A site in Italy? Think about talent from the start — insights from “Doing Business in Italy” at Villa Almone
Published on 21 September 2026 · 6 min read
Anyone looking for a site in Italy should examine the local talent pool at the same time. That is my key takeaway from the “Doing Business in Italy” seminar on 21 September 2026 in Rome.
A seminar with a distinguished line-up
On 21 September 2026, the German Ambassador to Italy, Dr. Thomas Bagger, invited guests to the “Doing Business in Italy” seminar at Villa Almone, the residence of the German Ambassador in Rome. The event was organised in cooperation with Invitalia, the national investment promotion agency, and with the support of AHK Italien. The focus: how German companies can invest in Italy and get off the ground faster. A networking lunch afterwards left room for personal exchange between companies, institutions and advisors.
What Italy does differently today
Particularly impressive was the contribution of Augusto Reggiani, Director for attracting foreign investment at the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT). His key messages, summarised:
- Italy's challenges are essentially the same as those of other countries. What has changed is the approach: an office that listens and helps companies land better and faster.
- Instead of many doors in different ministries, there is a single point of contact. A dedicated contact person translates the language of business into the language of the administration.
- The biggest problem: many companies arrive too late. They have already chosen their site before talking to the Ministry — and miss the chance to land where it would suit them best.
- Investment promotion and investment screening belong together from the very beginning.
The lesson for German companies: talk early, think in parallel
This message matches my own experience building plants for BMW in Brazil and Mexico. Talking early pays off — with the authorities, about the site and about the people, before the decision is made. Land, incentives and permits usually top the list. The question of whether the region has the right managers, engineers and skilled workers often only comes up once the site is already fixed. At that point, recruiting becomes slow and expensive.
That is why talent analysis should run in parallel with the site search: What qualifications does the region offer? Which companies compete for the same profiles? What are pay levels, collective agreements, commuting distances and housing like? Anyone who answers these questions early chooses a site where the team can actually be built.
Investing in people
Antonella Sada of DHL Express Italy put it succinctly in her closing remarks: invest in people. In the conversations over the networking lunch, a clear consensus emerged: site and talent belong together, not one after the other.
Italy's image deserves an update
A second theme came up again and again: the image of Italy that many Germans still hold is outdated. After Germany, Italy is the second-largest industrial nation in the EU, with a strong mid-market and excellent engineers. At the same time, working and leadership cultures differ markedly between north and south. Those who know these differences build a stable team faster.
What this means for your Italy plans
Three recommendations for companies evaluating a site in Italy:
- Talk to the relevant institutions early, before the site decision is made.
- Have talent availability analysed in parallel with the site search, region by region.
- Plan the build-up of the team from the start, including leadership culture, pay structure and housing for new employees.
Thank you
My sincere thanks to Ambassador Dr. Thomas Bagger, the German Embassy in Rome, Invitalia and AHK Italien for the invitation, and to Augusto Reggiani (MIMIT), Silvia Trevisan (Schaeffler Italia), Gianni Cossar (NEURA Robotics), Elena Collimedaglia and Roberto Parazzini (AHK Italien) for the inspiring conversations.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start the talent analysis for a site in Italy?
In parallel with the site search, before a region is chosen. Only then does the availability of skilled workers and managers feed into the decision.
Who supports foreign investors in Italy?
At government level, among others the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) and the agency Invitalia. For German companies, AHK Italien is another important point of contact.
How does People · Places · Performance support setting up in Italy?
We analyse talent availability in the target region and support the build-up of the team, in German, Italian, English, Spanish and Portuguese. Recruitment in Italy is carried out together with authorised Italian partner agencies.
What this means for your business
Site selection and talent analysis in Italy belong together: talk to the institutions early and assess skilled workers and managers in parallel with the site search — that is how a solid team gets built faster.
Planning a site in Italy? Talk to me as soon as the site search begins.
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Sources
- 01Deutsche Botschaft Rom — Seminar „Doing Business in Italy“, Villa Almone, 21. September 2026rom.diplo.de
- 02Invitalia — Nationale Agentur für Investitionsförderunginvitalia.it
- 03Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy (MIMIT) — Anwerbung ausländischer Investitionenmimit.gov.it
- 04AHK Italien — Deutsch-Italienische Handelskammernitalien.ahk.de
All statements are backed by publicly available sources (see article date). Not legal or tax advice.
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