The Italian economy, valued at over EUR 650 billion or one-third of the GDP, has shown resilience amid geopolitical uncertainties but holds potential for further growth. This can be achieved by increasing the share of exporting SMEs, exploring new African and Asian markets, addressing digitalization, energy transition, and sustainability, leveraging Italian communities abroad, and better utilizing the institutional network for internationalization. These insights emerged from the Made in Italy Pre-Summit 2024, titled "New markets, global trade shifts," a digital event organized by Il Sole 24 Ore, in collaboration with Financial Times and Sky TG 24. The event served as a precursor to the Made in Italy Summit starting October 1st, focusing on new challenges and opportunities for Italian exports in a multipolar world marked by Middle East and Ukraine crises. Participants from politics, business, media, academia, and institutions discussed a sector expected to grow by 3.7% this year, 4.5% in 2025, and an average of 4.2% in the following two years, reaching EUR 679 billion in 2025, as per SACE's analysis.
Opening remarks were made by Fabio Tamburini (Il Sole 24 Ore), Alec Russell (Financial Times), and Giuseppe De Bellis (Sky TG24).
The first panel, featuring Amy Kazmin and Gideon Rachman from Financial Times, discussed the impact of geopolitics on global trade. A session on "Prospects for Italian Exports in the New Multipolar World," moderated by Morya Longo (Il Sole 24 Ore) and Mariangela Pira (Sky TG24), included Marina Benedetti (SACE), Alessandro Gili (ISPI), and Mario Pozza (Assocamerestero). Benedetti highlighted that Italian exports are growing, projected to reach EUR 679 billion in 2025, with a 4.1% average annual growth. Key markets include Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Turkey, Serbia, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, India, China, Vietnam, and Singapore. Mario Pozza emphasized the strong performance of Italian exports in Europe and many non-European markets, with the Italian Chamber of Commerce abroad estimating the added value generated by the Made in Italy brand at EUR 60 billion. The event concluded with a focus on "Accelerating the Digitalization of SMEs to Harness AI Opportunities," stressing the need for significant investment in digital infrastructure and AI to maintain global competitiveness.
