The Embassy of Italy’s Office of Economic, Commercial and Scientific Affairs
The office coordinates all activities pertaining to analysis, economic promotion and trade defense policy in the United States, aiming to enhance trade, investment flows and technological cooperation between the two countries.
The Scientific sector is an integral part of Office’s portfolio, with a particular focus on translational opportunities between research and industrial and commercial applications.
The Space sector also falls under the remit of the Office’s competences, both for its role in technology and science, but increasingly for its economic aspects.
This promotion strategy is implemented through constant coordination with the consular network, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) network, the Bank of Italy, the Italian National Tourism Board (ENIT), the Ministries of Defense, Economy and Finance, Enterprises and Made in Italy, University and Research, Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Infrastructure and Transport, the Environment and Energy Security, and Health, the Department of Digital Transformation, the Italian Space Agency, Italian leaders at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank, while maintaining a constant and constructive exchange with Italian companies in the U.S., or with those interested in entering the U.S. market, as well as with trade associations and research centers.
– Office of Economic, Commercial and Scientific Affairs
– The Italian network in the United States: Consular network; Italian Trade Agencies (ICE); ENIT-Italian National Tourist Board; Italian-American Chambers of Commerce
Since September 2020 a single portal has been available, created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with ICE, SACE and SIMEST, dedicated to Italian exporters and containing relevant information, data and practical instructions on procedures, financing and assistance for companies: https://export.gov.it/
Business opportunities in the United States: the following is a good starting point, and the Info Mercati Esteri presents a general overview:
For information on the U.S. market and on its commercial aspects you can make reference to the information below:
For information on U.S. federal and state regulations that Italian investors must be aware of before setting up an operational or commercial structure in the U.S., from legal and tax compliance aspects to labor law, from investment rules to incentives offered by the various state administrations, please visit the following:
- In English, the U.S. government portal SELECT USA
- In Italian, the ICE Website
TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE, USE NEXUS
To request economic and commercial assistance, please use the Nexus Platform and fill in this form. NEXUS is an application of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to support the diplomatic-consular network’s activities to the benefit of Italian companies operating in, or interested in operating in, foreign markets.
NEXUS makes it easier to manage requests for assistance from Italian companies abroad in a cohesive manner.
Doing Business in Italy
If you are interested in doing business in Italy, please visit:
- The World Bank’s “Doing Business in Italy” guide and the “Why Invest in Italy” literature prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development;
- Macroeconomic data and analyses provided by the Treasury Department of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance;
- Bank of Italy statistics on the Italian economy;
- Italia Startup Visa (only in English);
- The Italian Business Register, where you can find official information on companies with headquarters or local units in Italy.
Agreements and Understandings in the tax field
- Italy-United States Treaty on income and capital tax;
- Italy-United States Bilateral Agreement between the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (April 2011);
- Treaty between Italy and the U.S. for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxation of Real Property and Inheritance and Filing Requirements;
- Treaty between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the United States of America for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of fiscal evasion or avoidance. Exchange of notes verbales with amendments to the Convention.
RELAUNCH DECREE
Italian Government measures for the Relaunch of Enterprises and Economy.
PACT FOR EXPORT
It consists of an innovative strategy to relaunch “Made in Italy” exports in the post-emergency phase, through the strengthening of tools to support internationalization and wide-ranging promotional activity.
