ZES, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

Already present in different parts of the world, the SEZSpecial Economic Zones, finally land also in Italy.

What is it about? The SEZ they are selected geographic areas in which instruments and facilities are provided for the economic stakeholders who operate there.

This measure is an integral part of the South Decree of 2017, which also includes the requirements that these areas must have in order to be ZES and to benefit from all the facilities provided. In particular: "SEZ means a geographically delimited and clearly identified area, located within the borders of the State, also made up of non-territorially adjacent areas as long as they have a functional economic link, and which includes at least a port area with the characteristics established by the regulation (EU ) n. 1315 of 11 December 2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, connected to the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). For the exercise of economic and entrepreneurial activities, companies already operating and those that will settle in the SEZ can benefit from special conditions, in relation to the incremental nature of investments and business development activities ".

In reality, the requirements and procedures for requesting and implementing a SEZ in our country they are much more detailed than the extract proposed in this article; but our goal is to analyze the real advantages presented by this measure.

In short, new and existing companies established in the SEZ, which will start or increase entrepreneurial economic activities in the SEZ, will first of all benefit from:

  • simplified administrative procedures;
  • access to existing infrastructures and foreseen in the Strategic Development Plan of the SEZ.

the concessions and benefits granted to the economic operators of the SEZ are however subject to two main conditions of realization:

  • the beneficiary companies must maintain their activity in the SEZ for at least seven years after the completion of the investment subject to the subsidies, otherwise the benefits granted and enjoyed will be revoked;
  • the beneficiary companies must not be in a state of liquidation or dissolution.

All the opportunities offered by the Special Economic Zone

GUIDELINES

The main priorities are the enhancement of Italian excellence in the scientific and innovation sector accompanied by the exponential growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, with an opening to the globalization process, thanks to the Extraordinary Plan for Made in Italy:, which aims to ensure continuity of the business internationalization strategy, and the “Vivere all'Italiana” plan, with the aim of integrating the economic-commercial dimension with the projection of Italian culture abroad.

China, the United States, Japan, Canada, Russia and India are the nations towards which real industrial plans have been adopted to support exports and internationalization; while for support activities at both the financial and insurance levels, priority markets such as Qatar and Azerbaijan were considered.

Made in Italy as an absolute priority for the growth of exports as a leading sector of the Italian economy.

EXPORT IN THE SIGHT

Some social and demographic developments in fact make it attractive for Italian companies in the markets until now only marginally recipients of our exports, with the opening of new scenarios and with the concrete and real possibility of significantly recovering the areas in the process of depopulation through forms internationalization of territories.

The 2019-2021 Business Plan, approved on 5 December 2018, provided for the mobilization of 83 billion euros for the growth of businesses, of which over half for supporting the export, setting itself the goal of tripling the number of beneficiaries to China thanks to the issue of Panda Bond; on the part of China, the interest in the SEZs of the Italian South mainly concerns the possibility of contributing to the strengthening of the role of logistic platforms linked, precisely to the Silk Road. A factor of primary importance, the latter, for the development of the regions covered by the SEZ.

THE OBJECTIVES

The main objective is therefore to attracting companies from all over the world to the Italian territory and the SEZ regions, modus operandi at the basis of the road shows (official presentation of a company that is about to be listed on the stock market) organized by Banca Intesa Sanpaolo, to present the “Zes project” first in Dubai and then in China.

Intesa Sanpaolo has supported the ZES project and program, both economically and with targeted actions and plans over time, since its inception in 2017.

After all, as explained, the potential is enormous from a myriad of points of view: according to estimates, in fact, the Special Economic Zones will be able to generate a increase in exports of about 40% and, through public investment, there will be a multiplier effect on a 3: 1 scale of capital for the benefit of port and interchange systems branching off from the Mediterranean; on the trail of Intesa Sanpaolo has also moved Unicredit which is preparing to support, starting from this year, a road show for Austrian investors, aimed at presenting the opportunities that this project represents for the internationalization of the territories.

Companies, territories, banks and national and international institutions are therefore fully involved in a project destined to give a powerful boost to the South, most likely a protagonist of unprecedented exponential growth in the coming years.