Europe is perceived as a "stable environment" and with a large and accessible market.
And despite the pandemic, foreign direct investment fell by only 13% in 2020 and "is expected to pick up quickly".
At the same time "Italy has shown itself to be extremely resilient and has managed to increase its attractiveness, with the number of foreign direct investment initiatives growing by 5%".
This is the scenario that emerges from the interview held with ANSA by Julie Teigland, area managing partner of EY Europe, Middle East, India and Africa.
Now, with the momentum expected this year in the implementation of "investment projects that have been suspended in 2020, we have every reason to believe that when this capital is released, Europe will experience a rebound" explains Teigland. highlighting that in this context "Italy now has an unprecedented opportunity with the PNRR". The EY attractiveness survey shows, for example, that "48% of the managers interviewed declared themselves ready to invest in Italy", Teigland points out, warning however that our country "needs to initiate effective and courageous reforms and I really believe that The country is ready, more than ever, to take up these challenges and become one of the main European destinations for foreign direct investments ".The survey also shows that "an encouraging 60% of managers say they are convinced that the attractiveness of our country will increase in the next three years, thanks to the most promising sectors and where expectations are higher - underlines Teigland - such as the digital economy , the automotive and mobility sectors, consumer goods, financial services and the energy sector ".
More generally, a determining factor in defining the investment strategy in Europe is sustainability, considered "fundamental" by 90% of the companies surveyed by EY. "But let's be clear - warns Teigland - no single organization can achieve the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal alone and collaboration will be fundamental. In this new era of growth, the public, private and third sectors will have to join forces to innovate. , disseminate know-how and build the green industries and jobs of the future ". And again, to attract foreign investors to Europe, "tax harmonization and reform are fundamental" while "the recovery plans of theEurope must find the right balance between long-term investment programs and short-term economic stimuli. In my opinion - he concludes - a multidimensional approach between business and government will still be needed to exploit these opportunities, to support regional economic recovery plans and unlock the potential for Europe to rebound ".
