SIMEST Mobilizes €6 Billion in H1 2026 to Drive Italian Business Expansion Abroad

In the first half of 2026, SIMEST—the company within Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) dedicated to promoting the international expansion of Italian businesses—supported approximately €6 billion in corporate investments. This represents a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Chaired by Professor Vittorio de Pedys and led by CEO Regina Corradini D’Arienzo, the company approved its financial statements through June 30, 2026, highlighting a significant broadening of its client base. SIMEST served around 1,900 companies, 90% of which were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and over 60% (1,100+) were first-time applicants.

The performance was driven primarily by two main operating lines managed under agreements with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI):

• Export Support (Fund 295/73): Reached €4.8 billion, an increase of 15% year-over-year.
• Subsidized Financing (Fund 394/81): Surged by 112% to reach nearly €1 billion, proving the growing demand for low-interest liquidity and grants among companies adapting to volatile global markets.

Financially, SIMEST reported a net worth of €340 million (+4%), a gross profit of €10.4 million (+15%), and a net profit of €7 million (+8%).

Strategic Measures: USA Expansion, Africa’s Mattei Plan, and Energy Relief

To counteract geopolitical headwinds—including shipping disruptions in the Persian Gulf and rising energy costs—SIMEST deployed several targeted financial packages during H1 2026:

• US Market Measure (“Misura USA”): A €300 million package (€200M in subsidized loans and €100M in equity capital) dedicated to Italian subsidiaries establishing or expanding operations in the United States.
• Energy & Supply Chain Support: An €800 million fund (“Energia per la Competitività Internazionale”) designed for exporting firms and supply chain suppliers affected by energy price spikes and Gulf region tensions.
• Mattei Plan for Africa: A dedicated €150 million ceiling designed under the government’s Piano Mattei framework to back Italian venture capital and direct investment in strategic African sectors.
• Disaster Recovery: A €130 million non-repayable grant program assisting businesses in Calabria, Sardinia, and Sicily damaged by Hurricane Harry.

Understanding the Italian System: A Contextual Guide for International Readers

For readers unfamiliar with Italy’s institutional landscape, SIMEST operates as an essential instrument within the broader “Sistema Italia”—the coordinated network of state-backed entities supporting the nation’s economy:

• CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti): Italy’s National Promotional Institution and sovereign wealth fund, which serves as SIMEST’s parent company.
• MAECI / Farnesina: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which sets strategic export policies and oversees funds managed by SIMEST.
• Piano Mattei (Mattei Plan): A flagship foreign policy initiative launched by the Italian government aimed at building non-predatory, long-term economic and industrial partnerships across the African continent.
• Supply Chain Focus (“Filiera”): A key pillar of Italian economic strategy. Because many specialized Italian SMEs do not export directly but manufacture critical components for larger exporters, SIMEST extends its soft loans and training initiatives (such as partnerships with agency networks like Umana and Orienta) directly to these supply chain suppliers.

Commenting on the results, CEO Regina Corradini D’Arienzo noted: “We didn’t wait for international tensions to turn into emergencies for our businesses. The instability in energy markets and trade route disruptions required a rapid response. Speed and active listening are what allow our SMEs to continue growing globally.”

_{Source: SIMEST Press Office}