PRESS RELEASE

INTESA SANPAOLO AND CONFINDUSTRIA, TOGETHER WITH SACE, SIMEST AND ICE, INTRODUCE NEW MEASURES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SMES

CREDIT OF 30 BILLION EUROS AND AGREEMENTS WITH FOREIGN BANKS FOR A LONG-TERM PUBLIC-PRIVATE SYNERGY

• Intesa Sanpaolo is promoting commercial agreements with leading banking operators in France, India and Brazil to support SMEs in global markets
• Innovative solutions with SACE and SIMEST (CDP Group) to increase exports of machinery and capital goods, which account for 18% of Italian exports
• The Banca dei Territori Division supports 90,000 SMEs through all stages of their international development, thanks to a network of over 300 dedicated specialists and the Group’s presence in 40 countries, complemented by local partners in more than 140 strategic regions

Rome, November 4, 2024 – Intesa Sanpaolo is launching a new synergistic and integrated initiative together with Confindustria, SACE, SIMEST (CDP Group) and ICE, consolidating the model for supporting Italian SMEs abroad. The new proposal for the internationalization and export support of Italian companies was signed today in Rome, a concrete commitment that brings together public-sector entities and the private sector to foster long-term synergies.

Promoted by the Banca dei Territori Division, led by Stefano Barrese, the initiative aims to identify new growth drivers and pathways for Italian competitiveness in light of the geopolitical context and its impact on foreign trade. It is reinforced by the availability of €30 billion in credit to be provided by the Bank over the next three years and by the signing of new agreements with leading banks in France, India and Brazil, designed to provide Italian companies with operational and financial support in key growth markets.

An integrated model of partnerships established by Intesa Sanpaolo to further strengthen its strategy of supporting businesses through resources to support investments, the expansion of international banking collaborations, and the enhancement of financial solutions and services dedicated to exports.

The new initiative responds to the needs of SMEs to simplify and promote solutions to the growing complexities of global markets, aiming to redefine trade balances through investments and new financing, reducing time and costs, and providing specialized expertise within an integrated system of financial, insurance, consulting and promotional solutions at the service of businesses, in consistent alignment with the programs of the country's economic and diplomatic agenda.

The goal of the Group, led by CEO Carlo Messina and shared by Confindustria, SACE, Simest and ICE, is therefore to support companies in diversifying markets, managing risks and building an increasingly solid and competitive presence in global value chains.

The 5 pillars

The agreement is structured along five pillars, leveraging synergies with Confindustria, SACE, Simest and ICE to provide SMEs with dynamic and integrated support in international markets:

• New credit amounting to 30 billion euros over the next three years, made available by Intesa Sanpaolo for loans aimed at incentivizing exports, foreign direct investment and production projects carried out in Italy that support international growth.
• Partnerships with leading local banks, already established by Intesa Sanpaolo in France, India and Brazil – and to be extended to other emerging regions by the first half of 2027 – to provide operational support in the target countries, from the management of payments and collections to cash management and banking relationships for Italian companies with subsidiaries, production units and sales branches in international regions.
• Search for new international customers and partners through collaboration with ICE and the use of the new Connecting Markets platform developed by Intesa Sanpaolo's Banca dei Territori, which enables SMEs to identify new customers, suppliers and industrial partners in over 170 countries.
• Support for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through the integration of the Bank's financial solutions with Simest's equity loans and subordinated loans for the creation and expansion of production facilities, sales offices and logistics hubs abroad.
• Support for the export of machinery and capital goods, a sector that accounts for 18% of total Italian exports. A new Intesa Sanpaolo solution that enables exporting companies to advance liquidity for supplies with deferred payment thanks to synergies with SACE – through the Supplier Credit Policy to cover commercial and political risks – and with Simest, through the interest subsidy to enable Italian companies to offer more competitive payment terms to foreign buyers. The offering is rounded out by Trading Company services, which oversee the entire international supply process, from the purchase of goods from the Italian exporter to their subsequent resale to the foreign customer, including logistical, financial and customs aspects. Thanks to our partnership with Grenke, operating lease solutions for assets are also available to international buyers.

The event to present the new agreement, which took place this morning in Rome, was opened by Anna Roscio, Executive Director of Corporate Sales & Marketing for Intesa Sanpaolo's Banca dei Territori Division, who outlined the key points of the agreement to support SMEs in global markets. This was followed by a speech by Gregorio De Felice, Chief Economist of Intesa Sanpaolo, who discussed the outlook for the Italian economy and the role of SMEs in the country's growth. The following then took the floor: Barbara Cimmino, Confindustria Vice President for Exports and Investment Attraction, Regina Corradini D’Arienzo, CEO and General Manager of SIMEST, Michele Pignotti, CEO of SACE, and Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE, who explored the opportunities, tools and strategies for strengthening the presence of Italian SMEs in international markets. The event concluded with a discussion between Stefano Barrese, Head of Intesa Sanpaolo’s Banca dei Territori Division, and Emanuele Orsini, President of Confindustria, who reiterated the importance of ever-closer collaboration between financial institutions, the industrial sector and public stakeholders to support the competitiveness and international growth of Made in Italy.

Businesses at the heart of the collaboration with Confindustria

The agreement further develops the collaboration between Intesa Sanpaolo and Confindustria – with which the bank already signed an agreement in 2025 – to support the competitiveness of Italian companies. The new synergy will enable greater involvement of SMEs in roadshows, webinars and information sessions, to promote the available tools and raise awareness of opportunities in international markets. This approach aims to combine information, training and operational support, while maintaining a direct link with the business community to constantly listen to its needs.

Intesa Sanpaolo's international experience at the service of SMEs

Thanks to the agreement, Intesa Sanpaolo is expanding the tools and cooperation network of its model for supporting companies in the various stages of internationalization, from researching new markets to coordinating import/export operations, from making investments abroad to managing the finances of foreign subsidiaries. This model leverages more than 300 Banca dei Territori specialists dedicated to international business and a wide range of financial solutions and tools dedicated to serving approximately 90,000 corporate clients operating in international markets. The Banking Group also has an international presence in more than 40 countries through its network of banks, branches and representative offices, and a network of local partners in over 140 strategic territories. 

Trade missions abroad: a model of direct support

Intesa Sanpaolo’s international experience is also expressed through trade missions abroad, where SMEs meet customers, technology partners, investors and local institutions. In recent years, the Bank has accompanied Italian companies to China, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. Significant missions have also already been carried out in Silicon Valley in collaboration with INNOVIT, the innovation hub of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, facilitating Italian companies’ access to U.S. technology and financial ecosystems.

“Our companies are extraordinary, but today they are facing a new, growing level of complexity that risks undermining their competitiveness and, more generally, the growth of our country. International development is a key to the success of Made in Italy, which is why public and private stakeholders must work together to maintain the excellence of our industry worldwide,”explains Stefano Barrese, Head of the Banca dei Territori Division at Intesa Sanpaolo.Over the past three years, we have provided more than €19 billion to support international activities and managed over 1,000 projects to assist companies abroad. With a new credit facility of 30 billion euros and the expansion of our commercial network even to areas where we are not present, we combine strong financial capacity with undisputed local proximity and a strengthened international presence. The synergies with Confindustria, SACE, Simest and ICE are the backbone of a new economic strategy aimed at supporting businesses and transforming internationalization into a structural path of growth and competitiveness.”

“Geopolitics has changed profoundly, and with it, the balance of international trade. The challenge for Italian industry is not only to export more, but also to have greater influence in global markets. We must strengthen the presence of our companies in international supply chains, build strategic industrial partnerships, especially with emerging countries, and seize the opportunities offered by their major development and investment plans. Trade agreements are essential, but they are not enough on their own: we need concrete tools to turn opportunities into growth, especially for SMEs. The Agreement that we are signing today with Intesa Sanpaolo, SACE, SIMEST and ICE is a step in this direction, strengthening the ability of the Italian system to support companies in foreign markets. Because being stronger globally means having a stronger industry in Italy, capable of generating investment, development and employment,” said Emanuele Orsini, President of Confindustria.

Regina Corradini D’Arienzo, CEO of SIMEST, states: “The initiative launched with Intesa Sanpaolo represents a strategic step to strengthen support for Italian companies, with a particular focus on SMEs, through increasingly targeted and innovative services that can help them meet the challenges of international markets. The collaboration with one of the country's leading financial players makes it possible to integrate skills, resources and tools, developing customized solutions to support companies' international growth projects, which are to be identified and evaluated together from the earliest stages, even starting from a simple project idea. In this context, SIMEST's presence in key international regions further strengthens the partnership, helping to facilitate access to foreign markets and guiding companies in overcoming bureaucratic complexities and trade barriers. The initiative is fully in line with the coordinated action of the Italian System, which, under the leadership of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sees CDP, SIMEST, SACE, ICE and the industrial associations working in synergy, together with the other players in the national financial and production system. It is through this ability to work as a system, with a shared vision and an integrated approach, that we can strengthen companies across all supply chains, including smaller ones that are not yet present in foreign markets, supporting them with ever closer guidance toward the tangible opportunities offered by international markets.”

“A strong national system makes companies stronger abroad,” said SACE CEO Michele Pignotti. “When institutions, banks, insurance companies and business associations work in a coordinated manner, companies can count on more expertise, more relationships and more tools to address their growth decisions. With this understanding, which is central to our SACE50 strategic plan, we renew our commitment today alongside Intesa, Confindustria, Simest and ICE. Together, we make the strength of the system a tangible resource for businesses, especially SMEs, and contribute to achieving Italy’s international growth objectives.”

Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE, stated: “The agreement with Intesa Sanpaolo and Confindustria strengthens the operations of the Italian System, which places us at the forefront of promoting the exports of Italian companies, together with SACE and SIMEST, as part of the Growth Diplomacy initiative launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2025, ICE supported nearly 14,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in their internationalization process, with an upward trend in the current year. The partnership with the banking system, and in particular with an institution that is deeply rooted in the country, such as Intesa Sanpaolo, provides additional tools and resources to work toward the government’s target of €700 billion in exports by next year”.

Press information

Intesa Sanpaolo
Media and Associations Relations
Banca dei Territori and Local Media
stampa@intesasanpaolo.com

Intesa Sanpaolo
Intesa Sanpaolo, with more than €1.5 trillion in Customer Financial Assets and a loan book of nearly €440 billion at the end of September 2026, is the largest banking group in Italy, with a significant international presence. It is a European leader in Wealth Management, and operates an integrated Advisory, Asset Management and Protection platform, built on fully owned product factories and distribution networks working under full strategic control. Through its International Banks division, Intesa Sanpaolo operates commercial banks in 12 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Egypt. Through its IMI Corporate & Investment Banking division, the Group is present in 23 countries where it facilitates the cross-border activities of its customers. With a world-class position in social impact, Intesa Sanpaolo is also committed to decarbonization and to supporting clients in the sustainable transition. The Bank’s network of museums, the Gallerie d’Italia, hosts its owned artistic heritage and cultural projects of recognized value.
News: group.intesasanpaolo.com/en/newsroom
X: @intesasanpaolo
Substack: https://ispbriefly.substack.com/