Attracting capital to theItaly, accompany Italian companies in Gulf markets and build partnerships for joint projects in third countries, with particular attention to Africa. These are the objectives of the roadshow CDP Group in the Gulf countries, which concluded Thursday in Jeddah after stops in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. The mission represented a further step in the process of strengthening economic and financial relations between Italy and the Gulf area, transforming consolidated institutional relationships into operational collaborations aimed at generating long-term investments and opportunities.
The delegation of Cdp and Simest, led by the CEO of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Dario Scannapieco, met with some of the major sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors and development banks in the area. Doha Meetings with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Qatar Development Bank (QDB), and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) allowed for a deeper exploration of collaborative opportunities in the areas of investment, trade, business support, and industrial development. These meetings brought Qatari capital into contact with the CDP Group's investment platforms and with an already significant Italian industrial presence in the energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and shipbuilding sectors. The goal was to open a new phase of select opportunities by establishing a stable and long-lasting collaboration.
CDP, agreements with the Gulf countries
Ad Abu Dhabi, with meetings with Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Lunate, Imad Holding Company and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the foundations were laid for a permanent relationship between the two economic systems: on the one hand, new co-investment opportunities, on the other, a stable channel to support the establishment of Italian companies in the Emirates.
A RiyadhMeetings with the National Development Fund (NDF), the Federation of Saudi Chambers, SNB Capital, Modon, Tadawul Group, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the Saudi Central Bank explored opportunities for collaboration in the areas of investment, industrial development, capital markets, and business support. The discussions also explored potential synergies within Vision 2030, the Saudi reform plan to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil, attract investment, and involve Italian companies in the country's major economic transformation projects.
A JeddahThe meeting with the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) allowed for the launch of the first operational initiatives envisaged in the agreement signed in 2025, with particular reference to development and infrastructure projects in Africa. A visit to King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), one of the country's main industrial and logistics hubs, allowed for its evaluation as a platform for Italian companies to enter the Saudi market. Finally, the delegation met with Zahid Group, one of the country's leading industrial and commercial operators, to explore opportunities for collaboration and industrial development.
Furthermore, during the mission two agreements were signed in Riyadh: Memorandum of UnderstandingThe first, with the National Development Fund (NDF), strengthens the collaboration initiated in 2025. The goal is to support industrial investments and the establishment of Italian companies in Saudi Arabia, while also facilitating SMEs' access to local supply chains through CDP and SIMEST instruments. The agreement also paves the way for the creation of thematic funds and the co-financing of projects in third countries, particularly in Africa.
The second agreement, with the Federation of Saudi Chambers, is dedicated to businesses. It aims to promote the CDP Business Matching platform to foster new collaborations between Italian and Saudi companies and to accompany Italian companies in the opportunities linked to the country's major projects, starting with Expo 2030 RiyadhThe parties will also appoint dedicated representatives to provide ongoing support to businesses and investors, with particular attention to SMEs.
CDP, what Scannapieco said
CEO Scannapieco stated: "With this mission, we have further strengthened our dialogue with some of the key economic and financial players in the Gulf, an increasingly strategic region for investment and the international growth of businesses. The two agreements signed in Riyadh and the discussions with the region's major investors confirm our desire to build concrete and lasting partnerships, capable of generating value for Italy and new opportunities for our production system. CDP intends to continue to play the role of Italian System platform, connecting capital, businesses and development projects, also thanks to the valuable support of the Italian diplomatic network".
