Why invest in Italy?
Italy is world-renowned for its rich cultural and historical heritage, delicious food and dolce vita. The country is one of the key players in the European Union. Italy, with a population of 60 million, is the fifth most populous country in Europe and it is the 23rd most populous country in the world.
The most important Italian cities are Rome, the capital, and Milan, the commercial center. Italy’s location in the heart of the Mediterranean means that investors can reach an additional 400 million consumers living in other European countries and 240 million in North Africa and the Middle East. These figures explain why Italy is the right place to invest for anyone who wants to expand their business among Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Our Firm specializes in providing professional services to individuals, companies and organizations. We have years of experience in tax and civil law, franchise and start-up consulting, international operations, accounting and administration. We have the expertise to assist international clients who intend to invest in Italy.
Investment opportunities for international investors.
Today in Italy the five key sectors that offer the most investment opportunities are:
Tourism: Italy has a huge potential for foreign investment in the tourism sector. Italy has always been one of the best tourist destinations in the world for its monuments, landscapes, historical buildings and ancient history. Italy is the country with the greatest number of “Unesco” world heritage sites. Right now foreign investments are increasing in new tourism sectors: among these, agri-tourism and eco-tourism offer great opportunities for potential investment. For example, there are many properties available for investors who are interested in renovating them in order to provide tourists with accommodations.
Creative sector: Italians in history have been famous for their creativity in many artistic fields. Great Italian entrepreneurs of today who are in the fashion and design industries, such as Armani, Dolce&Gabbana and others, began by working diligently in small artisan boutiques along the country. Now we see a new generation of young artists and entrepreneurs involved in the creative sector. They aim to achieve the popularity of their idols by putting the same passion and inspired ideas into their work. Investors who want to take advantage of these creative minds can find good opportunities by investing even modest amounts in these ventures.
Innovative startups: The Italian government has launched a set of measures in order to attract to Italy innovative entrepreneurs from all over the world. Above all, innovative startups can benefit from tax breaks, a friendly ecosystem for doing business, a faster way to obtain visas, and reach their dream of living in a country with a high quality of life. International investors can either set up their own innovative startup in Italy or invest in an existing startup. Thanks to a highly skilled young generation, the cooperation of many universities and the free market of the EU, the innovative startup sector is growing faster than traditional sectors. Individuals and companies that have at least 50,000 euros to invest in innovative business ideas can find many opportunities in Italy.
Manufacturing industry: Italy has the world’s 5th largest trade surplus in manufactured goods and it is Europe’s second largest exporter with100 billion euros’ worth of machinery and capital goods alone. The manufacturing industry is characterized by producers of machine tools, automotive products and other categories of machinery. These companies have been in the market for many years, thanks to the passion and expertise of generations of entrepreneurs. Most of these small and medium sized companies (“SME’s”) are now looking for investors in order to sustain their growth plans in this very competitive world market.
Agri-food sector: Italy is known all over the world for its great food and cooking. Data shows that Italy today exports 40 billion euros’ worth of goods in the food&drink industry and related technologies. Italian agricultural regions are the most developed in Europe in terms of technology and productivity. In fact, the average profitability of Italian agri-food companies is higher than their European competitors. Additionally, domestic regulations assure that all food products meet health, safety and quality standards. As a result, the Italian agri-food market plays a key role both nationally and internationally. In this sector there are farmers of all sizes, artisanal producers, SME’s and multinational companies. All of them have the necessary ingredients for international investors to take advantage of the different business opportunities they offer.
Lombardy, where everything in Italy begins.
Every Italian region is characterized by particular characteristics that differentiate it from the others. Looking at business clusters, such as the food valley in Emilia Romagna and the shoe valley in Marche, each region has a lot to offer. However, the most developed region in Italy where international investors find it easy to do business is Lombardy. Located in the north of the country, the Lombardy region is the center of the most economically advanced area in Europe. Lombardy is considered to be a bridge that connects the Northern part of Europe to North Africa and the Middle East.
The Lombardy region covers nearly 24,000 square kilometres and has almost 10 million inhabitants. That makes this region the 3rd most populated in Europe.
The size of the Lombardy economy makes it more comparable to other countries than to other regions. In fact, Lombardy’s GDP is higher than that of Norway, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Finland or Portugal. Among all the European regions, Lombardy has the 2nd highest rate of GDP.
Milan, the second largest city in Italy, is the capital of the region: its metropolitan area is the 5th largest in Europe with a population of over 4 million inhabitants. Milan is a dynamic and competitive city famous all over the world for its fashion industry. It also hosts the Italian stock exchange and, thanks to the huge Exposition “Expo 2015”, has became an international hotspot for startups and new business ventures. The relatively low cost of housing and high living standards makes Milan an attractive destination for people from all over the world.
Azzini Zagni | Avvocati e Commercialisti is located in the greater Milan area.
International investors can refer to our website to learn how to start up or expand their business in Italy, in the Lombardy region or elsewhere.
If you are ready to invest in Italy or if you need more information, complete the form on this website or simply contact us by phone or email, and you will hear back from us right away.
