Invest in Italy

Italy, an attractive destination for foreign investment and large donations

Here are a few reasons why people should consider starting their own business or investing in Italy in 2023.

First, Italy is one of the world’s top economies and markets. It is the 3rd largest economy in the Eurozone and the 8th largest in the world (World Development Indicators, 2020), with a population of more than 60 million and a GDP per capita of more than 30,000 dollars. Its domestic market has great potential: it offers countless business opportunities to expand businesses in strategic sectors such as logistics, tourism, renewable energies, green-tech and biotech projects.

According to the Global Attractiveness Index 2022, Italy reached 19th place, in the medium-low attractiveness range. Innovation is the macro-area in which Italy is best placed, while Efficiency is the area where it gets the worst result, due to the growth of the unemployment rate (+0.2%).
Meanwhile, however, Italy is regaining attractiveness on international markets in terms of foreign investment, with a variation of +108 positions compared to the previous year.

A strategic logistics hub connecting global markets. Its strategic position, located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, makes Italy the main crossroads linking all of Europe. For this reason, it represents a key gateway to the European Market as well as to the close Northern African and Middle East countries.

A key global player in manufacturing and export. For over 30 years, Italy has been the 2nd largest manufacturing economy in Europe, surpassed only by Germany, and is the 7th top manufacturer in the world, with 2.1% global manufacturing output. Notably, in the pharmaceutical sector, where both national and multinational companies operate successfully, Italy has asserted its role as Europe’s leading manufacturer, with pharmaceutical production amounting to €34 billion in 2020.

From a more sectoral point of view, according to the European Commission’s Report on economic, social, and territorial cohesion published in Dec 2021, Italy is the European country with the highest percentage of recycling of all waste (79.3%, double the EU average of 39.2%), as well as one of the most sustainable agriculture in Europe.

A highly competitive machinery sector and a strong ‘Made in Italy’ brand. Made in Italy is a driving force of the Italian economy: to invest in Italy means having access to its unique export know-how in sectors such as machinery and automation, fashion, design, and food. Italy has also opened up to foreign investment in sensitive sectors such as energy, networks, telecommunications and transport in recent years.

Excellence in R&D. Italy claims a strong network of research institutes, technological hubs, and innovative incubators, often linked to universities. An example is the big project that is being developed in the ex-Expo area, which is called Human Technopole, and will collect research groups, research centers, and core facilities focused on Genomics and Data Science.

A skilled and competitive workforce. It is common knowledge that the quality of Italian higher education is excellent: there are currently 11 Italian universities ranked among the 500 best in the world. As of 2021, Italy is ranked at the #14 position for the Countries with the Best Educational System Ranking conducted by US News and World Report.

An unparallel cultural offer and the country brand. Italy is gifted with traces of a cultural heritage formed over 2500 years. All of this, combined with its world-famous art, music, and food culture, gives the ‘Bel Paese’ an unrivalled quality of life. In fact, Italy is ranked 1st at a global level for UNESCO World Heritage sites (53), and it is one of the world’s top tourism destinations, with over 50 million visitors each year.

Finally, Italy is firmly open to foreign investment: Italy’s open economy welcomes investors. The country has implemented significant reforms to gain investor trust and confidence, including forming a high-level committee within the MISE. The Italian Trade Agency offers a “one-stop shop” for pre-investment information, business set-up support, and ongoing after-care for incentives and contracts.

Moreover investing in a genuine Italian company would allow you to gain experience in trading a Made in Italy product, which represents an incomparable added value to the investment, independently to the sector you will invest in.

This is the right time for investing in Italy! The 2017 Budget Law introduces in the Immigration Law a new “entry visa for investors” which will entitle foreign investors an advantageous treatment, only provided that they will carry out a durable investment in Italy or a large donation involving benefits for Italian culture and research. The decree-law 19 May 2020, n. 34, reduced the minimum investment amount in the capital of an ordinary company from EUR 1,000,000 to 500,000, and from EUR 500,000 to 250,000 if in the capital of an innovative startup, respectively.
Investors and golden donors seeking to conduct their business activity in Italy will be allowed to enter and stay in Italy, initially for two years with the possibility of a three more years extension. The visa is also extendable to family members.

Moreover, if you move your fiscal residence to Italy you’ll also have a very favorable tax break applied only on the income earned abroad. This treatment is valid for a fifteen years-long period.

Getting your visa is easy and quick: InvestorVisa.it is the service created to help you in selecting the best investment or donation opportunity and managing all the bureaucratic procedures for both visa and residence permit.

30 April 2019 – The Italian Government issues The Growth Act: A ten-year tax reduction for non-EU entrepreneur and investors ready to move to Italy to invest and work.

July 2020 – Also Italy allure foreign retirees who want to choose a country other than their own to spend their old age there. How? With a sharp tax reduction on all income generated abroad; not only on pensions but also, for example, on real estate income, equity profits, annuities, etc. The tax on all these incomes will be 7% for ten years.

Investor Visa Italy extends the “investor visa” program to the new proposals for the purchase of industrial, artisanal, and commercial properties.

This type of investment is aimed at:
1) Non-EU entrepreneurs (individuals) who want to set up their own business in Italy and obtain an entry visa and a residence permit for “self-employment/entrepreneur”;
2) Non-EU companies that want to establish an office or a branch in Italy and obtain an entry visa and an “ITC” residence permit for their managers or partners.

There are more than 100 properties which are located in all regions of Italy.
Investment amounts range from a minimum of EUR 500,000 and, in some cases, may exceed EUR 10 million.

A Guide provided by the Italian Notariat