As of 31 March, emergency measures totalling EUR 130 million will come into force to support exporting companies and the wider export supply chain in Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia, which were affected by the exceptional adverse weather events that occurred last January. The measures have been promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and are managed by SIMEST.
“These measures represent a concrete and timely response to the needs of the productive sector severely impacted by natural disasters”, stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani. “We are making immediate instruments available to companies to compensate for the damage suffered and to strengthen their capacity to operate in international markets”.
Non-repayable grants of up to EUR 5 million per company are intended to compensate for verified direct material damage, including damage to buildings, facilities, machinery, equipment and inventories.
Access to the measures will be granted not only to exporting companies, but also to businesses within the export supply chain that can demonstrate significant international exposure. In particular, companies will be eligible if they have generated at least 10% of their turnover from foreign markets, including through participation in supply chains linked to exporting companies or through documented transactions with foreign counterparties not resident in Italy. This category also includes, for example, accommodation providers able to demonstrate such flows.
Favourable conditions are also provided for access to the “Digital and Ecological Transition” instrument under Fund 394/81. Within this framework, up to 90% of the financing may be allocated to strengthening companies’ capital base, in addition to a 10% non-repayable grant component.
Finally, for companies already benefiting from subsidised instruments managed by SIMEST and operating in the affected areas, a suspension of principal repayments will be granted for a maximum period of 12 months.
