For the second year in a row, Obiettivo Italia confirms itself as an important opportunity for engagement and dialogue with entrepreneurs and top managers from major Italian corporate and public-sector companies, with the aim of strengthening local ties, showcasing industrial excellence, and contributing to the country’s competitiveness by fostering public–private partnerships.
The Italian Network, which covers the country through six Regions and fifteen Corporate Centers, is the driving force behind this initiative promoted by IMI Corporate & Investment Banking of Intesa Sanpaolo.
Michele Sorrentino
Head of IMI CIB Italian Network, IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, Intesa Sanpaolo
Obiettivo Italia is a travelling journey across Italy, dedicated to meeting top executives from the IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division’s major corporate clients. A concrete demonstration of our commitment to maintaining an ongoing dialogue with our clients, which is essential especially in a period marked by uncertainty and significant transformation.
The eight events took place over the course of the year in several locations that reflect the country’s economic landscape: Vicenza, Florence, Lonato del Garda, Turin, Naples, Milan, Bologna, and finally Rome.
The meetings are an important networking opportunity and allow us to present innovative strategies and solutions to support growth and strengthen our partnerships with clients, which are large corporates, the so-called Italian champions, operating across various industrial and financial sectors, as well as national central and local entities.
The Bank’s role at the local level goes far beyond providing credit. It is committed to being an active partner in territorial development, supporting companies and communities, promoting innovation and social cohesion, and fostering sustainable growth that enhances human capital, attracts investment, and helps building an economic ecosystem that is increasingly competitive and inclusive.
Obiettivo Italia has travelled through Northern, Central and Southern Italy, analysing production data and specific challenges of each area, with the contribution of Bank experts from various Industries, and specialists from Global Transaction Banking and Corporate & Strategic Solutions.
Michele Sorrentino
A clear picture emerged: Italian companies have shown remarkable resilience and responsiveness. Despite the challenges posed by the international environment, they have distinguished themselves for the speed with which they reacted to US tariffs, their strategic vision in strengthening their presence in the United States, and their ability to seize growth opportunities in emerging markets such as the Middle East, India and North Africa.
Obiettivo Italia has allowed us to highlight the diversity and vitality of the Italian production system. Lombardy is its central engine, integrating industry, finance and innovation to generate new growth opportunities. Central-Northern Italy stands out for entrepreneurial dynamism and a strong capacity for innovation in advanced services. Northeastern Italy remains a benchmark for manufacturing, while Northwestern Italy is consolidating its productive diversification with a marked export orientation. Finally, Southern Italy is an attractive hub for public and private investment, benefiting the transport, renewable energy and port infrastructure sectors.
In the Lazio Region, which is usually recognised for the importance of the tourism sector and the significant presence of institutions and public bodies, new and growing sectors are also emerging.
Eugenio Afelici
Head of Lazio Region, IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, Intesa Sanpaolo
We are very pleased with the final event held in Rome, which gathered more than 80 entrepreneurs and top managers from public institutions as well as from national and international private companies.
The Lazio Region is often associated with the touristic image of Rome, where tourism is growing at a very fast pace and attracting significant real estate investments, including from foreign players. However, the Region is also unique case in the national landscape for other reasons: it hosts major innovative companies in the pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors, where exports play a leading role, accounting for around 25% of turnover, and where investment in artificial intelligence is also quite strong.
In fact, in the Region there are also other companies belonging to sectors that are relevant and strategic for our country, such as utilities, transport and infrastructure. Furthermore, as we know, Rome is the headquarters of Italy’s ministries, main pension funds, professional associations and many foundations, which represent the institutional driver of our country. Our Bank has been working with these counterparties for many years with a strong sense of responsibility and great professionalism.
Along its journey, Obiettivo Italia has explored various crucial topics for the future of companies. Among these, risk management and the use of artificial intelligence.
Stefano Rivellini
Head of Corporate & Strategic Solutions Sales, IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, Intesa Sanpaolo
In the current context of uncertainty, it is essential for companies to adopt a risk management policy that is as proactive as possible. This is crucial to shield company results from exogenous shocks. In such context — as in others — the use of artificial intelligence is fundamental, as it allows to process a large amount of data and develop scenario analyses. Companies must combine artificial intelligence with human expertise. So high tech combining with high touch, technology with human expertise. This integration makes it possible to create a risk management policy that is solid and effective over time.
Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI CIB Division aims to support companies in fully understanding the risks to which they are exposed, while at the same time building a systematic and dynamic risk management policy that makes it possible to keep those risks under control.
Central to the meetings’ discussions was also the role of banks in supporting companies’ digital transition and in proposing innovative solutions for liquidity management and financial services.
Francesca Trolio
Head of Gtb Business Planning & Development, IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, Intesa Sanpaolo
Digitalisation is part of our mindset and is increasingly becoming a strategic lever for both small and medium-sized companies and large multinational corporates.
For this reason, Intesa Sanpaolo invests in digital innovation every year, particularly through our corporate banking platform InBiz, which over the years has evolved from a simple operational portal into a relational portal that fosters dialogue between the Bank and its corporate clients.
For companies with more specific needs, we provide, for example, tools such as Cash Pooling, Payment Factory and, more recently, Notional Pooling as well, designed precisely to provide customised solutions across different geographies. However, it is essential for companies to invest internally in expertise in order to make the best use of the tools we offer.
The eighth and final stop of the 2025 edition ended successfully in Rome, bringing together over 550 representatives from across the national economy.
The initiative will continue in 2026, reaffirming our commitment to constantly support companies and stakeholders.
