A rather clear picture emerged from the XI Control Room for Internationalization 2023: in 2022 the international economic context - marked by the pandemic emergency since 2020 - suddenly changed with the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. The main channel of transmission of the impact of the war is represented by commodities, the prices of which on the financial markets have soared, fueling an upward phase already underway from the second half of 2021.
Despite this, on the export front, in the period January-November 2022, compared to the first eleven months of the previous year, Italian exports mark a growth of 20.58% for a value of 573 billion euro and an increase also in volume, albeit limited, of +0.3%. In comparison with the main European partners, the increase in Italian exports in the first ten months of this year (+20.8%) is higher than that of Germany (+14.4%) and France (+19.6%), while it remains slightly lower than that of Spain (+23.6%).
The support of all the players in the system for the growth of our businesses on foreign markets is a central objective of Italy's foreign and economic policy, which we intend to tackle with renewed commitment, through constant dialogue with economic operators and putting in place new tools to deal more effectively with the challenges arising from the international situation.
In this regard, in 2023 the Italian government has developed a series of initiatives to support Italian companies in expanding their foreign markets, with a specific focus on SMEs.
This diplomacy for growth unfolds along all the lines of action identified by the Steering Committee and is expressed across the board: in the economic intelligence of the overseas network of the Farnesina and the ICE Agency, in order to seize opportunities for companies; in the promotion of the main international fairs; in integrated communication and promotion actions, to feed an innovative narrative of our country that enhances our strengths, i.e. that synthesis of creativity, innovation and beauty that are synonymous with Made in Italy.
In recent years, digitization and e-commerce have become increasingly important for businesses looking to expand internationally. Italy, like many other countries, has seen this trend accelerate during the pandemic.
The government has therefore planned to use the resources from the Structural Funds for the period 2021-2027 to train and place 800 digital managers in companies in southern Italy, in collaboration with eight southern universities. This will allow SMEs to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation.
Furthermore, the Italian government has decided to create a single list of Digital Managers, which will allow interested companies to access digitization tools more easily. This list will be created using the databases already available on different projects such as D-TEM, Digital Export Bonus and Smart Export.
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It is planned to develop a number of strategies and tools for support the e-commerce and export of Italian companies. In particular, the government intends increase the presence of Italian companies on the main international e-commerce platforms, using new promotional tools and strategies. This includes promoting the internationalization of Italian e-commerce platforms through the activation of special showcases on the main international marketplaces.
Finally, the government has decided to relaunch the 394/81 Fund and the subsidized financing instrument for "e-commerce" interventions managed by SIMEST. These subsidized financing instruments have been very useful for Italian companies during the pandemic and have become an exceptional lever for implementing the support requested by Italian companies, suffering from the contraction in exports caused by the pandemic.
The trade fair system represents another important area to support the export of Italian companies. The government has planned to reduce contributions to companies for participation in the national pavilions organized by the ICE Agency at foreign trade fairs compared to the pre-pandemic period, for encourage the involvement of other trade fair bodies on the occasion of specific trade fairs abroad.
The Italian government will also promote the internationalization of Italian trade fair organizations through the export of reference exhibitions, replicating its exhibition format in other areas of the world.
Finally, the government will step up initiatives in support of participation of foreign operators and buyers in the numerous international trade fairs hosted in Italy, through the definition of specific, strengthened incoming programs agreed between organizers/exhibition bodies with ICE.
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Throughout 2022, the initiatives put in place by the State to encourage the expansion of companies on foreign markets were many.
The conflict in Ukraine made it necessary to activate further emergency measures using the 394/81 Fund under the Temporary Crisis Framework, which led to the introduction of two additional lines of financing. Overall, the performance achieved by the 394/81 Fund during the pandemic in support of Italian companies, with a focus on SMEs and in the subsequent recovery phase confirmed the instrument's centrality in internationalization support strategies.
This was followed by the recognition in the context of the 2022 Budget Law of an annual financial allocation of 1.5 billion euros, in addition to an annual quota of non-repayable funds from the Integrated Promotion Fund of 160 million euros, for the years 2022 to 2026.
One of the first proposals worth mentioning concerns the extension of the beneficiary companies of the initiatives that can be financed through the F. 394/81. The goal is to open access to all Italian companies, of all legal forms and size classes, providing for selective criteria for the co-financing component up to a non-refundable 10%. In this way, we try to support the growth of an increasing number of companies wishing to expand into foreign markets.
Another of the main innovations concerns the expansion of the existing lines of intervention, with the support for the recruitment not only of "Temporary Export Managers" but also of "Temporary Managers" with transversal skills in various subjects, such as digital, marketing, technological innovation and sustainability.
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A third proposal concerns the introduction of new intervention lines of the Fund 394. These lines aim to support technological innovation, digitization and environmental sustainability. In particular, it aims at provide the necessary support to companies to obtain certifications (product, environmental, safety, etc.), patents and specialist consultancy for access to foreign markets. In this way, we try to facilitate the expansion of Italian companies on international markets.
Another important aspect concerns the expansion of the number of initiatives that can be financed through F. 394/81 and the amount of the single line of intervention. In particular, the possibility of disburse loans as part of the Fairs and Events subsidized intervention, to cover the costs relating to participation in up to three international events, also in Italy within two years.
Finally, it is expected the possibility of disbursing loans as part of the E-commerce subsidized intervention, to cover the costs relating to the development or enhancement of several own or third-party electronic commerce platforms. These initiatives aim to facilitate the participation of Italian companies in the main international events and to support the development of electronic commerce.
In this article we have reported all the news on the subject of internationalization, which emerged from the XIth Control Room for Internationalization, the operational tool overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in favor and in support of the export development of Italian companies. As seen, the tool aims to exploit the positive momentum of Made in Italy exports, to counter a moment of crisis common to many sectors on the domestic market.
Through it development of digitization, presence on e-commerce and international marketplaces, and of the exhibition facility, the Italian government intends to further develop the Italian entrepreneurial fabric also on international markets. The incentives, tenders and contributions to support internationalization proposed in 2023, with a renewed role in supporting digital and sustainable development, will certainly be of great help to companies that want to expand their horizons abroad.
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