Newsweek International December 17, 2021

1935 After an underwhelming start to Gertrud Wettergren’s debut performance as Amneris in Aida at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House, Newsweek wrote, “her performance grew in color and intensity in the course of the evening, and she received very enthusiastic applause after the tremendous scene of the fourth act.... Future performances will reveal the extent of this artist’s powers.” Following its closure for the duration of the 2020–21 season due to the pandemic, the Met reopened in late September and now permits in-person, full capacity, vaccinated audiences. 1975 “Around the nation and across the political spectrum, big government has emerged as the hot new ideological issue in the politics of ’76,” Newsweek said as Americans debated how much government involvement was “too much.” Now, the Biden Administration just signed a…

The country benefits from its leadership: Mario Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank, who became prime minister February 2021. Widely viewed as the savior of the eurozone during the 2011/12 crisis, Draghi’s steady and competent leadership came at the exact right moment. Economic reforms to attract investment are a top priority according to the prime minister: “The state’s task is to use the levers of research and development spending, education and training, regulation, incentives and taxation. Some of [the reforms] concern problems that have been open for decades but should not be forgotten. These include the certainty of regulations and public investment plans, factors that limit investment both from Italians and foreigners.” Italy is the world’s eighth largest economy, with GDP standing at $1.85 trillion in 2020, and…

Exports are an increasingly important mainstay of the Italian economy. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reports that merchandise exports jumped by 33% between 2005 and 2020 to end the year at $496.1 billion, and they are set to continue rising sharply as global demand rebounds. Cheese producers in particular are set to benefit: Italian cheese exports have doubled over the past decade to average more than $3 billion annually, leaving domestic leader Zanetti, the largest exporter of Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, on the cusp of another major growth spurt. Founded in 1900, Zanetti expanded across Italy between the 1920s and 1940s under the watchful leadership of its founder, Guido Zanetti. Over three generations the Zanetti family’s passion, perseverance and tradition kept the company on a growth…

Meanwhile, the global ceramic materials market is booming. The sector was worth an estimated $210 billion in 2020, and is expected to grow to around $295 billion by 2027, driven by the global construction industry, as well as advanced, high-tech ceramic offerings. A world leader when it comes to the production of ceramic surfaces for wall, floor coverings and design application (for example furniture), the entrepreneurial activity carried out by Iris Ceramica Group has been operating out of Italy since 1961. Group founder and president Romano Minozzi started his career in banking, before transitioning into the ceramic sector. “Ceramics make people feel comfortable, there is also a strong bond between nature, man and ceramics, tracing back to prehistoric times,” he says. “Ceramics are connected to the earth and fire; they are…

Founded in 1948 as Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla, the family company’s eye-catching designs have become recognised globally. Matching Italian design with the latest technology, Smeg’s products reflect the company’s commitment to improving home life through both beauty and functionality. “We come from a country in which beauty, aesthetics, and history are very important – this is one of Italy’s strengths,” says Smeg chairman Roberto Bertazzoni. “We have started to think that style is a technology, and a very complicated one: good taste, respect of the final consumer, quality of life in the home, and trying to understand what will happen in the future.” Bertazzoni says that the company’s strategy and philosophy was shaped around fifthy years ago, with cooperation between entrepreneurs and architects. Smeg works with leading Italian and international architects, including…

Established in 1959, Marcegaglia started as a small factory specializing in roller shutter and open profile manufacturing in northern Italy. It has grown operations over the years to become the largest independent player in the global steel processing sector, and the world’s top producer of stainless and carbon steel welded tubes. It owes its success to an artful combination of a dynamic family business model, a hands-on, people-centric approach to doing business, an entrepreneurial ethos, and a strong presence in international markets, according to Chairman and CEO Antonio Marcegaglia: “Our inspiration comes from the founders, my parents, and how they have interpreted the roles of businessmen: with vision and a responsibility towards stakeholders, the territory, the social fabric, and sustainability. Both my sister Emma and I have always believed that…