by InTrieste
In a bid to bolster its economy, Friuli Venezia Giulia has embarked on a concerted effort to attract foreign investment and talent, with promising outcomes beginning to emerge. According to recent statements by Sergio Emidio Bini, the region’s Assessor for Business Activities, a series of initiatives are showing early signs of success.
Speaking at the “Selecting Italy” roundtable discussion titled “New businesses and new potentials. Tools and successful systems for attracting innovative businesses and talents,” Bini highlighted key statistics indicating a positive trend. Notably, there has been a 6.8% increase in companies with international capital operating in the region in the post-Covid period. Additionally, there has been a 3.8% rise in the number of large companies choosing to establish themselves in Friuli Venezia Giulia over the past year.
Central to the region’s strategy has been the establishment of the Agency for Labor & Business Development, tasked with aggressively recruiting companies interested in investing in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Bini emphasized the agency’s vigorous efforts in this regard, which have already yielded significant results.
One of the linchpins of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s approach has been the SviluppoImpresa law, described by Bini as the most substantial operation of rationalization and simplification of the regional subsidized credit system in half a century. This initiative has seen a substantial injection of funds, with a total of 1540 financial interventions amounting to approximately 1.4 billion euros in subsidized loans between 2018 and 2023.
Notably, Friuli Venezia Giulia’s subsidized credit system stands out as unique within Italy, thanks in part to a proactive decision to notify the European Commission of a special regime of derogations from ordinary rules on aids, citing current energy and geopolitical crises.
The region’s attractive loan terms, offering fixed rates as low as 1.20% or variable rates reduced by up to 65% for small businesses, have been instrumental in enticing investment. Moreover, recent months have seen a record allocation of 135 million euros to subsidized credit, demonstrating a continued commitment to fostering economic growth.
In addition to supporting established enterprises, Friuli Venezia Giulia has been nurturing its start-up ecosystem. With 226 innovative start-ups, accounting for 1.7% of the national total, and an even higher concentration in Trieste, the region is positioning itself as a hub for entrepreneurial activity.
To further bolster this sector, the region has established a regional guarantee fund for venture capital investments, aimed at both supporting existing start-ups and encouraging the emergence of new initiatives.
As Friuli Venezia Giulia continues to implement measures aimed at attracting talent and high-profile competencies, the region looks poised to cement its status as an attractive destination for investment and innovation.
