Italy and the Balkans, a strategic partnership
In 2024, Italian exports to the Western Balkans reached €6.5 billion. Textiles and clothing, metals, food, and machinery were the sectors most affected. Albania and Serbia accounted for 70% of Italian exports to the region
Due to their strategic and economic importance for Italy, the Western Balkans have been included as a target area in the MAECI Export Action Plan (December 2025). This focus is also reflected in the opening of representative offices by the main public bodies supporting Italian companies: Simest opened its office in June 2023, SACE in September of the same year, and CDP in February 2024 (the first outside the EU). These are in addition to the ICE Agency's long-standing presence.
Italian exports to the six Western Balkan countries in 2024 amounted to €6.5 billion (+13.4% compared to 2023). The main components of our exports are concentrated in four sectors: textiles and clothing, metals, food, and machinery, which alone account for approximately 58% of the total. In terms of size and historical relations with Italian companies, Serbia and Albania are the most important markets, accounting for over 70% of our exports to the Western Balkans. In 2024, Italian exports to Serbia reached €2.7 billion (6.7% of the Balkan country's total imports), while exports to Albania amounted to €1.9 billion (21.4%). Data now available for 2025 confirm the leading role of the two Balkan countries.
The Export Action Plan undoubtedly represents an opportunity for companies that want to enter these markets, as well as for others already present with occasional activities that intend to consolidate their presence and expand it to more countries in the region. In fact, we should bear in mind that 44% of our exporters sell to only one foreign market, as mentioned on January 27 during the presentation at the MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) of the Promotion of Italian Exports Worldwide, Trade Fair Calendar, and Actions of the Italian System for 2026.
For the Western Balkans, the Plan includes a series of initiatives to promote knowledge of national markets and create opportunities for business matching and entrepreneurial networking. Last year, for example, the Italy-Serbia Business Forum (in January) and the North Macedonia-Italy Business Forum in Skopje (in July) were held. In addition, the Italian System provided €700,000 in contributions for participation in trade fairs and business missions, as well as for the organization of visits by Serbian entrepreneurs to Italy.
It is also very interesting for companies to take a closer look at the Package of Facilitative Measures managed by SIMEST (CDP Group) for the Western Balkans, with a budget of approximately €400 million. In particular, we would like to focus here on the Western Balkans Measure launched in 2023, subsequently refinanced with €200 million and still active for the remaining funds. The intervention, which is covered by Fund 394/81, is detailed in Circular 3/394/2023 "Market Entry" updated on December 22, 2025. The subsidized financing is aimed at companies with a direct interest in these countries (both exporters and importers), those with a local presence (both commercial and productive), suppliers to Italian companies operating in the market (production chain), and those requesting financing for entry into the Western Balkans. The circular details the purposes and conditions of eligibility: for example, for the purpose of commercial entry into a country (with a store, commercial corner, or showroom), the condition is that the applicant company does not already have a point of sale in that country. As regards the subsidized intervention, there is a 10% non-repayable co-financing and a 6-year subsidized loan, including a 2-year grace period. At least 50% of the financing must be allocated to investment expenses for the structure, while up to a maximum of 50% may be allocated to support expenses (training, consulting, product approval and certification, commercial promotion, participation in trade fairs). The funds will be managed through a dedicated account, and applications will be handled through the Portal. For further information, please refer to the Simest website and contact their business support department directly.
