Understanding St. Paul continues its mission to support the Italian SMEs, opening new business horizons in the United Arab Emirates. A Dubai, the first took place international mission 2025 of Bank of the Territories, with the aim of strengthening the presence of the Made in Italy: in foreign markets and accompany Italian SMEs towards new development routes.
The mission involved 15 Italian SMEs of the sectors Food-Agritech e Home System, offering them the opportunity to meet Emirati partners, explore potential collaborations and access a strategic market. During the event, Intesa Sanpaolo announced agreements and Simest, Sace e Ice to support small and medium-sized Italian companies in their internationalization projects.
Around 45 thousand SMEs are supported by Intesa Sanpaolo in their foreign trade activities, of which around 8.000 already operate with the United Arab Emirates. Among the 15 companies who participated in the mission to Dubai: Imola Ceramics Cooperative, Farmaflor Group, Fpd, Geocart, Buoninfante Industrial Group, The true flavours of Etna, Krill Design, Mancuso Vincenzo & C., Master Italy, Oropan, Pasta Factory Riscossa Brothers Mastromauro, reminder, Rega Food, Tasty Italy, Thermokey.
Intesa: new agreements to support Italian SMEs
During the mission in Dubai, agreements were signed agreements with Simest, Sace e Ice, designed to offer Italian SMEs financial tools and commercial support to promote international expansion. In detail:
- Intesa Sanpaolo-Simest: the first agreement concerns a collaboration between Intesa Sanpaolo and Simest (Cdp) that offers Italian SMEs subsidized financing to support the digital and ecological transition, in addition to capital strengthening. A second agreement is also planned that provides for direct investments with Simest, through participation in the capital of foreign companies, thus completing the investment plans with subsidized financing.
- Understanding San Paolo Sace: the agreement with Sace, the company of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, allows SMEs to access guarantees for investments, working capital and acquisitions. The Master Risk Participation Agreement will provide contractual guarantees and additional financing for the acquisition of new orders, both nationally and internationally.
- Intesa Sanpaolo - Ice: the agreement with Ice, the Agency for the promotion of Italian companies abroad, provides for joint activities to support SMEs in accessing international markets. The agreement includes training, consultancy, participation in international events and the search for strategic solutions to attract foreign investors.
The words of Stefano Barrese
“The synergic work with economic diplomacy, with Simest, Sace and Ice allows us to combine the best skills to serve the international success of our SMEs, ambassadors of Made in Italy in the world – commented Stefano Barrese, Head of Banca dei Territori di Intesa Sanpaolo –. A strategy that our Group has been pursuing for some time and that it intends to consolidate in this phase of international complexity, accompanying companies in the diversification of their foreign markets of reference and in the search for new opportunities. Italian SMEs have characteristics of quality, innovation, speed and adaptation to change that few other foreign industrial systems can boast. We want to be a global partner of our 45 thousand client companies, to whom we have provided 10 billion euros for exports and investments abroad. A support that is now more vital than ever for our production system”.
