SMEs: Intesa Sanpaolo supports business development with the Western Balkans
Intesa Sanpaolo is supporting closer ties between the countries of the Western Balkans and the European Union, yielding benefits in terms of opportunities for Italian SMEs, as well as the development of local economies, through financial instruments encouraging growth and integration into global value chains, including in the greater Mediterranean.
Intesa Sanpaolo's established presence in the Western Balkans makes it a strategic financial partner. Through its International Subsidiary Banks Division, the Group is present in Serbia, Albania and Bosnia with:
- 1.7 million customers
- €10 billion in assets
- over 4,000 people
- more than 200 branches
The Group's presence has made it possible to build strong local relationships with institutions and key players in economic and civil life.
Promoting Italy's role in the region's European integration process was the subject of the conference "Italy and the Western Balkans: Growth and Integration" organised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which took place on 24 January 2023 in Trieste and was attended by Marco Elio Rottigni, Chief International Subsidiary Banks Division of Intesa Sanpaolo
“The Intesa Sanpaolo Group‘s deep-rooted presence in the region can be a real 'bridge to Italy', benefiting the development of local economies and the growth of Italian SMEs, which best represent Italian business to the world."
Marco Elio Rottigni, Chief of the International Subsidiary Banks Division, Intesa Sanpaolo
Intesa Sanpaolo supports the vision of a "Mediterranean partnership" and the focus on the Balkan area is part of the Group's broader development strategy in the greater Mediterranean region, which, from a supply chain perspective, also includes the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and is becoming increasingly important: in fact, the Mediterranean represents 1% of the earth's seas but 20% of the world's maritime traffic and 27% of container shipping services pass through it.
The tools made available by Intesa Sanpaolo to companies in the Euro-Mediterranean region include, for example, the Supply Chain Development Programme, which supports them throughout the entire supply financial cycle, due in part to the extension of international confirming that has connected seven different countries since 2022: Italy, Slovakia, Serbia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Albania. Programmes are also planned to finance and support SMEs active in agribusiness, which are crucial in the economies of the Balkan countries and enjoy significant growth opportunities.
In addition, the collaboration between Intesa Sanpaolo's International Subsidiary Banks Division and IMI Commercial & Investment Banking Division enables it to support corporate clients and financial institutions in the growth and internationalisation of their business by ensuring comprehensive advisory and operational support for their investment banking and structured finance needs.
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Last updated 27 January 2023 at 09:31:45
