The signs of an economic slowdown are becoming more visible. ISTAT recently reported a 0.3 percent drop in GDP in the previous quarter. However, forecasts for Italian exports remain positive: after reaching a record of 625 billion in 2022, exports actually have room to grow in the coming years, despite the many clouds gathering on international markets. The high production diversification of the industry, active in a wide range of sectors and geographical markets, explains the success of Italian exports, a condition that has allowed it to cushion recent shocks and recover quickly when demand has regained strength. The Sace Export Report highlights how Italian companies have responded to the difficulties on the major markets, such as Germany and China, by seeking new opportunities in the Gulf countries, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, without forgetting Mexico, Brazil, and Croatia. A recent study in Veneto confirms that geographical diversification is a powerful factor in reducing export volatility, allowing for the development of medium-term investment strategies and the stabilization of employment. This is related to a second critical factor in international competitiveness: digital transformation. The performance of companies that have invested in new digital technologies (artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, etc.) is vastly superior to that of their competitors by every metric considered.
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