Robust intermodal system
Italy is one of the countries in Europe with the best massive network of public and private transport, made up of rail networks, highways, air transport and maritime transport. For example, this nation has more than 130 airports that transport more than 91 million passengers and approximately 750,000 tons of cargo annually. There are structures in the main cities of the country and in its regions, allowing you to connect with the most important cities in Europe and the world. Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, near Rome and one of the main international airports, has an annual traffic of more than 35 million passengers.
The railway network is one of the most widely used systems in this nation, thanks to its easy access and large number of lines that run throughout the peninsula. The trains, which are supervised by the Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, have one of the safest and most extensive railway networks in Europe with its 16,781 km, of which 6,469 km are fundamental lines and 12,018 km are electrified. These roads represent 10.7% of the total in the European Union – the third largest after Germany and France.
Through this railway system, 473 million passengers and 87 million tons of cargo are mobilized annually. Additionally, the high-speed train network currently connects the main Italian cities and is still in the process of expansion.
The road system is the means par excellence for the development of internal trade, so it is always kept in perfect condition to guarantee good service for those who use it. This country has the highest traffic density in the world with almost 38 million vehicles and 315,000 km of roads outside urban areas. The Italian land transport system of highways reaches 6,500 kilometers, where 85% is handled with the toll modality.
The port infrastructure is made up of more than 260 ports located along its coast, especially Livorno, La Spezia, Naples, Palermo, Venice, Trieste and Genoa, the latter recognized as the most important because it receives the largest amount of the country's exports and is the one that concentrates the largest number of commercial transactions. Annually they handle approximately 463 million tons of cargo and 85 million passengers.
A world-class market and economy
Without a doubt, the Italian economy is one of the most developed and mature in the Eurozone, with a well-organized market, made up of approximately 60 million consumers, who have high purchasing power. This makes it an ideal place for exportable supply. Italy is very open to foreign trade, being a major importer of raw materials and semi-finished products, with a very dynamic processing industry and a long export tradition.
The Italian domestic market offers many opportunities, thanks to its inhabitants and a GDP per capita of 36,000 dollars. The net worth of Italian households is 8 times their disposable income (proportionally higher than in the United States, Germany and Canada) and their debt is relatively low, at 82% of their disposable income.
Skilled labor
Without a doubt, Italy has a well-prepared labor force with a more profitable cost than the Eurozone average: only 82% compared to the cost of France and 90% compared to Germany. More than 20 Italian academic institutions are among the ranking of the best 500 universities in the world, with more than 300,000 annual graduates.
Strategic point for manufacturing and international trade
Thanks to its geographical position, Italy becomes an important step in Europe both to receive and to send goods to the American continent. According to data obtained by Eurostat (2021), this nation is listed as the second manufacturing power in Europe.
For more than 30 years, Italy has been Europe's second-largest manufacturing economy after Germany, and sixth or seventh in the world, according to the World Bank. The country is the tenth largest exporter and the eleventh largest importer in the world, where around 57% of GDP is represented by trade.
Italy has a leading position in the surplus of 935 products out of 5,116 goods traded: being in first place for 235 products, second for 377 products and third for 323 products.
Worldwide recognition of machinery and sectors “Made In Italy”
According to ICEX Spain Export and Investment, the machine tool and robotics sector in Italy is an essential gear in the Italian productive sector, it is of great importance in international trade, because it facilitates investment and the technological modernization of all its productive sectors and promotes the economic growth of the country. For this reason it is cataloged as one of the powers of the sector.
Another important sector is Made in Italy, which is a brand of products designed and manufactured in Italy, which are recognized in all markets around the world for their quality, reliability, creativity and the originality of their designs, as well as their resistance and security. According to a market study carried out by the KPMG company, it was determined that it is the third most influential brand in the world. Among the main sectors most recognized internationally are, in addition to machinery: fashion, textiles, jewelry, design, film and food.
Therefore, companies investing in Italy can also count on extensive networks of small and medium-sized companies and many industrial conglomerates throughout the country, with the ability to supply high-quality intermediate products specially adapted to customer needs.
With the middle class of the BRIC economies projected to increase by 800 million people by 2020, according to Goldman Sachs, global demand for “Made in Italy” products is expected to grow in the coming years, assisted by rising prices tourism.
Great opening to foreign investment
According to the World Investment Report 2020 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the flows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) were of the order of 26,500 million USD in 2019. The FDI reserves were in the 445 billion USD in 2019, placing Italy in position 15 among the top 20 host economies of FDI.
Among the main investing nations, according to OECD data are France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Germany. Italy is experiencing high performance from multinational companies: foreign business entities employ 11% of the total workforce, producing 20% of total domestic consumption, and 26% of exported goods. Investments are directed above all to the manufacturing sector, wholesale and retail trade, professional, financial and insurance activities, and Information Technology.
According to the FDI Confidence Index, Italy ranked 13th in 2017, moving up three places compared to its performance in 2016. Thanks to recent legal reforms, there is much more flexibility when setting up new companies; Italy now precedes Germany in the ranking of the best countries to set up new companies.
Good cultural offer and quality of life
According to the Index for a Better Life, created by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Italy scores well in terms of well-being in areas such as the index for a better life, a high average income and heritage, good work-life balance, civic engagement, sense of community, and health status.
Along with the above, one of the main attractions of Italy is found in its cities, which have impressive historical and artistic monuments that, together with their wealth of art, culture, music, food and quality goods generate a satisfactory standard of living.
It is well known in the world that Italy has more world heritage sites than any other country on the planet and this is an important aspect that drives its tourism sector, which amounts to 50 million annual entries.
Italy inspires passion and interest in the world for its heritage, culture, tourism and “Made in Italy” products, which are characterized by unique and attractive brands.
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