{
  "id": 19778156,
  "title": "Strategic supply chains, a lever for the competitiveness of made in Italy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/filiere-strategiche-leva-per-la-competitivita-del-made-in-italy",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-13T07:34:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Il Sole 24 Ore",
    "slug": "il-sole-24-ore",
    "url": "https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/filiere-strategiche-leva-la-competitivita-made-italy-AJrshBEC"
  },
  "original_language": "it",
  "account": "The competitiveness of \"Made in Italy\" relies on strategic industrial chains, integrating the skills and specialties of individual companies along the supply chain to generate added value and boost exports. To support this production system, the Italian Export Credit Agency Sace, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, has outlined a strategy in the Sace50 Strategic Plan. This plan commits 150 billion euros over three years to promote exports and growth of the national production system through tools such as financing, risk coverage, dedicated meetings, training, and business matchmaking. These efforts apply to all sectors, starting with those identified by Sace as \"strategic\" for \"Made in Italy,\" i.e., production systems that contribute to generating value for the country and increasing its autonomy and security.\n\nSace chief economist Alessandro Terzulli and head of commercial strategy initiatives & services Mariangela Siciliano presented initiatives for Italian companies in Milan. They highlighted a four-pronged approach (knowing, creating a system, listening, and co-designing) aimed at mapping Italian territorial production ecosystems, skills, and needs, with the goal of activating increasingly targeted and shared support measures. The five selected sectors have a high international growth potential, generating €1.3 trillion in revenue and €200 billion in exports, accounting for over 30% of Italian goods sold overseas. Infrastructure and construction (with 800,000 companies and 2.3 million employees) reached €443.7 billion in revenue and €146.2 billion in added value in 2024, with exports exceeding €24 billion in 2025. After strong construction incentives and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr), Italian construction companies are increasingly targeting international markets as a growth and diversification lever. Italian construction companies are present in 62 countries, with nearly 600 contracts worth over €116 billion, and possess distinct skills in designing and executing complex infrastructure projects. Internationally, the added value generated and incorporated into foreign final demand is estimated at €30.8 billion, or 20.7% of the sector's total added value. Opportunities lie in markets focused on major investment programs in transport, energy, water, and digital networks, ranging from India to Morocco and Africa, the Western Balkans, and new logistics corridors between Europe and Asia, to Latin America, and eventually Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Demand extends beyond major contractors to the entire Italian sector, from materials to component manufacturing, plant engineering, and advanced services, strengthening the role of large projects as a vehicle for internationalization for SMEs and specialized companies. The blue economy and shipbuilding (17,000 companies and 114,000 employees) have a revenue of €29.6 billion and €10.1 billion in added value. Exports were €10.5 billion in 2025. The sector focuses on two types of activities: those based on the sea (marine resources, renewable marine energy, maritime transport, coastal tourism) and those related to the marine sector (seafood processing, shipbuilding and repair, port activities, blue biotechnology, and communication and other services). Italy ranks third in contributing to European blue economy after Germany and Spain and can draw on expertise along the entire underwater value chain, a rapidly growing segment with great potential. Shipping is a manufacturing excellence that combines major shipyards, specialized suppliers, craftsmanship, and advanced technologies; from large cruise ships to super yachts, it is a mix of quality and achievements. With €123.2 billion in revenue, 49,000 companies, and 470,000 employees, automation and mechanical engineering generate €39.3 billion in added value and €66.5 billion in exports. The sector represents one of the strengths of \"Made in Italy\" and plays a transversal role in the competitiveness of the entire production system, supplying high-quality, flexible, and customized machines, components, technologies, and solutions to other manufacturing sectors. Italian companies' ability to offer high-quality, flexible, and customized productions represents an important competitive advantage destined to strengthen with ongoing technological transformation: from the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced automation to greater energy efficiency, and the increasing integration between machinery and digital services. In this scenario, new international opportunities for the entire sector are opening up, supported by modernization and digitalization programs for production systems: Asia and Latin America are interesting directions, with markets such as India, China, Mexico, and Brazil where industrial investments can be made.",
  "summary": "From Sace",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}