------ ------ CNA, the National Confederation for the Craft Sector and Small and Medium Enterprise, is a general, national and unifying system representing craft businesses and their entrepreneurs, small and medium sized enterprises and related associations. The CNA system’s purpose is promoting the typical values of entrepreneurship, labour and market economy in society, institutions, politics, and within the corporate world itself, by attempting harmoniously and fully to combine corporate interests and the general interests of Italian citizens and by actively participating in the development of enterprises and entrepreneurs.
In the performance of its purpose, CNA directly liaises with institutions as well as with social, economic and political actors, provides enterprises with first-hand help in meeting their challenges, represents their interests, and assists them in any change and economic development phase.
Representation, professionalism and dynamism are the distinctive features of the almost sixty year old Confederation, which make it stand out among other arts and crafts organisations. In fact, CNA has a proven experience in the promotion of the craft sector in Italy and Europe and helps businesses to more powerfully deal with the ever-changing dynamics of an advanced production system and society as a whole.
CNA is represented in and interacts with the major public and governmental institutions, and the main businesses leading the Italian economy.
It has the highest number of representatives in the governing boards of the 90 Italian Chambers of Commerce, specifically 203 representatives, of which 7 chairpersons and 20 vice-chairpersons.
The wide spread of craftsmanship both in cities and in small towns is reflected in the number of CNA local branches and personnel, i.e. more than 8,000 employees working in 1,100 branches located nationwide, whose value goes beyond the mere provision of services, counselling and information to include credibility, professionalism and the full involvement in the success of the small enterprise system and the development of a sector which permanently and autonomously creates new jobs and businesses. Founded in 1946, the CNA system now has 20 Regional CNA Federations; 106 Provincial Associations; and 25 Art and Craft and/or Sectoral Associations, including FNAP-CNA (with a membership of 180,000 pensioners).
CNA further represents the system of self-employed professionals such as consultants, experts and workers on contract under the name "CNA In Proprio".
CNA has nearly 350,000 members and two National offices, in Rome and Brussels.
The CNA’s National offices are the highest level of the CNA system, whose tasks include liaising between various association categories, ensuring the integration of national associations and defining quality and behavioural standards. Their governing bodies consist of a General Assembly, a Board of Directors and a President’s Bureau. Specific policies for the promotion and support of emerging sectors and sectors of special social interest are adopted by the Women Entrepreneurs’ Committee, the Young Entrepreneurs’ Committee, the Small Industrial Businesses’ Committee and the Sensitive Enterprises’ Committee, the latter’s task being promoting the integration of the disabled within the SME/craft system.
In Europe and all over the world
Europe ranks amongst the top priorities of CNA’s policy to create the best possible conditions for small sized and craft enterprises, for them to co-operate, become better integrated, in Italy and abroad, and take advantage of the increased opportunities offered on the European and global markets.
As a result, ever since 1984, the Brussels office of the CNA system has been operating with innovative methods to provide services and assistance to its national and territorial branches and businesses, and favour their participation in European initiatives and programmes. The CNA system has a dedicated network – providing information on European matters to businesses – which is permanently linked to national and European database systems.
The Brussels office further performs a representation function to voice enterprises’ interests vis-à-vis all of the EU institutions. In 1999, on the completion of the merger between EUROPMI and UEAPME, as a result of CNA’s encouragement and contribution, UEAPME became the single organisation representing SME and craft businesses at pan-European level. Its membership also includes the ten organisations of EU applicant countries and European federations of various sectors. Currently, UEAPME represents more than 8 million craft and small and medium sized enterprises and is recognised by the EU and other international institutions as a “single voice” representing their interests in Brussels.
The degree of representation is further enhanced by CNA’s participation in the initiatives promoted by NORMAPME (European technical office for the standardisation process), the AVIGNON ACADEMY (scientific body for the study of SMEs and the Craft/Trade System) and JEUNE (Committee of Young Entrepreneurs of the European Union).
Sectoral Associations are also involved at European level:
More specifically, the Builders’ Associations, i.e. ANSE and ASSOEDILI, are members of the European Builders’ Confederation (EBC).
ASSOMECCANICA, the National Mechanical Engineers’ Association is a member of RIOST (International network of subcontracting, industrial co-operation and partnership organisations) and EMU (European Metalworkers’ Union).
Within CNA ComuNicAzione, SIAF, the National Professional Photographers’ Association, has membership in the following organisations – PYRAMIDE Europe, WCPP (World Council of Professional Photographers) with representatives in its Board of Directors, and FEP (Federation of European Professional Photographers) in which it is currently in charge of General Secretariat; equally within CNA ComuNicAzione, ASSERIT – which represents associated screen printers – is a member of FESPA (Federation of European Screen Printers Associations).
FITA is a member of UETR, the European Road Hauliers Union.
FEDERESTETICA is a member of CEPEC, the Confederation of European Professional Aestheticians.
AIRA is a member of AIRC, the International Association of Vehicle Repair Companies.
COMITATO IMPRESA DONNA is a member of FEM of which it currently holds chairmanship.
The CNA system belongs to the European information and cooperation network EURO INFO CENTRE, whose function is meeting SMEs’ and craft businesses’ requests for information on European matters and easing their search for trade, technological and financial partners. With the EURO INFO CENTRE, the CNA system and its members actively participate in programmes that the European Commission promotes in such fields as cooperation, technological innovation, mobility and training in association with European professional organisations and Universities. CNA further operates a Rome-based service office for SME globalisation providing SMEs with economic information on, and support in missions organised on the main international and emerging markets.
Other recent CNA’s initiatives are also worth noting, such as the establishment in Nice (France) of the Italian-French Chamber of Commerce for the provision of services to entrepreneurs wishing to penetrate the French market; the opening of a CNA branch in Cairo, in the premises of the Egyptian Production Cooperatives Union; the cooperation agreement signed with the New Your Italian Chamber of Commerce for the provision of support to Italian companies operating in the US market; and finally the new showroom set up in the United Arab Emirates.
CNA Bruxelles
124, Rue du Commerce
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel. +32 2 2307429 – 42
Fax +32 2 2307219
E-Mail: bruxelles@cna.it
CNA CAIRO
106, Gamet El Arabia, St., Mohandsin,
Cairo, EGYPT
Tel. +20 2 3380284
Fax +20 2 3380284
E-Mail: cnacairo@hotmail.com
CNA Nice
CAMERA DI COMMERCIO ITALIANA NIZZA
11, av. Baquis, quartier des Musiciens
06000 Nice, FRANCE
Tel. +33 4 97030370
Fax +33 4 97038788
E-mail: nice@cciaa.org
New York
CAMERA DI COMMERCIO ITALO AMERICANA NEW YORK
730 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600
New York, NY 10019
Tel. +1 212 4590044
Fax. +1 212 459.0090
E-mail: info.newyork@italchambers.net
For more informations in english go to National Cna
