These days I read the article on the expansion of Benelli Armi, flagship of our Urbino, a city also known all over the world thanks to the Benelli brand, our Ferrari !!!!! Benelli Armi is present in 74 countries on five continents, from Europe to the Far East, from Canada to New Zealand.
In the USA, which represent the main outlet market, it has a direct sales branch, while in France and Spain it is in partnership with the Beretta group. In semiautomatic shotguns it holds a share of over 20% of the global market and is the industry leader in Europe.
Reading the article, I was baffled by the statements of some ANTI-FIGHTING / ANIMALIST associations that are opposed to the expansion of the factory. The reasons? Environmental impact!!!!!! The solution? Rally all those who could provide alternative work to Benelli Armi employees and proposes the redevelopment of the area even in the hypothesis of a cycle path on the railway. Even today the data on unemployment: it rises to 8,3%, a figure destined to increase given the global crisis.
The world of hunting with its related activities creates jobs for over 56,000 people in our country and only for the sake of the environmental associations would they want these people to be unemployed. Only in Urbino the induced activity generated by hunting is about 1,5 million Euros.
I know and have friends who work at Benelli Armi, fathers of families, boys and girls, proud to be part of this company, which they would never want to leave for the quality of the work and the seriousness Benelli has expressed towards them over the years.
Benelli Armi would have all the interest and perhaps the convenience to move outside the Ducal walls, see the connections in our city, with economic consequences for the transport of goods in and out.
Today, as always, Benelli Armi invests and wants to continue to do so to enhance and continue to be at the forefront and leader in its sector, and wants to continue to do so in Urbino by defending its human capital and creating new jobs in our city.
All I ask of these ASSOCIATIONS is to go to Benelli and ask for a discussion with the employees if they want to leave the company for any other place…!
If Benelli produced bicycles there would have been no intervention by any ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION, of this I am sure.
Ubaldo Biccari
Delegate of the Pesaro Urbino Province Hunting Environment