28
Jul
2023
After a long wait, it will finally be possible to submit applications for subsidized loans on Wednesday 27 July to support investments dedicated to the foreign growth of Italian companies.
The fund will have a budget of 4 billion euros, resources mainly reserved for SMEs.
Among the main novelties of the subsidized finance of the Fondo 394 are the support for investments for the ecological and digital transition and for the strengthening of the capital solidity of companies with an international vocation. Benefits will be provided for companies belonging to production chains devoted to exports and for companies impacted by increases in energy costs. Dedicated conditions will also be provided for companies with direct interests in strategic areas for Made in Italy, such as the Western Balkans, and for those located in the territories affected by the recent flood in Emilia-Romagna.
Through the 394 Fund managed by SIMEST, companies will be able to make loans at subsidized rates of up to 0.464% (July 2023 rate), to which a non-repayable co-financing of up to 10% can be added.
The tools available will include:
E-COMMERCE: financing for companies that intend to develop their own electronic commerce in foreign countries for goods and services produced in Italy or with an Italian brand, through the creation or improvement of their own platform, or their own dedicated space on a platform of third parties.
DIGITAL and ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION: loan dedicated to companies that intend to make investments for digital innovation or for the ecological transition as well as generic productive investments to strengthen their capital solidity, to the benefit of their competitiveness on international markets.
MARKETS INSERTION: financing for companies that intend to carry out programs to enter international markets, through the opening of their own structure in a foreign country; or who intend to strengthen their presence on already controlled markets, through the strengthening of their structure or personnel on site.
CERTIFICATIONS and CONSULTANCY: financing reserved for companies that intend to carry out internationalisation, technological, digital or ecological innovation projects, through the exclusive support of consultancy firms, or obtain product certifications, patents, for the protection of intellectual property rights, certifications of sustainability and technological innovation.
FAIRS and EVENTS: financing dedicated to companies that intend to participate, even in Italy, in international fairs, exhibitions, business or system missions and missions, including virtual ones, for the promotion of goods and services produced in Italy or with an Italian brand.
TEMPORARY MANAGER: loan reserved for companies that intend to make temporary use of specialized professionals for the implementation of internationalisation, technological, digital or ecological innovation projects.
