Message from Ambassadors

Italy as an Investment Destination

Gianluigi BENEDETTI
Ambassador of Italy to Japan
Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti has been serving as the Ambassador of Italy to Japan since 2021. With an extensive
background in international relations, diplomacy, and science and technology, Ambassador Benedetti has played a pivotal
role in strengthening Italy-Japan ties across various sectors. He holds a degree in Law and has previously served in key
diplomatic positions in Washington, D.C., Rome and Tel Aviv, where he was the Italian Ambassador. Ambassador Benedetti’s
deep understanding of both Italian and Japanese cultures and his commitment to fostering economic cooperation make him
an invaluable advocate for enhancing bilateral relations.

2024年 ４ 月、イタリア大使館貿易促進部（ITA）がJOI特別会員に入会しました。入会記念にジャンルイジ・ベネデッティ駐日イタリア大使より、イタリアの主要産業における日本企業の投資機会についてご寄稿いただきました。（JOI編集部より）

Italy, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, stunninglandscapes, and world-class cuisine, is also anexceptional destination for investment. As theAmbassador of Italy to Japan, I am honored to present
some of the most interesting opportunities Italy offers toJapanese investors, emphasizing the potential for amutually beneficial relationship.

Strategic Advantages of Investing in Italy
Italy is the best place where to invest and live.
Italy stands at the crossroads of Europe, Africa,
and the Middle East, making it a strategic gateway for38

2024.7businesses seeking access to these regions. As afounding member of the European Union (EU) and partof the Eurozone, Italy provides seamless access to amarket of over 500 million consumers. This central
location, coupled with a robust infrastructure, positions
Italy as a prime investment hub.
Italy’s economy is characterized by a diverse
industrial base, cutting-edge innovation, and a skilledworkforce. The country is a global leader in several sectors,including - just to mention the most known - machineryand mechatronic, automotive, pharmaceuticals, energy,infrastructures, robotics, agrifood, fashion, and design.
Moreover, Italy’s commitment to research and technology
is evident in its thriving innovation ecosystem, which
includes world-class universities, research institutions, andinnovation hubs.
Italy’s appeal as an investment destination isfurther enhanced by its quality of life. With its richhistory, art, and culture, combined with a favorable
climate and a renowned culinary tradition, Italy offers aunique lifestyle that is attractive to international
investors and expatriates alike. The country’s strategic
location in the heart of the Mediterranean also facilitateseasy access to other European markets, as well as toAfrica and the Middle East.

Investment Opportunities in Key
Sectors
1. Mobility, smart cities and mechatronics:
Italy boasts a long-standing tradition of excellence inthe automotive and transportation sectors, with iconic
brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa
Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, and Vespa. The
country is also renowned for its production of trains andships, integrating advanced manufacturing andengineering expertise. Japanese investors can leverage
Italy’s robust capabilities in these areas to foster
collaboration in developing next-generation vehicles,
including electric and hybrid models. Furthermore,
Italy’s focus on sustainable mobility solutions extends
to its significant investments in modernizinginfrastructure, emphasizing the development of smartcities. This initiative aims to enhance urban sustainability
and quality of life through innovative technologies inmobility, energy management, and public services,
particularly in cities like Milan and Turin. At the base of
the success in the mobility areas, lays the Italiancompetence in the sectors of machinery and mechatronics- where mechanical engineering, electronics, computerscience, and control engineering converge - which offer
other promising opportunities for investment. Japanesecompanies with expertise in smart technologies,
infrastructure development, and mechatronics can play acrucial role in these transformative projects, contributing toa more sustainable and technologically advanced Italy.
2. Aerospace:
With leading aerospace companies such as Leonardo,AVIO, AVIO Aero, Piaggio Aero, Thales Alenia Space
Italia (TASI), MERMEC, and a thriving ecosystem ofsmall and medium companies active in the sector, Italy
is one of the European key players in the aerospace andsatellites industry. The aerospace industry has anincreasingly important role in Italy’s economicdevelopment. The Italian Aviation Industry ranks 4th inEurope and 7th in the world by size, with leadership
positions in civil helicopters, regional aircraft andpropulsion. The technological skills and know-how of
Italian aeronautics and space companies, combinedwith the increasingly advanced technological knowledge
in production processes, have become critical growth
drivers for Italy in the sector. Italy has a long tradition in
the aerospace industry: it was the first country in theworld to build a certified convertiplane for civilian use,
was the third country in the world to launch a satellite
into orbit, and more than half of the pressurized volumeof the international module at the International Space
Station was made in Italy.
Home to numerous key industrial players and multinationals

3. Renewable Energy and Hydrogen:
Italy is at the forefront of the renewable energy
transition, with significant investments in solar, wind,and geothermal energy. The Italian government’s
ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions presentnumerous opportunities for Japanese companies
specializing in green technologies. Joint ventures inrenewable energy projects can leverage Italy’s naturalresources and Japan’s technological prowess to create
sustainable solutions. The development of offshore
wind farms and the expansion of solar power capacities
are areas where Japanese companies can makesignificant contributions, benefiting from Italy’sfavorable policies and incentives for renewable energy
investments.
Italy is aiming to establish a hydrogen economy byintegrating production, storage, and utilization of greenhydrogen. Japanese companies like Toyota andMitsubishi, with their advanced hydrogen technologies,
are well-positioned to participate in this initiative,
contributing to the decarbonization of Italy’s industrial
sector, creating a comprehensive hydrogen supply
2024.739chain, from production to end-use applications, offering
numerous opportunities for collaboration andtechnological exchange.
In particular, Southern Italy offers vast potential
for solar energy development due to its favorable
climate. Japanese companies specializing in solar
technologies can invest in large-scale solar power
plants, contributing to Italy’s renewable energy goals
and benefiting from attractive incentives provided by
the Italian government. The region’s high solar
insolation levels and supportive regulatory framework
make it an excellent investment destination for solar
energy projects. Collaborations in this area can also
include the development of innovative energy storage
solutions to enhance the reliability and efficiency ofsolar power systems.
Top 4 Countries for the production of green H2 technologies

4. Life Sciences, Medical and Biotechnology:
Italy’s life sciences sector is one of the most dynamic inEurope, with a strong focus on pharmaceuticals,biotechnology, and medical devices. The country offersa conducive environment for R&D activities, supported
by a robust regulatory framework and access to a vastpatient population. Japanese investors can collaborate
with Italian companies to develop innovative healthcare
solutions and expand their presence in the Europeanmarket. Italy is a prime location for such collaborations,offering a strong network of research institutions,
hospitals, and companies dedicated to healthcare
innovation.
Japanese investors can join forces with Italianfirms to develop cutting-edge medical devices andtreatments, leveraging their strong network of research
institutions and healthcare providers. Italy is home toseveral leading companies and research centersspecializing in biopharmaceuticals, regenerative
402024.7

medicine, and medical diagnostics, making it an ideal
location for collaborative R&D projects.
Number of Italian Biotech Firms (2013-2022)

Source: ASSOBIOTEC Federchimica (2022)

5. Semiconductors:
Italy is home to one of the most competitive and cuttingedge semiconductor industries in Europe, characterized
by a network of enterprises carrying out manufacturing
as well as research activities of semiconductors,operating at the support of key technology leading
sectors such as ICT, automotive, robotics and energy.
Italy is highly committed to enhancing its strategic role
as a key European hub for the design, manufacturing,assembly, testing and packaging of semiconductors. In
Italy, a virtuous interaction between industry andacademia sustains competitive advantages that makes
Italy a fertile semiconductor ecosystem thanks to thepresence of numerous world-leading semiconductor
companies throughout the supply chain and a greatscience and research capabilities. From Italy, it ispossible to capture fast growing chips markets such as
automotive, industrial and defense, where the EU has astrong competitive advantage. Additionally, Italy gives
the possibility to reach vast markets, including the EU,
North Africa and the Middle East.
6. Agrifood:
Italy is a renowned world leader in the Agri-Food
Industry, distinguished by its long-standing food-based
culture and traditional vocation for food safety andquality. Our country is, in fact, characterized by great
territorial and climatic diversity that influenced thegrowth and diffusion of exceptionally varied and uniqueproducts: from fruits and vegetables to grains andlegumes, not to mention meat, fish, oil and wine. The
agri-food industry is organized by an extended valuechain, involving multiple actors highly interconnected.
There are many small companies, often family-owned,focused on enhancing the uniqueness of their products.
Therefore, Italian Food Industries rely on specialized
industrial clusters and consortiums, which provide a
unified identity and reinforce enterprises’ marketpositioning. International players are offered theopportunity to locate their businesses at the heart of a
dynamic and competitive environment. With a welldeveloped network of enterprises, Italy has the mostextensive industrial base of enterprises specialized in
Food&Beverage manufacturing in EU. In particular,
Italian Food Industries rely on specialized industrial
clusters and consortiums, which provide a unified
identity, reinforce enterprises’ market positioning, andfoster industry growth. By investing in Italy, international
food players have the opportunity to locate theirbusinesses at the heart of a dynamic and competitiveenvironment.

By investing in Italy, Japanese companies can gain
access to a strategic market, benefit from Italy’s
innovative environment, and contribute to sustainablegrowth. The Italian government is committed tosupporting foreign investors through favorable policies,
tax incentives, and a transparent regulatory framework.
These initiatives are designed to create a businessfriendly environment that encourages foreign direct
investment and fosters long-term economic partnerships.
Finally, Italy’s commitment to sustainability,innovation, and quality makes it an attractive destination
for Japanese investors seeking new opportunities in astable and dynamic market.
ITA’s support

Building a Win-Win Relationship
Italy and Japan share a strong foundation of diplomaticand political friendship, cultural exchange, economic
and commercial cooperation, and mutual respect thatlast over 150 years. Our bilateral relations have beenelevated to a “Strategic Partnership” in January 2023 by
the Head of the Governments Giorgia Meloni andFumio Kishida, opening an era of stronger collaboration,
particularly in the scientific and industrial sectors. To
this end, the existing “Italy-Japan Business Group”, an
open-ended forum for networking and exchanges ofinformation, has been relaunched and given the role ofa permanent platform to facilitate and promote businessexchanges.

お問い合わせJOI 事業企画部
E-mail: bd@joi.or.jp

イタリア大使館貿易促進部（ITA）投資デスク
E-mail: fdi.tokyo@ice.it

http://www.ice-tokyo.or.jp/fdi

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