IOE launches free Doing Business in Italy Guide

The ‘Doing Business in Italy Guide’ is now officially live and can be accessed via: www.Italy.DoingBusinessGuide.co.uk.

The main objective of the Doing Business in Italy Guide is to provide you with basic knowledge about Italy; an overview of its economy, business culture, potential opportunities and to identify the main issues associated with initial research, market entry, risk management and cultural and language issues. We do not pretend to provide all the answers in the guide, but novice exporters in particular will find it a useful starting point. Further assistance is available from the Department for International Trade (DIT) team in Italy. Full contact details are available in this guide.

To help your business succeed in Italy we have carefully selected a variety of essential service providers as ‘Market Experts’; Arup, AST Language Services, Babino, Falcone & Falcone Avvocati Associati, Bibby Financial Services, Companies in Europe Ltd (Italia), Jaguar Land Rover Italia, and The British School of Milan. The guide has been produced by International Market Advisor, in partnership with the Institute of Export, and with support from UK Export Finance.

Anyone interested in trading with Italy can now visit the website; download a PDF or e-Flipbook version; download an app (from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store); or request full colour, hard-copy brochures (by emailing us). Five things to know about exporting to Italy:

• Italy’s economy is now emerging from recession. Estimates by the European Commission, Bank of Italy, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicate an increase in GDP of 1.1 to 1.4% in 2016
• One third of the world’s luxury items are made in Italy. This fashion and textile sector has an estimated value of EUR 52.5 billion (2014), and one of the highest purchase rates of fashion items in the world. British fashion brands often consider Italy as a gateway to other foreign markets.
• Italy is the global leader in the production of super yachts with 40% of global orders. Italy’s shipbuilding industry includes many other sub-sectors which offer good opportunities for UK suppliers.
• The Italian aerospace industry is the third largest in Europe and the seventh worldwide. The sector has a turnover of EUR 13 billion, exports worth EUR 7 billion, and over 100 hundred companies with 64,000 direct and indirect employees.
• The Italian National Health System (SSN) is going through an in-depth reform and modernisation process. There are opportunities for UK companies in innovative equipment and medical devices, diagnostic (portable) equipment and kits, innovative daily life-aids for elderly and disabled, e-care and e-health devices, food supplements and dietary foods.

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