MAECI-MIMIT JOINT STATEMENT
The meeting focused on the signing of an important memorandum of understanding between the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and Invitalia to promote foreign investment in Italy and strengthen the attractiveness of the Italian country system on international markets.
Urso: “the Italian Government works with companies to enhance Made in Italy in the world, face geopolitical risks, and seize new opportunities in the twin transition”.
Tajani: “We want companies to know that we are at their side, to develop measures in their support and defence that start here in Italy and continue beyond its national borders”.
The 12th meeting of the Steering Committee for Internationalisation was held today at Palazzo Piacentini, under the co-chairmanship of Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani.
The meeting focused on an important memorandum of understanding between the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and Invitalia, countersigned by MAECI and MIMIT, for the coordination of their respective activities. The aim of this first concrete initiative undertaken by the Steering Committee, is to encourage qualified foreign investment in Italy and strengthen the attractiveness of the country system on international markets.
“The Italian entrepreneurial fabric, which was able to react better than other European competitors to the recent crises, is now operating in a complex geopolitical context in which the double transition, green and technological, is changing the face of globalisation. Today, with this Steering Committee, Italian institutions are once again proving their ability to support Italian companies, pursuing a policy of support and promotion of Italy both through strategic planning and public support. In particular, with the entry into force of the Framework Law on Made in Italy, the Italian production chains will be further strengthened. A sovereign fund with a focus on critical raw materials; the establishment of the Made in Italy high school as well as an ad hoc foundation to focus on skills training; the establishment of the Made in Italy Day on 15 April; the safeguard of iconic brands and the fight against counterfeiting are the pillars underlying the common effort to project Made in Italy into the international challenge. The road ahead to increasingly affirm our country’s leadership has been traced,” said Minister Urso at the opening of the Steering Committee.
In his speech, Minister Tajani stressed the importance of systematising and enhancing the contribution of all players, public and private, engaged in supporting exports and the internationalisation of the Italian economic fabric.
“Our teamwork, which this meeting intends to reaffirm and relaunch, starts from the joint development of a strategy for the promotion of Italian companies abroad,” said Minister Tajani, assisted for the occasion by Italy’s Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Tripodi, responsible for promoting international trade, one of the priorities of the Italian Government and of the Italian G7 Presidency.
“The Government supports exporting companies with concrete measures. In 2023 we supported our companies by providing them with EUR 1.65 billion of funding channelled through Simest on very advantageous terms. Together with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) we then implemented 960 promotional initiatives around the world, for a value of EUR 205 million. This year, our efforts in the area of subsidised loans to companies are confirmed with a further EUR 1.65 billion, which is all the more important in a period of still high interest rates. More than 600 initiatives are already scheduled with ITA, with a budget of EUR 140 million, plus about EUR 170 million for initiatives starting in September. This commitment is intended to support our companies even more strongly in diversifying their outlet markets, looking at the evolution of the geography of international trade, and promoting an authentic and quality Made in Italy. Our diplomatic network abroad – including Embassies, Consulates, Permanent Representations, and ITA Offices – is fully mobilised in this joint effort,” concluded the Deputy Prime Minister.
At the end of the meeting, a concluding document drawn up in agreement with all the actors of the Steering Committee was adopted. It provided the strategic guidelines for internationalisation, the instruments and actions for 2024, including the methods for promoting Italian products and the geographical priorities for action.
In the document, particular attention is devoted to the trade fair system, to large-scale retail trade, and to initiatives of strategic importance with a focus on Africa and Ukraine. The document then focuses on the integrated promotion of Made in Italy with its national production chains. One of the main instruments involved is the Framework Law on “Made in Italy” with the establishment, among other things, of a dedicated National Fund. In addition, topics are discussed in depth with insights into the economy of space, the supply of critical raw materials, innovation, start-ups, and actions to attract and secure foreign investment.
