Italy is the sixth country in the OECD area and the fourth in the European area in terms of gross domestic product value. Italian production accounts for more than 13% of the European Union’s GDP.
In terms of the characteristics of its production structure, Italy’s composition by sector of economic activity is similar to that of the main European countries, with 27.7% of production in manufacturing and construction and almost 70% in services. Within the latter sector, trade, transport and communications absorb a higher share of GDP than the average for European countries.
Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Italy is a crucial hub for road, sea and air links between northern and southern Europe.
The Italian market offers countless opportunities for expanding businesses, with almost 60 million consumers and a GDP that ranks fourth in Europe.
Thanks to its strategic location, Italy makes it easy to reach the 396 million consumers in the other EU countries and the 240 million in North Africa and the Middle East.
It has achieved a leading position (11% share of the European market), with a turnover of approximately EUR 65 billion.
In Europe, Italy ranks first as the country with the lowest set-up costs for the biotechnology sector and second for product testing in R&D, chemistry and electronics.
If you are interested in doing business in Italy, please consult:
- The ‘Doing Business in Italy‘ and ‘Invest in Italy‘ guides by the Ministry of Economic Development;
- The macro-economic information provided by the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance;
- Statistics on the Italian economy by the Bank of Italy;
- Italia Startup Visa;
- Registro delle Imprese, for official information on companies based in Italy;
- Calendar of trade fairs in Italy: http://www.calendariofiereinternazionali.it/