There is a thread that unites those who leave and those who stay. A thread made of memory, roots, smells, and that oblique light that only Naples can give at sunset. Those present yesterday at Jean’s Lafayette in New York City, for the meeting organized by the association 081 – Stand for Naples dedicated to the new generation of Neapolitan talent in the world, know this well. A select group of under-35s originally from the capital of Campania and now living between the United States and Europe, protagonists in sectors such as finance, entrepreneurship, technological innovation and real estate, gathered to reflect on the possible connections between those who left and those who stayed, and on the potential that young Italians abroad represent for the future of Southern Italy.
The meeting, moderated by Davide Ippolito, entrepreneur and founder of ilNewyorkese, the leading newspaper for Italians in New York, focused on the idea that physical distance from Naples does not necessarily mean emotional or planning distance. The question was asked: what has the South really given us? What are its hidden resources, its talents yet to germinate? And how can we imagine a future in which education and experience abroad are not an escape, but a lever to revive what we love? Answering these questions were Raffaele De Nigris, CEO of the De Nigris agribusiness group; Diego Rodinò di Miglione, now head of real estate North America at EssilorLuxottica; and Gabriele Cambriglia, managing director at J.P. Morgan.
Each talk touched on a crucial aspect: from the need to build entrepreneurial ecosystems in the South, to how the experience abroad can become a lever – and not an escape – for the revitalization of the area. And then a dialogue with speakers that touched on the skills needed to do business in the South and the incentives needed for the return or, at least, the involvement of young expats in the economic and social life of their places of origin. Key sectors in which young people should invest and focus were also identified, such as value-added services for agribusiness pointing abroad – logistics, digital call centers – and tourism in tech.
And then a nod also to the other initiatives of 081 – Stand for Naples: from the Startup Challenge, which each year incentivizes and supports 40 startups founded by Neapolitans with panels and competitions, incubating the winners with a pathway and a cash prize, and the Private Equity Workshop, a private equity investment fund dedicated to Southern Italy to foster the growth of the economy and businesses. Private equity is a great tool to regulate and help companies financially, supporting their growth and job creation in the supply chain.
The president of 081, Umberto Lobina, recalled how there are two million young Italians today who have emigrated from the South. The association’s goal is to network among them and concretely evaluate opportunities for return and investment. The basic idea is that this youth diaspora, today often told only in terms of loss, can instead be transformed into a resource. A network of skills, vision and affection that, if activated in the right way, could help write a new story for Southern Italy.
Naples took center stage, amid enthusiasm and pride. There was no lack of a moment dedicated to the Scudetto, with a tribute to Paolo Sorrentino’s words-remembered by the moderator-that ran through the entire evening like an emotional thread: “It is possible to be happy in the most beautiful place in the world.”
In concrete terms, 081 Stand for Naples has already made its mark. With the Naples Calls for Ideas project, it set in motion a startup challenge that brought young entrepreneurs and new visions to the field. With the Startup Academy, it has built training paths for those who want to do business in Naples. These are clear signs of a pragmatic and courageous approach. Now the network is preparing to relaunch, with new goals and an increasingly defined direction: shaping the future starting here.
The article How did the meeting in New York organized by 081 – Stand for Naples go comes from TheNewyorker.
