Italy needs to support its manufacturing industry that is vital for the country's future, said a number of professionals on Tuesday.

Addressing the annual convention of Italian Steel Makers and Processors Association "Federacciai", Antonio Gozzi, the head of the association, called on the Italian government to sustain at the EU level the future of manufacturing sectors, and promote the "Italian extraordinary industrial potential which is an example and help for the entire continent."

He said Italy's economic resistance in the current difficult times was especially based on the performance of its industrial system especially focused on "efficiency, flexibility and quality," and driven by a "family-based" capitalism always bound to traditional values.

According to latest data released by Federacciai, which counts some 150 companies making and processing over 95 percent of the Italian total steel production, the sector's turnover in the country amounts to over 40 billion euro (49.8 billion U.S. dollars).

Italy produced 28.7 million tons of steel last year, 11.6 percent more compared to 2010, and 9.8 million tons in the first four months of 2012, with a 3.4-percent increase on the same period of 2011.

As one of the biggest steel consumers in the world, Italy used up 29.8 million tons in 2011, of which 17.4 million tons were imported, six percent more than that of 2010, and exported 17 million, with a 12.1-percent increase on 2010.

"The steel sector has experienced a production growth despite the ongoing economic crisis," Italy's Economic Development Undersecretary Claudio De Vincenti said at the convention.

He agreed the manufacturing industry is "an integral part of Italy's future, thus it must be encouraged and treasured as a valuable element of our country."

De Vincenti recalled "Italy is the second manufacturing country in Europe and wants to hold this position," thus the government will commit in supporting the manufacturing industry also at the EU level, and promoting environmental policies that are closely linked to the sector.

In fact, developed countries cannot exclusively live on clean services, and "a European future without industry is inconceivable," Italy's Environment Undersecretary Tullio Fanelli said.

The best policy to pursue at the EU level in addressing the environmental issue is associating higher prices and taxes to higher emissions, he said at the convention.

According to Federacciai, the totality of Italian steel plants is provided with best available techniques (BAT) for pollution prevention and control.

In addition, the Italian steel industry is first in Europe for recycled iron. The sector has reduced its specific CO2 emissions by over 40 percent since 1990, and allots nearly 15 percent of its total annual investment to environmental protection policies.

Giorgio Squinzi, the head of leading industrial association Confindustria of which Federacciai is a part, agreed it is fundamental for the EU's future to support its manufacturing potential, "being the continent a market of 500 million people who have the most developed manufacturing industry with great innovation capacity."

In order to more efficiently support the EU's industry, member states should go in the direction of becoming a "Unites States of Europe," he said.

In his view, providing with a stronger central bank, coordinating welfare policies, implementing a common fiscal action, promoting joint infrastructural investments and energy measures are the most urgent steps to be carried out.