Foreign Direct Investments in Emilia-Romagna

Not only many Emilia-Romagna companies have crossed the Italian borders, but the region also has attracted investments from abroad for some time now thanks to its favourable productive environment for businesses. The attraction potential of the regional territory has grown considerably over time: from 2000 to 2004 foreign shareholdings increased by 16.6%.

In comparison with other Italian regions, Emilia-Romagna is among those that attract most investments and companies from abroad: a good gauge to measure the skills of the regional territory in keeping up the pace of globalisation.

Table: Foreign Direct Investments in Emilia-Romagna   
Companies in Emilia-Romagna with participation from abroad
Percentage of companies with foreign major interest
590
88,5%
Employers of the regional companies with participation from abroad
49.473
Turnover of the companies with participation from abroad (mn. of euro)
Percentage of turnover of companies with foreign major interest
20.741
89,1%
Added value of the companies with participation from abroad (mn. of euro)
 4.119
Source: Ervet, database Reprint. Year 2006

Sectors of destination
Foreign investments in region are primarily concentrated in two macro-sectors of the manufacturing industry and wholesale trading. Foreign investment is particularly attracted to the machinery and mechanical appliances manufacturing sector but is also evident in all sectors of industry, in particular those with a high level of innovation.

Countries of origin
The main sources of foreign investment in the region are depicted in the following diagram.

Graph: foreign direct investments in Emilia-Romagna by country of origin (source: Reprint/Politecnico di Milano - ICE - 31/12/2006).

Distribuzione fatturato Investimenti Diretti Esteri in Emilia-Romagna per area di provenienza