Italy is home to roughly 120,000 exporting companies. Of these, more than 118,000 are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), accounting for 98% of the total. This means that in an intensely competitive global marketplace, the success of Italian exports and the strength of the Made in Italy brand depend not only on large corporations and multinational platforms, but also on thousands of determined entrepreneurs who believe in the value of their work despite operating with limited resources and modest capital.
Their contribution is remarkable: Italian SMEs generate approximately $328 billion in exports. Another figure deserves attention. Companies based in Southern Italy represent nearly one-third of all Italian businesses, yet they account for less than one-tenth of the country’s manufacturing exports.
