Italiano

The UNIDO IPO's services are free of charge and go to the benefit of all Italian SMEs operating in any industrial sector. These services include:

Country Information / Investment Opportunities
Information on laws and regulations concerning foreign investment in target countries, promotion of industrial projects previously identified and organization of missions to project sites.

Search of Partners
UNIDO can search for ad-hoc reliable partners in the specific target country by contacting all UNIDO Offices in developing countries and Eastern Europe and/or collaborating with Ministries and local investment promotion centers.

Assistance During Negotiations
Assistance to Italian companies throughout all the stages of negotiation with their partners, organization of bilateral meetings, drafting of co-operation agreements.

Pre-Appraisal of Industrial Projects
Economic and financial pre-appraisal of industrial investment ideas by means of the new version of the UNIDO software package: Comfar III Expert

Identification of Financial Sources
Once the joint-venture is finalized, the IPO can help structure a financial package for the implementation of the project identifying the most appropriate financial sources and assisting in the applications for credit (both national and international).

Assistance to Companies Applying for Financing Under Art. 7, Law 49/87 of The Italian State
Under the agreement concluded with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IPO is entrusted with the drafting of the documents needed to apply for financing the equity participation of an Italian company in a joint venture (as for Art.7, Law 49/87). These documents include a financial pre-appraisal of the project idea or a fully-fledged feasibility study. The facility applies only to Italian companies.

Technical And Financial Assistance For Some Mediterranean Countries
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Directorate General for Cooperation and Development) has signed an agreement with the international co-operation authorities of Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Morocco for the implementation of programmes supporting the development of local SMEs. These Mediterranean programmes combine a technical element, consisting in the opening of an investment promotion office directed by UNIDO in the target countries, with the establishment of a credit line for the acquisition of Italian goods and services, available to all beneficiaries (local SMEs and JVs) through agent banks in the country. The local UNIDO office provides assistance in the drafting of the technical documents required.

Credit Line For The Acquisition Of Italian Goods And Services

Amount and conditions of the credit lines negotiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are as follows:

 

Value in EURO Millions	EGYPT	TUNISIA	JORDAN	MOROCCO
Availability	15,5 around	28,9 around	9,3 around	15,5 around
Min./Max.	0.15/1.8 around	0/3 around	0.1/1/8 around	0.05/2 around
Grace period	Max 3 years	Max 3 years	Max 3 years	Max 3 years
Repayment	Max 7 years	Max 7 years	Max 7 years	Max 7 years
Interest rates	Eu.JV1: 4% Egp JV: 7% Eu. LOC: 7% Egp LOC: 10%	Eu: 3.5% DT: 5%	JV: 6% LOC: 7%	Dh: 5.25%

¹The interest rate varies depending on the nature of the investment: being it contracted in euro or oin local currency and involving it a joint venture or a 100% locally owned company (LOC).

The credit line's repayment conditions granted to local entrepreneurs, as agreed in the financial convention signed between Italy and the different countries, are fixed on easy terms and at special rates in comparison with market standards, thus fostering any improving technology transfer (of Italian origin) into the target country's industrial framework.

Co-financing for feasibility studies
Preparation of industrial feasibility studies for joint-venture initiatives with a free of charge co-financing covering 50% of the total cost.

Assistance of the UNIDO Italy Desk in India
UNIDO Italy avails itself of a special Desk located in New Delhi. The desk provides information and technical assistance to Italian and Indian companies interested in industrial cooperation.

The UNIDO Italy Office in Uganda
The Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs has reached an agreement with the Ugandan Authority for Investments (UIA) to launch a cooperation programme envisaging the opening of an Investment Promotion Unit in Kampala. The IPU in Kampala provides information and technical assistance to Italian and Ugandan companies interested in industrial cooperation.

Country Delegates
The IPO Offices frequently host representatives of some developing countries (delegates) to strengthen their promotional activity and offer a prompter and more effective assistance to all applying companies. Presently, the delegates in charge at UNIDO Offices come from the following countries (a representative from Ghana, Mr. Stephen OSEI-YEBOAH, will join in next November):

ARGENTINA	Mr. Dino FORTUNATO Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Buenos Aires UNIDO Bologna Tel. 051.63.43.031 - Fax: 051.63.41.186
CHINA	Ms. YAO Enying Several Institutions UNIDO Milan Tel. 02.48.155.22 - Fax: 051.63.41.186
UGANDA	Ms. Ruth LWETABE Uganda Investment Authority, Kampala UNIDO Milan Tel. 02.48.155.22 - Fax: 02.40.85.925
TUNISIA	Mr. Slaheddine CHOUIKHA Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) UNIDO Bologna Tel. 051.63.43.031 - Fax: 051.63.41.186

 

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