Italy

In 2018, Scotland sold £880 million worth of exports to Italy. This is 2.6% of Scotland’s total international exports. Scottish exports to Italy have increased by 32.6% since 2013, an increase of £215 million.

The benefits of selling to Italy

The World Bank rates Italy as the 58th easiest country in the world to do business with.

Italy’s a good place to export to because it:

• has a good manufacturing sector
• is open to new ideas for products and services
• gives opportunities to export to the Mediterranean and the Middle East

It’s also a good place for Scottish businesses to export to because:

• it has similar regulations to the UK
• UK brands are trusted there
• it has good transport links such as low cost flights

What we could sell more of

A Trading Nation uses evidence to work out what Scotland could sell more of.

In Italy, the key sectors where Scotland could sell more are:

• financial services
• food
• chemical sciences
• computer and information technology services
• machinery and equipment
• the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products
• transport equipment

Help with exporting in Italy

Scottish Development International offices

Scottish Development International have an office in Milan. They have one staff member who’s focussed on industries that produce consumer goods.

GlobalScot

The GlobalScot network has 4 experts in Italy covering:

• financial services
• energy

We’re going to expand the GlobalScot network in Italy.

Department for International Trade

You can contact the Department for International Trade team in Italy to find opportunities for doing business there.

Chamber of Commerce

The British Chamber of Commerce in Italy can offer members:

• business support
• advice
• introductions

They have groups in:

• Campania
• Emilia Romagna
• Friuli Venezia Giulia
• Lazio
• Puglia
• Sicilia
• Toscana
• Veneto

You can find more help with exporting.

You can also find more information on exporting to Italy in A Trading Nation.