International investors are satisfiedwith the economic situation in Italy and could invest further,Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said at the World EconomicForum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.
"We have met with our partners, particularly those internationalplayers who invest in our country," said Giorgetti on thesidelines of bilateral meetings at the annual forum.
"They have expressed satisfaction and maybe they will investeven more. So the reason for being here is to update and give afirst-hand indication of what is happening in Italy and also totheir investments," he added.
"The operations that we have launched, from Monte dei Paschi toeven very complex ones such as Tim's netco, have met with broadsatisfaction" among international investors, said Giorgettireferring respectively to the same by the government of 25% ofthe Tuscan lender last November and the planned sale of TelecomItalia's (TIM) fixed-lined grid NetCo to American fund KKR.
Likewise, the minister said Italy's partners are also "veryinterested" in the country's "very ambitious" privatisationplan.
"On our side we have a stable government and a strong majoritythat is probably unique in Europe, and this is something thateveryone has ascertained and evaluated," said Giorgetti.
On the likelihood that the European Central bank (ECB) will cutinterest rates in the summer, Giorgetti said "the sooner the cutcomes the better".
It would be "good news for everyone, not only for Italy's debt,but also for all households with mortgages, for companies thatneed to invest", he added.
On economic performance, the minister said "it will bedifficult" for Italy to meet last year's growth estimate "if awar breaks out every month".
Last year the government said it expects GDP to grow by 0.8% in2023 and by 1.2% in 2024.
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