Gian Paolo Crasta’s perspective on Italy’s positioning between instability, manufacturing and long-term vision.
Forty-seven years old, originally from Sardinia, Gian Paolo Crasta has spent more than twenty-five years working from within the sector of automatic machinery for packaging, processing and food manufacturing.
His professional path has developed in close contact with Italian companies producing packaging and processing lines and alongside their industrial evolution, leading him today to the role of Director General of UCIMA, the Italian association of packaging machinery manufacturers, and ACIMAC, the association of Italian manufacturers of technology for the ceramic industry.
Two distinct yet complementary organizations, allowing Crasta to observe the sector not from the standpoint of a single company, but as an integrated industrial system.
“Our point of observation is not that of an individual enterprise, but of an industrial body made up of supply chains, markets, people and skills,” he points out.
It is from this broad perspective that Crasta interprets the current moment.
A complex scenario marked by global instability, political tensions and new forms of competition, forcing both European and Italian industry to question their positioning, the resilience of economic models and their ability to build a long-term vision.
“We are living through a turning point in geopolitical, and cultural, balances,” Crasta observes.
According to him, the current landscape is characterized by the return of the so-called “law of the strongest,” an approach that challenges rules and frameworks that until recently seemed firmly established.
Political phenomena now described as “disruptive” are profoundly reshaping the way power and institutions are perceived, with effects that will become fully evident only over time.
In this context, the absence of strong and credible counterparts risks amplifying these dynamics, particularly at the European level.
“If there is no clear and shared vision on the other side, the law of the strongest inevitably prevails,” he notes, referring to Europe’s difficulty in defining a common direction.
Within this framework, Italy shows both strengths and weaknesses.
On one hand, greater political stability has helped restore international credibility, especially when compared with the difficulties faced by other European countries.
On the other hand, a still-fragile economy must confront structural challenges that cannot be resolved in the short term.
Nevertheless, this combination of stability and resilience is enabling Italy to play a more relevant role at key decision-making tables.
A clear example of this phase is the Mercosur agreement.
Crasta considers it a strategic and forward-looking choice, capable of strengthening exports in the medium to long term, albeit without immediate effects.
“It is not an instant solution, nor a magic wand,” he clarifies.
The markets involved, starting with Brazil, present economic and financial complexities that rule out simplistic interpretations.
The true value of the agreement lies in the opportunity to compete on equal footing with major international players, particularly Asian competitors that are increasingly active in South America.
At the same time, renewed attention is being paid to manufacturing and machinery builders, sectors that for a long time were not perceived as emblematic of Made in Italy, often associated primarily with fashion and food.
“For years we were not considered a symbol of Made in Italy, despite representing a significant part of national industry,” Crasta notes. “Today something is changing, even in the perception of those outside the sector.”
This shift in perspective is a positive signal, although it remains accompanied by inconsistent decisions that continue to undermine operators’ confidence.
Discontinuous regulatory interventions, such as the sudden halt of industrial incentive schemes, risk compromising the continuity the sector needs to plan investments and long-term strategies.
“Industry needs certainty, not abrupt changes of direction,” he stresses.
Credibility is inevitably linked to fiscal discipline. Crasta acknowledges that spending control and compliance with deficit targets are necessary choices, even if they have restrictive short-term effects.
“You cannot build solid industrial policies without a credible financial foundation,” he says. The real limitation, however, remains the lack of a structured medium- to long-term vision capable of fostering confidence among investors.
Completing the picture are technological innovation and the European context.
On one side, the development of skills related to artificial intelligence and digitalization represents a concrete opportunity to enhance manufacturing competitiveness.
On the other, Europe appears to be experiencing a phase of decision-making slowdown, with the risk of reverting to ideological approaches misaligned with industrial realities. “Uncertainty is the real enemy of investment, even more than tariffs or geopolitical crises,” Crasta warns.
What will ultimately make the difference, he concludes, is the ability to value people and governance models. A complex technological sector such as packaging and processing machinery can remain competitive only if it attracts talent, renews itself culturally and offers concrete opportunities to new generations.
“It is no longer a sector for a few or for men only, but a mature industrial field that must be inclusive and capable of growth,” he observes.
In the scenario outlined by Crasta, the future of Italian industry does not depend on individual measures or temporary fixes, but on the ability to combine vision, credibility and continuity.
In an increasingly unstable global context, the real challenge is not reacting to short-term emergencies, but building an industrial system capable of enduring over time, turning change into a continuous learning process.
For Italy, this means enhancing what already works, starting with manufacturing and the widespread skills rooted in the territory, without losing sight of the critical issues still present.
An industrial heritage that, despite a complex phase, continues to demonstrate adaptability, innovation and resilience, confirming itself not only as an economic engine but also as a pillar of stability and strategic positioning on the international stage.
UCIMA events scheduled for 2026 in support of the Italian packaging supply chain.
Interpack
Düsseldorf, 7–13 May 2026
International trade fair dedicated to packaging and processing technologies.
B2B meetings with West African buyers
Hotel Phi Canalgrande, Modena, 18 February 2026
Business meetings focused on promoting Italian technologies for packaging and food processing in West African markets.
Packaging supply chain exhibition
ADI Design Museum, Milan, March 2026
Exhibition dedicated to the packaging supply chain, hosted throughout the month of March, aimed at highlighting packaging as an expression of innovation, design culture and industrial excellence.
