This emerges from the findings of the ninth edition of the Global Attractiveness Index (GAI) 2024, a platform developed by The European House Ambrosetti in 2016 to analyse and measure the investment prospective of countries, providing insights to support pro-business strategies. In 2024, the focus is on the role of foreign multinationals in national competitiveness and the structure of global supply chains. The final report with the GAI ranking and analysis of Italy will be presented in September 2024 during the 50th edition of the Forum "Today's and Tomorrow's Scenario for Competitive Strategies" hosted at Villa d'Este (Cernobbio).
Despite their limited presence, international companies in Italy generate 20.3% of national turnover and contribute 22.8% to overall research and development spending. Furthermore, between 2017 and 2021, they recorded an annual growth of 5.1% in employees, compared to 0.4% for Italian companies. In the last three years, salaries at multinationals have grown by 2.4%, and by 0.4% at Italian companies. If pay was increased across the board to multinational company levels , there would be an additional €80 billion of GDP in Italy.
Although the impact goes beyond the numbers: non-Italian companies act as true supply chain leaders, activating a network of upstream and downstream companies and generating a systemic improvement of national supply chains.
"Our analysis once again highlights the centrality of multinationals for our production system," comments Valerio De Molli, Managing Partner and CEO of The European House - Ambrosetti, " Attracting foreign companies and investments, and retaining those already present in the territory, is an essential lever for growth, research, and good employment."
Amazon is playing a key role in enabling the growth, innovation, and internationalisation of Italian companies
Since opening our operations in Italy in 2010, Amazon has invested €16.9 billion in Italy, including €4.3 billion in 2022 alone. Our workforce in the country has grown to 18,000 permanent employees. As of October 1, 2023, we have increased the gross starting pay for logistics employees in Italy to €1,764 per month. This is an increase of 21% compared to 2019 and 8% compared to the entry-level pay for the ‘fifth level’ of the National Collective Bargaining Agreement for Logistics, Freight Transport and Shipping.
According to a recent study by Keystone Strategy, thanks to the indirect effects of our investments in 2022, more than 40,000 new jobs were created in Italy, for example in construction, logistics, and services. The total number of indirect jobs reached the record figure of 100,000, including 60,000 jobs created by the 21,000 Italian small and medium-sized businesses that use our services to grow their business and export Italian products worldwide.
Additionally according to studies by Nomisma, five years after the arrival of an Amazon distribution centre, companies in the area have increased their turnover (+16%), profits (+26%), and employment (+16%) to a greater extent than those further away. We establish ourselves as a "new supply chain leader" that activates and support the entire productive ecosystem.
We support our Italian SMEs by providing them with a global sales network. 61% of the items sold on Amazon come from third-party selling partners, and the company has committed to supporting Made in Italy brands and Italian SMEs to reach €4 billion in overseas sales by 2025.
In conclusion, the data confirms the transformative contribution of e-commerce and Amazon in enabling the growth, innovation, and internationalisation of Italian productivity. This leveraging effect is made possible thanks to our substantial investments in cutting-edge technologies, innovation, and developing people's skills - key factors for the competitiveness and sustainable growth of Italian production chains in the global context.
