufacturing) during the crisis have bet on the green economy - which is worth € 190.5 billion of value added, 13% of the national economy. With competitive advantages in terms of exports (46% of eco-manufacturing enterprises investing steadily exports, against 27.7% of the others), innovation (33.1% developed new products or new services, compared to 18, 7% of the others) and revenue (35.1% of green companies has grown in 2015 against 21.8%, of the others). The green economy is also good for employment. In 2016, companies investing green take on more: 330,000 new employees, accounting for 43.9% of total recruitments, seasonal and non-seasonal, planned in industry and services.

3. FIRST IN THE WORLD IN THE SOLAR BUSINESS

Italy is the first country in the world for the contribution of photovoltaics to the national electricity mix (8% in 2015), better than Greece (7.4%) and Germany (7.1%), but also better than countries such as Japan (below 4%) and the USA (less than 1%). It is the first among the big EU countries as for share of renewables in gross inland consumption (17.1%).

4. LEADER IN EUROPE FOR EFFICIENCY IN ENERGY AND EMISSIONS ISSUES

The Italian production model remains among the most innovative and efficient in the environmental field. In the energy consumption and of polluting emissions field: with 107 tons of CO2 equivalent per million euros of product we are second as for lesser intensity of atmospheric emissions, behind France (93, helped in this case by nuclear power) and ahead of Spain (131) , United Kingdom (131) and Germany (154). With 14.3 tons of oil equivalent per million euros of product, Italy is the second country among the five major EU economies as for lesser energy inputs to the same product.

5. FIRST CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN EUROPE

Our country is the European leader in industrial recycling: in Italy 47 million tons of non-hazardous waste have been recovered to be sent for recycling, the highest absolute value among of all European countries, followed by Germany with 43.6, United Kingdom 38.8, France 29.5 and Spain 23.7. Recycling in industrial production cycles has allowed us to save primary energy for over 17 mln tons of oil equivalent, and emissions for approximately 60 million tons of CO2.

6. ITALY IS FOURTH FOR SURPLUS IN MACHINERY

With a $ 59.5 billion surplus, the Italian machinery industry is confirmed in the leading group of international ranking for the trade balance, preceded only by German (108 billion), China (84.5) and Japan (69.4). Among the most exported products we can find machines for agriculture and tobacco, those for the food industry, those for working wood, metal, plastic and non-metallic mineral products (ceramic and ornamental stones, for example) and packaging, particularly appreciated for its attention to lower power consumption.

7. CULTURE, BEAUTY AND CREATIVITY TO COMPETE. FIRST FOR UNESCO SITES

Italy owes to its cultural industry € 89.7 billion, 6.1% of the wealth produced in the country in 2015. These nearly 90 billion set in motion other 160.1 in other different fields of the economy: € 1.8 for every € 1 produced by culture. This leads to 249.8 bln of € produced by the entire cultural supply chain, from design to Made in Italy, from new media to the historical cultural heritage to tourism: 17% of the national wealth. Culture and creativity employ 6.1% of total employment, 1.5 million people. Italy boasts the world record for number of UNESCO sites: there are 51 of them officially recognized in our country.

8. THE ITALIAN INDUSTRY OF FURNITURE WOOD IS SECOND FOR TRADE SURPLUS, AND A SUSTAINABILITY EXAMPLE

With $ 9 billion surplus the Italian industry of wood furniture is second in the world for trade balance, preceded only by China (86.3 billion). The largest importer of wood furniture made in Italy is France (€ 1,061 million, 2015), followed by Germany (844 million), UK (719 million), Switzerland (555 million), Russia (527 million), Spain (407 mln), UAE (295 million), China (288 mln, where we are the first national provider). The industry of Made in Italy wood furniture is leader in environmental sustainability, from energy consumption to the emissions.

9. ITALIAN COMPANIES ARE AMONG THE MOST COMPETITIVE

With a total of 5,117 products - the highest level of statistical diversification in world trade - in 2014 Italy was either first or second or third in the world for trade surplus with other countries in well 899 of them: nearly one in five, for a total value of $ 200 billion. The excellence of Made in Italy is in the high diversification of its specializations, mainly focused in the macro-sectors of the 4A: Alimentari/vini (Food/wine), Abbigliamento (clothes-fashion), Arredamento (furniture/home) and Automazione (mechanical).

10. IN 68 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ITALY IS AMONG THE THREE WORLD LEADERS

Among the Italian agricultural products, 16 are first in the international markets. From pasta to tomatoes and other vegetables, vinegar and oil to beans: all absolute champions in the world market share. And there are 52 others for which we are second or third: we are on the podium in world trade, in short, for 68 products. Ours is the strongest country in the world for distinctive products: first in the food, with 292 between PDO / PGI / TSG, and wine, with 523 DOC / DOCG / IGT. Italy also ranks second in Europe for organic agricultural area, and we have the highest number of companies in the sector.