A 10 billion plan dedicated to Italian companies, especially smaller ones, to support their growth.
Unicredit launches the third edition of 'Unicredit per l'Italia', a package of financial, insurance and consultancy solutions to particularly help small and micro Italian businesses to grow, face the transition and become more competitive.
Also using the innovations in the guarantee schemes recently introduced by the government, the bank launches a series of initiatives and new loans aimed at supporting investments, working capital and liquidity.
40% of the resources are destined for the South.
“The role of businesses is fundamental for our country.
These have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and adaptability in a context of high rates, inflation and geopolitical tensions,” says Unicredit CEO Andrea Orcel.
"In 2023, Italy recorded growth exceeding expectations, with strengthened confidence in the national business system. Business fundamentals remain solid, the prospects are reassuring, foreign demand for the current year is seen improving", he adds Orcel recalling that "our role is to support customers and the community through our tools" and that the initiative represents "a new measure in favor of Italy which matches and complements the new program of state guarantee schemes in favor of of small and medium enterprises, the pattern of the country".
The initiative provides support to micro-enterprises, with a ceiling of 1 billion for specific forms of microfinancing and microcredit with a guarantee from the Guarantee Fund for SMEs, but also to third sector bodies.
For the latter, in addition to financial support of 500 million euros, dedicated services are added, such as the 'Ilmiodono' fund raising platform and Carta Etica funds for the development of social projects.
Unicredit for Italy also looks at the development of agribusiness and tourism, with a dedicated ceiling of one billion for each sector.
Support for the ESG transition towards more sustainable business models is instead transversal to the entire program.
"With this third edition of 'Unicredit per l'Italia' we renew our concrete commitment and desire to put ourselves on the customers' side", comments Remo Taricani, deputy head of Unicredit Italia. "We continue to support the excellence of Made in Italy - adds - with a set of solutions aimed at supporting their development and transition towards greater environmental and social sustainability". After businesses, Unicredit is also ready to support families with further initiatives "in a subsequent phase", continues Taricani, explaining that the timing" is "very constrained by the scenario".