Who wants to invest in the Special Economic Zones (Zes) and why it’s worth it
Who was there and what was said at the Unicredit headquarters on the opportunities offered by the Special Economic Zones (Zes)
More than sixty Italian companies potentially interested in investing in the Italian Special Economic Zones (Zes) met at the UniCredit headquarters in Piazza Gae Aulenti to explore the opportunities offered by these areas.
WHAT ARE THE ZES
The Special Economic Zones are eight areas of the South (6 regional, 2 interregional) aimed at promoting economic development and attracting foreign or extra-regional investments with the aim of bridging the territorial gaps in the country, also promoting the development of the infrastructures of the territory, the creation of new jobs and the growth of industrial activities and exports.
They offer companies investing preferential routes, thanks to specific tax breaks and simplified procedures (such as the Single Authorization and the Single Digital Desk) which speed up the process of entrepreneurial settlement initiatives, allowing them to be approved in a few weeks.
MEETINGS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ZES
During the meeting organized by UniCredit, potential investors had bilateral meetings with the Government Commissioners and representatives of the Italian SEZs: Aldo Cadau (ZES Sardinia), Alessandro Di Graziano (ZES Eastern Sicily), Manlio Guadagnolo (ZES Adriatica Interregionale Puglia- Molise), Mauro Miccio (ZES Abruzzo), Giosy Romano (ZES Calabria and ZES Campania), Angela Scianatico representing Floriana Gallucci (ZES Ionian Interregional Puglia-Basilicata) and Simona Benedettini representing Carlo Amenta (ZES Western Sicily).
THE SVIMEZ REPORT
According to the Svimez Studio presented during the day, the new centrality of the Mediterranean, the redefinition of global value chains and the energy, green and digital transitions constitute an important opportunity for the South which can once again become central in the geography of international supply relationships. In this context, the special economic zones are proving to be an effective tool for promoting economic growth and employment in an area of the country which, despite structural difficulties, has areas of specialization in some of the most important high-tech sectors.
In fact, Svimez highlights how the contribution of the South to the areas of "smart specialisation*" is significant, since they absorb 44% of the employees and 53% of the added value and are responsible for 78% of the exports of companies in the South. For Luca Bianchi, Svimez Director "the real challenge of the ZES is to attract national and foreign investments to the South, capable of promoting the expansion and integration of the southern production system into strategic European supply chains, triggering a virtuous circle that can create new qualified employment . In other European experiences and not only the Special Economic Zones have contributed decisively in favoring development processes. This can also happen in Italy, by integrating the bureaucratic simplification and tax incentive interventions envisaged by the ZES with the investment opportunities of the PNRR".
THE SUPPORT OF UNICREDIT
UniCredit has already supported three companies in the ZES areas, for 18 million euros, providing loans to Temi Spa and the Farvima Medicinali Group for the first two investments underway in the Interporto Campano di Nola area, falling within the ZES area of Campania, and in favor of NTET SpA for an investment falling within the Special Economic Zones of Eastern Sicily. The bank, which has signed various protocols with the ZES Commissioners for the development of the territory, intends to be a financial partner of the companies that want to invest in these areas, through the offer of credit and financial instruments and the allocation of the appropriate dedicated ceiling.
"Special economic zones are an important opportunity to increase the development of entrepreneurial activity in the South and a valid alternative for all Italian companies that want to implement their investment projects in our country, also thanks to the expected simplified and speeded up procedure" – explained Remo Taricani , Deputy Head of UniCredit Italia: “As a bank we feel strongly responsible for contributing to the success of the initiative: we are making available our skills, in-depth knowledge of the area and a 6 billion euro ceiling, also intended for businesses operating in the ZES, as part of the new edition of the "UniCredit for Italy" plan to support the country".
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/economia/chi-vuole-investire-nelle-zes-zone-economiche-speciali-e-perche-conviene/ on Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:03:41 +0000.