CANARIES: business opportunities, Financings and Tax breaks

IBS by virtue of the valuable synegies and cooperations existing, is pleased to present the OPPORTUNITIES on the CANARIES ARCHIPELAGO, through:

- Financigs and Tax breaks for startups;

- Explanation of the strengths offered by the Archipelago to a prospective investor;

- Services offered in the Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma islands territories along with a series of general information in addition.

MEETING VENUE AND SCREENING OF BUSINESSES: after a preliminary phone or mail contact through the following form contact, in Turin a series of meetings with a person in charge that will analyze the Business project will be held, providing some information abut the viability.

TURIN OFFICE: Corso San Maurizio 8, Torino ( Office downstairs)
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE: Tenerife

Before fixing a meeting in person, it is essential to advance a presentation, or a teaser or abstract of the outlines of the project for a first analysis. If the project is evaluated positively further information before the meeting in Turin will be required.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:

1. Announcement of a competitive exam for Financings and Tax breaks for startups in technology, innovation and science sectors on the Canaries Archipelago concerning entrepreneurial projects which represent the successful Made in Italy.

2. Deepening on Tenerife, opportunities on three continents (Europe, America, Africa) for internationalization programs, ZEC (Canary Islands Special Zone), tax breaks and customs facilities, general opportunities and information.

ANNOUNCEMENT/ COMPETITIVE EXAM FOR FINANCINGS AND TAX BREAKS FOR STARTUPS IN TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE SECTORS ( supporting instruments and guidance for innovative startups)

OBJECT: Screening of the Entrepreneurial Projects through the announcement titled “The successful and excellent Made in Italy settle in in the Canaries” and first Strategic Guidance for the Italian Startups which wish to settle in the Canaries.

SPONSORSHIP OF THE GOVERNMENT AND OF THE INSTITUTIONS IN CHARGE

Institutions and offices in charge, local authorities and Government of the Canaries, sponsor the present announcement to allow and favour the settlement in the Canaries of new businesses, enterprises and business ventures, projects which intend to represent the winning and successful “Made in Italy” and which want to check how to operate in some strategic sectors specifics of the Canary Islands.

WHY CANARIES: THE ROLE OF THE EU AND THE SUPRANATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

In 2015 the reform avered by the European Union provided constancy to the Economical and Tax Regime (ETR) of the Canary Islands which came into force on 1/1/2015. New and specific time horizons (2026) emerge for what concerns the strategic activities which can be settled and developed in the Canary Islands. Moreover, incentives and tax allowances can be applied and obtained, and also funds and financings for activities which have a strategic value and make the settlement particularly remarkable and strategic.

PRELIMINARY SERVICES AND PERSONS ADMITTED:

The purpose of the initiative is favoring the settlement and/or the presence in the Canary islands of valuable representatives of the most renowned “Italian Style” and “Made in Italy” successful entrepreneurial models.
The following services will be supplied without consideration and engagement only to the projects which match the characteristics required by the Competitive Exam:
- First advice on strategic guidance, which includes the logistic, building and fiscal aspects.
- Counsel and suggestions and/or possible amendments for the entrepreneurial project.
-information about possible opportunities for the settlement of startups, cooperations with Public Authorities, Institutions and Local Governments, Technology Parks, Universities, etc.
- At a later stage, the Projects which will be selected can be presented and helped by offices and residential Partners, to be introduced to the proper authorities, public offices and institutions nominated by the Canaries government and the Spain state.

ADDED VALUE FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND PRINCIPALS OF STARTUPS PROJECTS:

- Have the possibility to provide to Italian investors and entrepreneurs a comprehensive overview, characterized by a first analysis of viability of the entrepreneurial Project in the Canary Islands, which consider the Tax Model (on the basis of the type of project, the objectives and the business model that the project aims to achieve), the logistic aspect, the buildings, the politic and diplomatic initiatives and other aspects which have a strategical importance.

- Start and establish a dialogue between the persons put in charge of supplying support services and interesting important entrepreneurs, providing the latter with information, guidelines and basic services without compensation.

- Conferment of the “Support” and specialized support to important Entrepreneurial Projects, with a high technological and professional profile to enhance the “Made in Italy”.

SECOND STAGE (for the projects evaluated as interesting) :

The selected entrepreneurs, after a first analysis, will have the possibility to benefit from our following services and advices supplied:

PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT in the offices and Public Councils, or the Authorities and the function nominated by the Canaries Government with the aim to obtain the appreciations and the entitlement to require the benefits, the tax exemption and/or allowance and/or the support in the project or business start up.
In the case a ZEC authorization request is needed (for example to benefit from the implementation of a 4% tax rate) you can resort to the method “Online Procedure”. You will be required to go, upon appointment programming, to the Regional Offices in charge in TENERIFE or GRAN CANARIA, to have a short interview with an Official, to present and register the application or to collect the license obtained.
Alternatively to the procedure above mentioned, in other cases an “online” procedure will be started and concluded and the entrepreneur or the entrepreneurs will have the possibility to go to the island to attend to the following formal acts which need the presence on the spot ( formation of a company etc.).

SUPPORT AND ADVICE FOR THE FORMATION OF A COMPANY AND FOLLOWING MANAGEMENT:

- Drawing up of the Viability Study
- Drawing up of the Business Plan and/or Investment Plan
- Analysis and indication of the company model / asset of an emergent business, for the implementation and the optimization of the tax regime of Canary Islands (ETR, RIC etc. etc..) and/or other solutions which allow tax allowances and/or benefits
- Activities for the formation of a company, for example formal, bureaucratic acts etc., both Limited Company and public limited company of Spanish Law ( equivalent to an S.p.A. ) having the registered office in the Canary Islands
- Management and keeping of accounting
- Support and advice activity for the “start up” stages of the business
- Preparatory activities, such as the location of the place, the areas, the premises etc.

SUPPORT AND ADVICE FOR THE SETTLEMENT AND THE FOLLOWING START-UP OF THE BUSINESS:

- Support for the papers and for the start of the meetings, the cooperations and the synergies with technology parks, Universities, local authorities etc.
- Support, advice and papers concerning the settlement, for the areas and the premises used as office, offices, workshops (both “on the free market” and in technology parks, Vivero de Empresanas, or coworking areas etc.), trade areas, craft areas, industrial areas, depending on the necessities and suited for the purpose.
- Support for the submission (if provided for where it is possible) of requests for the achievement of financings. This activity can be made only after having acquired the legal instrument, that is after having established and registered the business on the Business Register.

CHARACTERISTICS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE ENTREMPRENURIAL PROJECTS:

The characteristics and the essential requisites that the projects have to fulfill to be selected and taken into account are the following:

- The Entrepreneurial project must concern an activity and/or must operate in one of the following product sector or be related to the following categories :

o Informational sector, development of software and applications
o Electronics, development of hardware and firmware; production of electronic equipment
o Industrial automation, robotics, smart home technology (research and development, prototyping, industrial production)
o ICT and telematic networks, information and communication technologies
o Telecommunications
o Education, e-learning included, using digital platforms
o Intermediation and trading using digital platforms
o Marketing and advertising using digital platforms
o Digital publishing
o Photography and media and communication services
o Video production and post-production/ cinematography
o Drone manufacturing ( remote-controlled aircraft )
o Research for innovation and development applicable to different sectors
o Planning studies
o Nanotechnologies
o Biotechnologies and food and health sciences
o Other activities strictly related to science, technology, innovation, development and research.
o NOTES: for some manufacturing / production activities the rental and the leasing of manufactured products, solutions and equipment realized are included
o WARNING: refreshment activities and small businesses can’t use the tax breaks described and are therefore excluded.

- To be taken into consideration, the entrepreneurial project must be necessarily equipped with the documents required.

- The entrepreneurial projects must include a “solid organization” with its own operational and registered office placed in one of the Canary Islands.

- The lowest economic engagement budgeted from the Italian investor (without considering supports and financings) for the purchase of assets and/ or instrumental goods, on the basis of the realization of the project must be:

• Of at least EUR 100.000 for these activities which will settle in Gran Canaria or Tenerife within 24 months from the start of the business
• Of at least EUR 50.000 FOR THESE ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL SETTLE IN El Hierro, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, La Palma and Lanzarote, within 24 months from the start of the business.

- The entrepreneurial project or the start-up have to include the creation of minimum:

• 5 (five) jobs for the activities which will settle in Gran Canaria or Tenerife within the first 6 months form the start of the business.
• 3 (three) jobs for the activities which will settle in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma within the first 6 months from the start of the business.

2. CANARIES ARCHIPELAGO: “TENERIFE” and the advantages that offers to an investor for the expansion of an internationalization project

GENERAL INFORMATION:

- Tenerife offers a sound and steady political and macroeconomic framework by the addition of European guarantees.
- It is provided with modern buildings thanks to a technological constant development and effective advanced digital communication (examples: fiber optic ring, Teide-HPC supercomputer, data center D-Alix).
- It is favored by a naturalistic environment and a special life quality, with a mild climate all the year with an average temperature of 22 Celsius degrees, with the highest average of sun hours of Europe (3000).
- It has excellent air and sea links and convention centers equipped for excellence events, with highly competitive prices for the rental of industrial ships and offices.
- Highly competitive labor cost, supply cost and cost of services to enterprises (for example: electricity average cost, water and hot water average cost, etc.).
- Financing lines, supports and fundings, guarantees, incentives to the national, regional and insular
economic development
- Tenerife Science and Technology Park (PCTT): if the project would be technologic or of research in the health, biotechnologies, touristic innovation sectors.

STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND AGRREMENTS WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES:

Thanks to its geographical position, and being a member of the EU, Tenerife represents the gateway for three continents: Europe,America, Africa. For what concerns Africa, these are some countries with which we make trades:

Mauritania, Togo, Morocco, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Cape Verde. Moreover, there are existing agreements with many Western African Countries and 50 cooperation projects in different sectors among which: science, education, agriculture, farming renewable energies, bio-combustible production and modernization of the public administration.

SOFT TAX REGIME AND ZONA ESPECIAL CANARIA (ZEC)

Special tax regime unique in Europe thanks to its insular condition, which is suitable for any kind of business and entrepreneurial projects, even though the advantages of community right are maintained.
- IGIC (Canary Island General Indirect Tax) : 7% which is a regional tax on the final consumption equivalent to our VAT.

CANARY ISLANDS SPECIAL ZONE (ZEC):

- For the enterprises registered in ZEC, the tax on the revenue of the societies at 4% on the part of taxable base which comes from the transactions made in the Canary Islands is applied.
- The enterprises registered in the ZEC domain don’t pay IGIC tax.
- Requirements: be a start up, have a well-drawn project, have a residential director, have at least EUR 100.000 of investments in fixed asset during the first two years and create at least 5 jobs in the 6 months after the registration of the company on the island register of companies.

Other TAX BENEFITS and ADVANTAGES in INVESTING in TENERIFE:

- Agreements to avoid the double taxation
- Have the possibility to benefit from the directive Company Mothers-daughters (2003/123/CEE) of the European Union through which the dividends allocated from the branch registered on the ZEC domain to the operating holding company with office in any other EU country (European Union) won’t be withheld.
- Exemption from Property transfers tax and documented juridical acts tax
- RIC Reserve for investments in Canary Islands with an allowance up to 90% in the benefit not distributed through the endowment of a Special Reserve for investments in Canary Islands (RIC).

TENERIFE FREE-TRADE ZONE (ZFT)

Customs advantages on the Tenerife Free-Trade Zone (ZFT): storage, transformation and marketing of the goods without paying duties , indirect taxes and special taxes. In particular:

- Exemption from importation rights during the stay of the goods in the Tenerife Free-Trade Zone;
- Exemption from the payment of special taxes for all the goods which will enter in Tenerife Free-Trade Zone;
- Exemption from IGIC tax ( assimilable to our VAT) for the goods of the Free-Trade zone and for the services provided concerning the goods themselves.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES

Even though there are different options and types of societies which can be established and registered the most renowned are the following:

- Sociedad Anonima SA ( equivalent to the English Public limited company Plc)

- Societad de Responsabilidad Limitada SL ( equivalent to the English Limited company Ltd.)

Minimum number of shareholders 1, the capital stock is different ( EUR 3000 for Societad de Responsabilidad Limitada while EUR 60.000 for Sociedad Anonima). First of all a negative certificate is required to specify the name of the company, with the opening of a bank account, and the creation of the articles of association and the incorporation notarial public contract, to which a tax identification number will follow (first temporary then definitive TIN) and registration in the island register of companies. The people with an entrepreneurial project interested in the Canary Islands or Tenerife will receive all the details.

ENCLOSURES, LINKS OR WIDENINGS ABOUT THE CANARY ISLANDS PROJECT:

- Group of the Free-Trade Zone in Tenerife in Spanish
- Canary Islands Special Zone ZEC in Italian
- Tenerife: comprehensive guide visiting, living, investing
- Why Tenerife? (there are references)
- Modification of the economic and tax regime of the Canary Islands in Spanish
- Proexca and investment opportunities in Spanish
- Procedure register free-trade zone The Canary Islands in Italian
- List of activities in the Free-Trade Zone ZEC Canary Islands in Spanish

Notes: for the enclosures not in automatic download please send an email and provide the data of the person or the business interested.

OTHER USEFUL LINKS:

- IBS foreign DESKS
- Main Documents on International trade
- Letter of Credit and International bank Guarantees
- Customs glossary
- Country profiles and international or geopolitical articles
- IBS Blog

BULGARIA: ENTREPRENEURIAL MISSION, B2B MEETINGS

BULGARIA: “ROAD SHOW TARGET BALKANS” ENTREPRENEURIAL MISSION, B2B MEETINGS, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PARNERSHIP WITH BULGARIAN ENTERPRISES

PROMOTERS:

CONFINDUSTRIA BULGARIA – P.zza Pozitano 2, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF UNICREDIT BULBANK – 8 Aksakov Str, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

INTRODUCTION

IBS in synergy with CONFINDUSTRIA BLUGARIA has the pleasure of receiving signs of interest to participate to the next ENTREPRENEURIAL MISSION in Sofia. The event is promoted by Confindustria Bulgaria to communicate the strengths of Bulgaria for the benefit of the single businesses and/or delegations of Italian enterprises through the Industrial Associations interested in investments in Bulgaria and in meetings with local partners of different product sectors.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION TO THE MISSION, THE DATE AND THE ORGANIZATION

Please contact IBS through the following contact form and it will be our responsibility to recontact you to obtain your interest and to provide all the information of detail or to bring you into contact with the Manager of Confindustria Bulgaria instructed to organize the event.

DEEPENINGS ABOUT BULGARIA TO FOLLOW:

- 1. OUTCOMES OF THE MISSION OF NOVEMBER 3 2016 IN SOFIA: description of the event, Entrepreneurial Mission Agenda and Delegation of the Italian Businesses participating at the event.

- 2. WHY INVESTING IN BULGARIA: the introduction to the macroeconomic framework, advantages among which low operating costs, tax benefits, strategic position in the heart of Balkans.

Continue the reading to obtain information about the opportunities. For immediate INFORMATION write us through the following FORM.

DEEPENINGS ABOUT BULGARIA :

1. OUTCOMES OF THE MISSION OF NOVEMBER 3 2016 IN SOFIA

Promoters CONFINDUSTRIA BULGARIA AND UNICREDIT BULBANK

The last entrepreneurial mission took place on November 3 2016, in the office of the International Center of Unicredit Bulbank. The promoters of the event and the Entrepreneurial Mission are Unicredit Bulbank and Confindustria Bulgaria which through the over 300 businesses associated is related to 5% of the total GDP of Bulgaria through the Businesses associated which create over 25.000 jobs, among which we can mention renowned Italian businesses such as Italcementi, Mapei, Unicredit, General, and many others SME.

During the last edition “Target Balkans: Entrepreneurial Mission in Bulgaria” has been recorded the participation of nine Italian businesses interested in the Bulgarian market , particularly active on the territory of Piacenza, motivated to the search for partners and business opportunity in the Bulgarian territory and in the neighboring countries with which Bulgaria makes trades. The event takes place as consecutively reported in the following concise description of the Agenda of the day, through a presentation of Bulgaria and the opportunities of business offered by the country, as a consequence of the event which took place in May 2016 in Piacenza during the incoming of a delegation of Bulgarian Businesses and Institutions in Italy.

The Italian businesses which participate in the entrepreneurial mission in Bulgaria operate in particular in the building industry ( building, reconstruction, restoration, sound conditioning, railings, security doors) in the furnishing industry ( interior and outdoor decoration, urban furniture, pools) and in the industry of facilities or technologies for energy saving. In particular, the day started with the address of the Institutions among which the General Director of the Unicredit Bulbank Enrico Minniti, subsequently the ICE Director of the Agency of Sofia Cinzia Bruno and President of Confindustria Bulgaria Pietro Luigi Ghia. Subsequently, the presentation continued with the address of Aldo Andreoni, Senior Banker, Corporate, Investment and Private Banking division, in which the macroeconomic framework of Bulgaria has been showed and in particular the building, the hotel and catering industry have been analyzed.

The rest of the event has been based on b2b meetings (about one hundred meetings) between the different Italian businesses in a trip to Sofia, and the over sixty Bulgarian businesses which participated with great motivation in the event.

ENTREPRENEURIAL MISSION AGENDA

h. 9.00 – 09.30 Businesses Registration and Welcome Coffee

h. 9.30 – 11.00

- Enrico Minniti, General Manager and Vice President of the board of directors of Unicredit Bulbank – Welcome speech

- Pietro Luigi Ghia, President of Confindustria Bulgaria- Welcome speech

- Cinzia Bruno, Director of Italian Trade Agency ITA Sofia

- Aldo Andreoni, Senior Banker, Corporate, Investment and Private Banking division – Presentation of the opportunities in Bulgaria

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

h. 11.00 – 12.30 B2B meetings with businesses associated to Confindustria Bulgaria already planned

h. 12.30 – 14.00 Launch and Networking

h. 14.00 – 14.30 Registration of Bulgarian associated businesses and welcome coffee

h. 14.30 – 15.00 Brief and presentation of the Italian Businesses by Roberto Tortelotti and Raffaele De Risi

h. 15.00 – 18.00 B2B meetings with the associated Bulgarian societies

DOWNLOAD : Entrepreneurial Mission Agenda

DOWNLOAD: Delegation of Italian Businesses participating at the event

WITNESSES

Witnesses and references of businesses which participated in the event are available. However, to win access to these information a manifestation of interest for the future mission in the phase of organization and a qualification through the business references are needed.

2. WHY INVESTING IN BULGARIA AND IN THE BALKANS

MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK IN BULGARIA

Bulgaria recorded a growth occurred in the triennial 2006-2008, and subsequently had a crisis in 2009. However, the data which refer to 2010 and 2011 reflect signs of recovery of the Bulgarian economy. Moreover, since 2012 a fundamental stabilization of the tendential development and a marked vitality on the trades, in particular on the export (export over the border) with foreign countries have been observed. Besides, a recovery of the domestic demand and a noticeable improvement of the coefficient of absorption of the doing business and European funds have occurred. The GDP (gross domestic product) on 2014 stood at EUR 42,8 billion ( Source: UniCredit Bulbank, 2016), recording an annual growth of 1.5%.

In 2015 Italy was promoted from third to second in the classification of the business partners of Bulgaria, after Germany, and only in the first six months of 2015 a 6,5% noticeable increase in foreign trade. The foreign trade between Italy and Bulgaria amount to over EUR 4 billion. The buying of Bulgarian goods from Italy gathered mainly in the mechanics, engineering, precision mechanics, durable instrumental goods, metals and clothing sectors. A good percentage of the businesses is addressed to the luxury footwear and footwear sectors, textile sector, equipment and machinery of general usage, and products resulting from oil and natural sources. For what concerns the total Italian foreign direct investments (FDI) in Bulgaria, they reached EUR 1,4 billion in 2014 and in particular the FDI net transactions for 2014 from Italy stand at around EUR 19 billion (MFA).

DOWNLOAD COUNTRY PROFILE (English): Bulgaria country profile (Source SACE, year 2016)

DOWNLOAD COUNTRY PROFILE (English): economic and financial statement of Bulgaria (Sourc Unicredit Bulbank, year 2016)

DOWNLOAD (English): index from the dal National Statistical Institute, Republic of Bulgaria 2016

POLITIC AND ECONOMIC STABILITY IN BULGARIA AND DOING BUSINESS FAVOURABLE INDEX

• INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS : Bulgaria is a member state of the European Union, of the WTO (World Trade Organization) and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization )

• CHANGE: the currency stability is guaranteed through the fixed change with euro of: 1 Euro = 1.96 BGN (lev)

• PUBLIC DEBT : Bulgaria has the second lower public debt on the European Union (around 17% of GDP) and one of the lower budget deficit of EU (2.1%) in 2011

• AVERAGE OF POLITICAL RISK 43% (Source: SACE, 2016)

• DOING BUSINESS INDEX : 38° of 189 countries (52 days to register a business)

• MAIN SECTORS OF OPPORTUNITY : infrastructures, means of transport, instrumental mechanics, energy, railways and building (complete list to follow)

• ITALIAN EXPORT IN THE PRECEDING YEAR : textile and clothing , instrumental mechanics, metals, means of transport, chemistry, others

• MAIN BUSINESS PARTNERS : Germany, Italy follows, then Spain and France

• ITALIAN EXPORT POTENTIAL INCREASE IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS : about EUR 240 billion.

TAX BENEFITS, LOW OPERATING COSTS, SYNTHESIS OF THE ADVANTAGES OF INVESTING IN BULGARIA

• Tax benefits : . The territory of Bulgaria commands one of the most favorable tax regimes of the European Union. The tax rate too for the businesses is fixed flat to 10%. The tax rate for natural persons stands at 10% . However, for the businesses which decide to settle and operate in areas placed in the development plan of the Government or at high unemployment the tax rate is 0% .

• Exemption from indirect tax : there are 2 years of exemption from indirect tax on the added value ( VAT ) for what concerns the import of machinery and equipment committed to investment projects in immobilizations or in fixed credit above EUR 5 billion which generate a return on employment, giving job to at least 50 employees.

• Dividend: tax rate 5% on the dividends and liquidation quota (0% for the residents of the EU).

• Cost of the work : Bulgaria has one of the most competitive costs of the work all over Central and eastern Europe.

• Lease and Users : Bulgaria boasts very low lease costs for different types of offices and users .

• Electricity : in Bulgaria the cost of electricity is very favourable, corresponding to 70% of the european average.

STRATEGIC POSITION OF BULGARIA IN THE HEART OF THE BALKANS

Bulgaria is placed in the heart of the Balkans, representing a natural strategic logistic hub :

• LOGISTIC CORRIDORS: five European corridors Pan-European Corridors (IV, VII, VII, XI, X) which cross the country and give to Bulgaria a remarkable strategic importance for what concerns the connectivity with EU countries.

DOWNLOAD: Pan-European Corridors (English)

• TRACECA : transport program which connects Europe with Caucasus and the Central Asian region.

DOWNLOAD: Infrastructural development plan of the Bulgarian Ministry of Transports, until 2015 (English)

• AIRPORTS: 4 main airports Sofia, Bourgas, Plovdiv and Varna.

• PORTS: 2 ports Varna and Bourgas and different ports placed in the Danube river.

QUALITY HUMAN RESSOURCES IN BULGARIA

• HUMAN SKILLS: the workforce is excellent and highly trained in Bulgaria and speaks more than a foreign language.

• MEDIAN AGE : 62.2 % of the Bulgarian population is in the working age (about 4.6 million people)

• HIGH SCHOLASTIC-EDUCATION LEVEL: each year 60.000 students graduate

• LANGUAGESKILLS: 98% of the students of the high school study a foreign language (in most cases English) and 73% of the students study a second foreign language (German is the first for importance, French to follow, then Spanish and eventually Russian)

• INTERNET : the speed of access and web surfing through the internet in Bulgaria is one of the first for speed in Europe, furthermore the diffusion of the service allows the connection and the access to the internet for almost the whole of population and institutions.

THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE FOR BULGARIA

Although in the last years Bulgaria invested and worked to improve the quality of many aspects of its socio-economic structure, there are some crucial themes for a further development which require attention for the future:

• Continue with the strengthening of the infrastructural network
• Continue with a further extension of the support given to the businesses in particular in terms of access to services and infrastructures
• Improve further the reduction of bureaucracy and fasten the practices
• Reform the justice

THE ROLE OF ITALIAN INVESTMENTS IN BULGARIAN TERRITORY (FDI)

Italy, besides having a key role in Foreign trade as second business partner of Bulgaria with over EUR 4 billion of trade in the last year, is a leading figure in FDI (foreign direct investment) for the Bulgarian economy, thanks to the investments made in Bulgaria from some big Italian businesses and different SME (small and medium enterprises).

In the time lapse passed between 1996 and 2014 the FDI Italian direct investments in Bulgaria, according to the official data of the Bulgarian National Bank, reached a total amount of over EUR 1,4 billion, figure which puts Italy among the main first ten investors in Bulgaria ( after the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, England, Germany, Cyprus, Russia, Switzerland and United States of America).

There is a solid delegation and a significant presence of big Italian enterprises like Enel, Assicurazioni Generali, Mapei, Edoardo Miroglio, Banca Unicredit and Rigoni di Asiago. Furthermore, also the presence of SMEs (Italian small and medium enterprises) of which 300 businesses associated to Confindustria Bulgaria is particularly intense.

The presence of Italian Businesses in Bulgaria has a significant impact also on the global national budget, contributing for around 5% towards the national GDP (gross domestic product), with about EUR 2 billion of annual turnover with consequences on employment for 25.000 jobs.

HIGHLY COMPETITIVE LABOR COST IN BULGARIA, AMONG THE LOWEST IN EUROPE

The labor cost in Bulgaria is one of the lowest among all the European countries. Actually, the average labor cost in this moment stands at around 490 euros per month (NSI data, National Statistical Institute Republic of Bulgaria, 2015).

Obviously, this is an average data, and in many areas of the country wages stand at lower salary levels. However, these areas of the country aren’t always provided with the same infrastructural level of the big urban centers or the main cities of Bulgaria.

At the same time, an excellent quality of the labor force can be detected, especially in the niches sectors and in the technical and informational fields. Some local realities like Plovdiv offer in particular excellent proportions between the labor cost and the quality of the work carried out by the staff.

TAX SYSTEM IN BULGARIA

An aspect that makes Bulgaria an attractive territory is also the tax field. In effects, for what concerns the taxation of the business and individuals Bulgaria offers a flat tax, with a flat rate at 10% for businesses and individuals.It is, as is the case for labor cost. One of lowest tax burdens in the EU (European Union). For what concerns indirect taxes, the VAT standard rate (tax on the added value) applied is equivalent to 20%, but for some specific cases a reduction of the rate to 9% is covered. The different executive governments ruling in the last years reaffirmed in different occasions that the flat tax remains also for the future one of the principles and strategic assets which will drive the fiscal policy of the country.

TRANSPORTS IN BULGARIA

Bulgaria represents an ideal bridge between UE and the countries of the Balkans, Turkey inclusive, as it is placed at the center of the southeast Europe. The country is a regular transitional point for five Pan-Europeans corridors (IV, VII, VIII, IX e X) and is part of TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia) AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION created with the aim of promoting an effective infrastructural network between Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

The corridor VIII in particular, will link Bulgaria to Italy thanks to the ports of Albania. At the moment the Bulgarian government is investing in the adaptation of the railway and motorway networks. In effects the “Trakia” motorway, which is able to link the capital Sofia to the second most important city of the country, that is Plovdiv, and to the port of Burgas in the Black sea, has been finished. The “Struma” motorway stretch to follow, which will link Bulgaria to Greece. For what concerns the air transports the cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna are provided with international airports.

Moreover, in addition to national-flag airlines also the low-cost companies broke into the Bulgarian market strengthening the competition in the civil aeronautical sector. Eventually, it is fair to remember that Bulgaria has two of the most important ports of the Black Sea  in Varna and Burgas  and that the North of Bulgaria it’s part of the fluvial transport system of the Danube. This logistic asset, thanks to the Main Canal, allows the ships to travel and to cover directly the stages from the Black Sea to the North Sea.

HOW THE INSTITUTIONS AND THE EUROPEAN FUNDS AFFECT BULGARIA

The investments of the foreign countries in Bulgaria represent one of the main engines for the growth of GDP and the country. Therefore the attention for the international entrepreneurship is high. The membership to EU (European Union) makes the legal system of the country similar to Italian and other European countries standards. The Europan funds too, which have a great impact on the country, are very important. For the period 2007- 2013, EUR 6,8 billion were earmarked to Bulgaria through the EU Structural FundS. Particularly interesting and effective were also the funds allocated and disbursed through the Competitiveness Operative program, funds earmarked for private businesses. For the European Commission planning period of the European Structural Funds 2014-2020, EUR 7,4 billion have been allocated for Bulgaria, an important amount divided into 7 operative programs:

- Transports EUR 1,6 billion
- Environment EUR 1,5 billion
- Areas on the increase EUR 1,3 billion
- Innovation and competitiveness EUR 1,2 billion
- Human Ressources EUR 0.9 billion
- Governance EUR 0,2 billion
- Science and Education EUR 0,5 billion

To these funds follow the EU resources coming from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and others funds coming from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which allocate EUR 7,5 billion.

PRODUCT SECTORS OF INTEREST IN BULGARIA :

- Agricultural and Food sector
- Textile sector and clothing
- Leather industry and footwear
- Wood industry and furniture
- Energy, renewable energies and natural resources
- Chemical and pharmaceutical industry
- Rubber and plastics manufacture
- Glass and ceramic
- Metals manufacture
- Mechanics, precision mechanics, instrumental and durable goods
- Electronics
- Transport and logistics
- Constructions, building material, real estate and property activities.
- Other manufacturing industries
- Insurance and bank services
- Commerce and marketing
- Environment and ecology
- Informational services, ICT, communication
- Services to businesses
- Tourism, refreshment, hotels

PROMOTERS AND PARTNERS OF THE INITIATIVE:

CONFINDUSTRIA BULGARIA
P.zza Pozitano 2, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 (0) 2 8901420;
Fax: +359 (0) 2 8901424
segreteria@confindustriabulgaria.bg

INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF UNICREDIT BULBANK
1000 Sofia, 8 Aksakov Str.

ITA BULGARIA (Italian Trade Agency)
Bul. knyaghinya Maria Luisa, 2
Business Center TZUM, 1000 Sofia Bulgaria

OTHER PARTNERS OF CONFINDUSTRIA, 2016

- CONFINDUSTRIA BALCANI
- SIMEST (WORLDWIDE ITALIAN ENGAGEMENT)
- BE BULGARIA ENGINEERING
- ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI
- KRIB
- UNIVERSITY OF NATIONAL AND WORLD ECONOMY
- IL SOLE 24 ORE BUSINESS SCHOOL

SOURCES FOR THE ARTICLE: “Entrepreneurial Mission in Bulgaria”

- Confindustria Bulgaria
- www.confindustriabulgaria.bg

- International Center of UniCredit Bulbank
- http://www.unicreditbulbank.bg/en/index.htm

- ITA (Italian Trade Agency)
- http://www.italtrade.com/

- SACE
- http://www.sace.it/en

- SACE Country Risk Map
- http://www.doingbusinessibs.it/news/generali/country-risk-map-scopri-gli-strumenti-sace/?lang=it

- Ministry of Transport GOV Bulgaria
- http://www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0136&g=

- National Statistical Institute Republic of Bulgaria
- http://www.nsi.bg/en

- TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia),
- http://www.traceca-org.org/en/traceca/

- EU STRUCTURAL FUNDS
- http://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/funds_it.htm

INCOMING CHINA CHINESE COMPANIES B2B MEETING

INCOMING CHINESE DELEGATION AND B2B MEETINGS WITH CHINESE COMPANIES

IBS is proud to announce the collaboration with primary and consolidated Italian Association which cooperates permanently for many years with bodies and official bilateral agencies of foreign trade development and investments between Italy and China, together with an international prestigious network and consulting and law firms officially approved by the Chinese government.

AIMS:

Such collaboration make possible to organize in fully equipped locations in Milan or in Rome major events, in which, delegations of Chinese companies, with specific and predetermined aims, meet Italian companies interested in investing in China, or in exporting in the People’s Republic of China or interested in importing made in China quality products.

INSTITUTIONAL INVOLVED PARTNERS AND QUALITY OF THE CHINESE COMPANIES VISITING ITALY:

The organizational structure involves official agencies of promotion and development of trade relations between Italy and China and promotion agencies of investments which in turn are linked with the Chinese government. In the incoming activity in Italy, regional and municipal offices responsible for the foreign trade and the industrial sector of an entire China region are involved.
Through these bodies, a selection of most significant companies in the region is possible, together with internationally high-performing companies, of which the reliability and the interest in having a dialogue with Italian companies are well known. Chinese companies actively interested in building profitable and long-term trade or strategic relations with Made in Italy companies or companies endowed with high expertise and/or high technology or strongly innovative processes.
One of the official involved bodies is the prestigious CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade) that through its offices displaced in various regions and municipalities, controls efficiently the development strategies of the territory, having financings and funds directly distributed by government bodies.

WHICH COMPANIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE INCOMING OF CHINESE COMPANIES IN ITALY?

All the interested companies in the territory of China or in the specific region involved in the incoming.
All the companies that having analysed the aims of Chinese companies visiting Italy, consider them compatible and aligned with their own aims of commercial or strategic development.
The industrial sector of a region is involved, so all the commodities sectors of companies that are part of it or the most significant are considered.
Examples of commodities sectors: mechanical engineering, precision mechanical engineering and capital goods, textile, fashion and textile machinery, energy, renewable energy and energy saving, electronics, services, medical field, chemical and chemical-pharmaceutical industry, IT etc.

IN WHICH WAY THE ITALIAN COMPANY CAN EXPRESS ITS INTEREST AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS WITH THE COMPANIES OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION?

B2B meetings and business meetings focalised on specific aims also in the context of conferences and seminars are frequently organised. There are two ways to which you can participate:

A. Expressing interest in being contacted in the context of an incoming of Chinese companies. As soon as we know the Chinese companies supporter of each event and their aims, we shall communicate the details to the interested Italian company and we shall collect the confirmation of support to B2B meetings.

B. The Italian company can communicate to us in advance its aims or the ideas of development relating to China territory, or the typology of the Chinese company of interest, specifying the characteristics that it should have so that the support to meetings may represent an added value.

This will allow us to communicate in advance to the various Italian and Chinese bodies the request of the Italian company, and Chinese body involved in the selection of supporting companies to the incoming will be able to make targeted choices.

THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE POST:

1. RESULTS OF THE SHAOXING CHINESE DELEGATION INCOMING OF THE 14TH – 15TH NOVEMBER 2016 AND STILL OPEN OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FOLLOW-UP
2. PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
3. PROJECTS
4. BODIES AND INSTITUTIONS BEING PART OF THE SHAOXING DELEGATION
5. DESCRIPTION OF THE SHAOXING REGION
6. GENERIC LIST OF COMMODITIES SECTORS FOR CHINA

1. RESULTS OF THE SHAOXING CHINESE DELEGATION INCOMING AND FOLLOW-UP, EVENT OF 14TH – 15TH NOVEMBER 2016 IN MILAN CATHEDRAL AREA

After the conclusion of the event and B-to-B meetings, it is still open the opportunity for Italian companies interested in the region of Shaoxing to have relations with the companies supporters of the incoming and reported through a summary description to follow, or with other unlisted companies of the region.
Please make contact with IBS and indicate your interest: CONTACT US
The region interested by the incoming was Shaoxing, that can be considered for its logistics, technological innovation, the presence of companies equipped with high technology and know-how, one of the most important or the most important pole of China. The textile and mechanic-textile sectors stand out, however also the mechanic, car, energy, energy saving and environment protection, chemical, chemical-pharmaceutical and medical sectors are important. There are also excellences in the technologic field, in the scientific innovation and patents, IT e Food.
As regards to the textile sector which represent the feather in the cap of the region:
- In the face of 5 millions of inhabitant, about 70,000 people work in the textile industry
- Shaoxing is considered the first global pole for ties and socks
- In Shaoxing there is the production of 10 % of the business relating to chemical fiber
- There are companies and producers of high-end fabrics
- The turnover of the region is approximately 690 billions of USD, that is comparable to the GDP of Switzerland.

2. CHINESE COMPANIES WHICH ATTEND THE B2B MEETINGS:

COMPANY A

Situated in an area of national development, with excellent roads and local economic development, the integrated company is in the high-end sector of equipment for research and development, production, and commercialisation of knitting, with a mainly scientific approach. The company occupies 30,000 square meters and employs more than 300 employees, has national patents and research personnel focused on the first-class professional knitting machines, and has more than 400 groups of production and advanced equipment, with the best production capacity of the sector. The principal product of the company is a knitwear completely made with computer systems, (of which it has the intellectual property rights), and of excellent quality, that realizes a perfect structure, with established standards, at an affordable price. It is endowed with a perfect service of after-sale, realizing products that were liked very much, in the global world of glove production, being sold all over the world.

AIMS: is looking for a technical and commercial cooperation for its external expansion.

COMPANY B

Situated in an economic and technological development area in Hangzhou Bay of national level, the company occupies 200 acres and the built-up area is approximately 100,000 square meters. It employs more than 1,100 people, mainly for the production of pharmaceutical products, intermediate colorants, surfactants, high-quality textile auxiliaries, other biological agents. For example, the yearly production of nitro-aniline is of 25,000 tons, and the yearly value is 300 million yuan. Over the years, the activity has been in constant progress, with a good profitability, the right development, and is looking for a new opportunity of development especially through projects of international cooperation.

AIMS: is looking for joint venture and cooperation on chemical products and in the business of environmental protection.

COMPANY C

It is focused on international trade, combining and integrating industrial production, trade, and high-tech. Its production is varied, realizing all kinds of high-quality fabrics. It’s a company respectful of the environment, with a highly professional production especially in the sector of bed linen and fabrics intended for furniture. The registered capital of the society is 15 million dollars, and the current turnover is 258 million yuan. It extends on a surface of approximately 120 acres, and the buildings of the factory occupy approximately 80,000 square meters, employing more than 650 workers. There are: the printing and the laboratory of fabric dyeing, with 10 lines of production of the rotating screen print, a line of production of pads for dyeing, dyes coming from Japan, Germany, South Korea, Italy, and the products are exported to United States, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and other European countries. The company has passed the certification of the quality system and the environmental certification, and the cotton products registered with their own brand, are famous in Shaoxing. It enjoys a great reputation in the national and foreign textile market and has reached levels of excellence in the customer satisfaction.

AIMS: is looking for international commercial partners for the distribution of fabrics and technologies of the sector for environmental protection, in addition to technical partnerships.

COMPANY D

It is situated in the special area of Keqiao that is the biggest centre of textile distribution of the world. The company is mainly committed to manufacture of cotton, wool, linen fabrics and clothing in chemical fiber, printing and dyeing, sandblasting, with 300 workers on the permanent staff. The company has excellent products and sales are managed very professionally. The team of experts, after the development and expansion of the company for 14 years, has stabilized a good technic support and efficient after-sale service. At the end of 1980, the company started working in the sector of textile printing and dye-work, and to this day has gained a big know-how in the sector. Today it is very directed on investments dedicated to automation of production process, to the implementation of sales network and to a mechanization more and more “intelligent”.

AIMS: in the international field is interested in export of textile products and in the import of technologies and machinery for textile production.

3. ONGOING PROJECTS (in relation to follow-ups and opportunities for Italian companies):

PROJECT A: Eco-industrial Park

The eco-industrial park has as priority aim the industrial cooperation with EU in the sector of energy saving, and the import from Europe of advanced technologies, on green domestic energy, on bio-construction, on energy efficiency and environmental protection. It has already realized demonstrations of ecological footprint, industrial agglomeration of subjects directed to research and development, production, integration and assembly of machinery, international trade, international exchange and cooperation, etc. The industrial park has two parts: one is placed in the coastal zone of the city, in the zone of economic and technological development of Hangzhou Bay, has 81 acres of regional planning, and the built-up area is 20,000 square metres, mainly composed of buildings to be used as offices for meetings, training, trials, demonstrations, scientific and technological tests. The other part has 1,500 acres of surface and mainly gathers companies of industrial production, integrated assembly, and other manufacturing companies.

AIMS: is interested in partnerships in the field of “green” technological innovation and in targeted projects.

PROJECT B: COMPANY Precision Machinery

The company was founded with the share capital of 120 million yuan and a registered working capital of $ 2.2 million. It has 15 integrated machineries for automatic processing of pads. The yearly production of high precision with low noise is 50 million of products strictly bearing the sector certification, in accordance with the quality management system TS16949 of production. The products are widely used in cars, appliances, equipment for office, textile, clothing and other sophisticated parts for a mechanical transmission. The annual turnover relating to sales is 100 million yuan.

AIMS: is interested in partnerships with sectoral companies with high specialization.

PROJECT C: professional transmissions

The company is situated in an area of economic and technological development, produces professional transmissions for trucks, engineering for mechanical gears, gears and torque converters for industrial transmissions and other high-tech mechanical products. Production, sale, and assistance occupy a surface of 100,000 square meters. Market shares, variety, dimensions and quality of products produced, they make it one of the first national sector companies since its birth, with a national supremacy in the technologies of production and a strong capacity for development of the product. The yearly production capacity is 100,000 series of reducers. The principal products are for domestic forklift truck and other parts for builders of building machines. Among the clients also the German Zf, Mitsubishi in Japan, and other main producers in USA and Europe.

AIMS: is interested in commercial partnerships and in the development of innovative technologies.

PROJECT D: Power Machinery

The company sells engines and accessories, with a development, production, and sale export-oriented unit. The company extends on a surface of 135,000 square meters. More than 1,200 employees, more than 250 engineers, and technicians. It has a partnership with the United States and Japan in the sector of advanced of production and improvement of equipment for test laboratories. The company has also a set of advanced AVL machinery for emission tests, imported from Austria. The company also has spectrometers imported from Germany, CMMs, projectors, and other survey equipment. The company is classified as a high-tech national company, with patenting activity, a center of R&D and the annual production capacity will reach 2.5 million units.

AIMS: is interested in commercial and technological cooperation.

PROJECT E: Machinery Manufacturing

The company was founded in a commercial area of 150,000 square meters, worths 150 million yuan, more than 650 workers. The company has passed the ISO9001 certifications of quality management, has won several prizes through brand products in the province of Zhejiang, is one of the biggest companies in the sector in the province of Zhejiang, and among the main high-tech national companies, famous for an ownership brand, one of the most famous trademarks in China. In 2010 sales amounted to 1 billion dollars, the company has already a 30 years history in the production of textile machinery. An independent design, development, product capacity of advanced textile machinery. Main products are: pump-jet looms, electronic looms for jacquard towels. Products are exported to Vietnam, Thailand, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya and other countries, and are sold all over the country, with great satisfaction of clients.

AIMS: is interested in commercial and technological cooperation.

4. INSTITUTIONAL BODIES BEING PART OF THE SHAOXING DELEGATION

COMMERCE MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF SHAOXING

Department of Shaoxing People’s Government, in the province of Zhejiang, which oversees the national and provincial commerce of the province, international trade, organization of foreign investments, foreign investment promotion, economic cooperation, observance of regulations, rules and policies included, also drafts normative documents.

THE SERVICE CENTRE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS OF SHAOXING

Governmental service company capable of promoting foreign investments in Shaoxing, delegated to give sector consultative information, political guidance, business matching with Chinese companies, supervising on the business, supporting start-ups also with free services reserved to foreign investors in Shaoxing.

THE ECONOMIC COMMITTEE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF SHAOXING

It organizes the industrial development strategy in the sector of information technologies, organizes special development programs of industry and Information Technology, according to sector standards, orientation, supervision, and control on their application included.

SUPERVISION OFFICE ON THE TECHNOLOGY QUALITY OF SHAOXING CITY

Responsible for the management of quality policies, standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, use of special equipment and supervision of sector security in the Shaoxing city, province of Zhejiang.

THE AREA OF KEQIAO

The area of Keqiao under the jurisdiction of the Shaoxing city, province of Zhejiang, is an important part of the Shaoxing metropolitan city, has a surface of 1066 square kilometers, and its population is 650,000 people. The area of Keqiao is the site of three excellences so-called “the best of China”: the complete production chain of the textile industry, the biggest capacity of textile production, the biggest professional market. It has 17 single markets, and its total market has more than 25,000 registered retailers. Every year almost a quarter of textile products of national global production are commercialized through city structures. The sales network covers 187 countries and territories.

THE ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT AREA OF PAOJIANG

The economic and technologic development Paojiang area of Shaoxing covers an area of 118.3 square kilometers, the population is 300,000 inhabitants. The development area is a pole of excellence where mainly companies dedicated to high-profile planning, high-quality manufacturing, industries for high-efficiency development are based, and the area has seen the development of mechanical engineering industry, electronics, food and beverage, environment protection, new materials, biomedicine, latest generation textile sectors.

THE ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL POLE OF KEQIAO ZONE

It is one of the first development poles at the provincial level of Zhejiang province, where the high-tech provincial industrial park has been instituted, a national zone of economic and technological development. The development zone includes traditional sectors of textile, but also electrical machinery, production of car parts, development of strategical emerging industries and high-tech industries, as the car components, electronics and domestic appliances, new energy, new materials, Mechatronics, construction industry, biomedicine, production of smart equipment and other.

THE ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ZONE OF SHANGYU IN HANGZHOU BAY

The economic and technological development zone at the national level of Shangyu in Hangzhou Bay is dedicated to the development of strategical emergent industries and high-end service industry, as the production of sophisticated equipment, car components, innovative energy production, new materials, ecological electrical appliances and other. The development zone has realized urbanely a harmonization between industrial installation and equipped urban green. Rixin Technology Park and Zhongdan eco-industrial park are international industrial parks realized together to speed up the building.

5. REGION OF SHAOXING: GENERAL DESCRIPTION, STRATEGIC POSITION, BUSINESS SECTOR OF EXCELLENCE, GREAT SERVICES FOR COMPANIES WHO ARE SETTING UP AND FACILITIES / FUNDS

OLD CITY RICH IN CHARM, CULTURE, AND AT THE SAME TIME FACES UP TO DEVELOPMENT WITH GREAT DYNAMISM

- Among the first historical and cultural Chinese cities
- Among the first tourist cities of excellence
- City of national civic engagement
- Among the first Chinese cities for environmental protection
- Advanced city for the technological progress
- Prize for the urban residential environment
- Prize for the human residents of UN
- National garden city
- 9 universities
- 20 secondary training schools
- 180 secondary ordinary schools

STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION, URBAN CONNOTATION AND ECONOMIC PROFILE

- It has a surface of 8,256 square kilometers
- Population: 4.956 million inhabitants
- 3 districts, 2 cities, 1 county
- It is in the north of Zhejiang province, 200 km to Shanghai, 60 km to Hangzhou, 120 km to Ningbo
- From the urban point of view, the city has a history of 2500 years, is called “the country of water, wine, bridge, calligraphy, intellectual celebrities”
- In 2015 the municipality registered a GDP of 446.7 billion CNY, a per capita GDP of 90,017 CNY
- Chinese golden medal city for environment investments, 4 development zones at the national level, 8 economic development parks at the provincial level.
- Roads and logistics: high-speed trains, 6 motorways, seaport, airport.

8 INDUSTRIES OF GREAT IMPORTANCE

- HIGH-END TEXTILE: new textile materials, textile products for high-performance industries, ecological dye, fashion.
- PRODUCTION OF ADVANCED EQUIPMENT: textile dye, robots and smart production, equipment for high performances, energy saving, modern medical machines, modern farm equipment, cars powered by new energies and advanced equipment for traffic management.
- METAL PRODUCTS: emergent metal products of medium and high-end, iron and steel industry, calendaring of new nonferrous metals.
- VITAL HEALTH: health production (medicine, health care products, medical equipment), and health service.
- CULTURAL TOURISM: comic strip, cinematography, innovative design, sport, and culture.
- ECONOMY AND IT: production of electronic information, software and e-commerce service, intelligent production, financed through the internet, cloud calculation, big data, etc.
- MODERN ARCHITECTURE: industrial chain from design to production, to construction and management until logistics.
- GREEN CHEMICAL MATERIALS: biopharmaceutical, new chemical materials, medical equipment, green ecological dyestuffs, pesticides, intermediate pharmaceutical products, special chemical products.

6. GENERIC PRODUCT SECTORS:

- Industrial sector of mechanical engineering, capital, and durable goods, mechanical engineering of accuracy
- Textile sector, clothing, fashion, textile machines, and equipment
- Manufacture of rubber and plastics
- Chemical, chemical-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industry
- Energy and natural resources sector, renewable energy, technology and components, environment and ecology
- Footwear and tanning industry
- Sector of furnishings and wood industry, paper, paper stationery, publishing and printing
- Electronics and electronic components, information technology, ITC, communication
- Logistics and transports
- Glass and ceramic industry
- Metal and metal alloy manufacture
- Industry of building materials, buildings, real estate business
- Commerce and distribution, insurance and banking services, business services
- Agri-food industry
- Catering, hospitality, tourism.

LINKS

- CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade)
- www.physeon.eu
- www.highqualityitaly.it

BUSINESS MATCHING, B2B MEETINGS, BUSINESS MISSIONS ABROAD

GOALS:

- Participate in Business Matching meeting, B2B meetings, business missions abroad organised by IBS and INADVANCE, in order to give to companies interested in export and internationalization, the opportunity to meet commercial operators and strategical traders for the business development abroad.

WHY TAKE PART?:

- Because there are 4000 international companies from different sectors, linked to our operation system which may represent to you, potential contacts, customers, suppliers and business partners; and trader operators who organise special conferences in order to let you meet.
- Strengthen business relationships with developed and emerging countries.
- Facilitate networking processes and useful interactions between delegations of different countries and Italian entrepreneurs, thanks to our company network.

SECTORS:

- Agri-food;
- Chemistry;
- Cosmetic;
- Energy;
- Infrastructures;
- Steel industry;
- Packaging;
- Textile;
- Commercial vehicles.

B2B AND BUSINESS MISSIONS MEETINGS SCHEDULE :

• Company analysis and commercial strategy evaluation
• Business-to-business meetings with foreign interested counterparts;
• Customised agenda of “one to one” business matching in Italy and abroad.
• Customers welcome and assistance during meetings.
• Continuous support by one of our experts
• Detailed report after meetings

CALENDARY:

The calendar of meeting will be created in agreement with the company needs.

SCHEDULED EVENTS – Book your participation

ORGANISERS:

IBS supports Italian companies, especially SME to enter in foreign markets, strengthening business relationships with foreign parts. This is possible thanks to its DESKS which are placed in different foreign zones. It has professional experts who advise entrepreneurs in their businesses and safely integrate them in the most suitable markets through analysis and accurate strategies.

INADVANCE supports companies in the strategical changing process of their business toward new markets. The Inadvance method puts into action business goals, making change a competitive advantage. It gives to its customers a clear vision of the path and it guarantees to companies a solid structure in order to face foreign market challenges.

INFORMATION ABOUT B2B AND BUSINESS MISSION MEETINGS

FAQ
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM – READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE SENDING SITES

FAQ – WHAT TO CONSIDER

WHICH ARE THE LANDS / SITES TO CONSIDER ?

- Agricultural lands larger than 10 Hectares to be connected in high voltage power ( HV / MV ) through Single Authorization
- Agricultural lands from 5 – 6 Hectares to be connected in medium voltage power ( MV ) through Single Authorization
- Industrial lands from 3 Hectares ( without superior limit ) to be connected with medium voltage ( MV ) or high voltage power ( HV ) through Single Authorization
- Both agricultural and industrial lands of 2 Hectares and power less than 1 MW through simplified authorisation procedure .
EXCEPTIONS :
- Abruzzi : it is better to focus on industrial lands because of the current legislation
- Lombardy : it is better to focus on industrial lands because of the current provisions
- Sardinia : currently it is only possible installing on industrial lands
CHARACTERISTICS OF SITES :
- Mostly flat lands or with a moderate slope ( less than 15 % )
- Only a few investors adopt the fixed system and so they accept higher slopes

FAQ – WHAT TO SEND
WHICH INFORMATION SHOULD I SEND FOR EACH LAND IN THE PRELIMINARY PHASE ?

1. KMZ WITH THE PERIMETER OF THE LAND
How to download Google Earth to produce it : https://www.google.it/earth/download/gep/agree.html
If you have any doubts about how to trace the KMZ perimeter of the land and to save the file with kmz extension :
- Guided explanation : http://www.doingbusinessibs.it/news/opportunita/google-earth/?lang=it
- YouTube video : Click here
- Telephone support for tracing it : +39 348 29 20 146. ( required time 2 minutes )
Question : Why are number of cadastral sheet and parcels, cadastral document or map sheet not sufficient ?
Answer : Because the first analysis is about the conformation of the site and the costs of the electrical connection , therefore the KMZ is indispensable to carry out all the checks .

2. GENERAL TAB
Question : What is the tab completed through Excel file for ?
Answer : to enter the general information ( Region, Province, Municipality ), if the ownership is interested in ceding the leasehold estate or in selling the site, if the economic expectations are known . In addition it is very important to specify if there is any mortgage, community contribution or something else that should be highlighted about the site .
LINK to download the Excel file : Click here

3. CADASTRAL INFORMATION AND CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTION ANALYSIS
Minimum information required : number of cadastral sheet and parcels
Information to be attached when available : cadastral map / title search, certificate of town planning use class
NOTES :
- After the checks the certificate of town planning use class will be mandatory for all sites
- The certificate of town planning use class is necessary even in the early stage for small fields ( 3, 4, 5 Hectares) . If available, it is better to attach the mentioned certificate, for other bigger fields ( more than 10 Hectares ), otherwise it will be requested by the land owner to the city hall after the confirmation of interest, before proceeding .
- Exception for small sites where the certificate of town planning use class will arrive or it has already been requested: in that case the rest of the documents can be sent and when the certificate will arrive, the documentation will be completed with the missing document . The same is true if the certificate is not available, but the city hall or someone else has made a verification of restrictions and it is able to demonstrate that the site is suitable and there are no restrictions .

4. TRANFORMER CABINETS

- We have the Italian trasmission grid with the map of high-voltage and extra – high voltage transformer cabinets, for lands larger than 10 Hectares to be connected in high voltage .
- For small lands ( 3 – 6 Hectares ), we have a partial map of the medium voltage transformer cabinets, therefore we appreciate a picture of the M.V. transformer cabinet close to the land, with its Google coordinates, so that we can see if it is suitable and measure the distance from the land .

FAQ – WHAT TO AVOID
WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU SEND THE DOCUMENTS ?

Here there are some guidelines in the light of the problems experienced during our business. It is recommended to follow as much as possible these procedures for a proper management of the flow of information .
1. USE THE EMAIL
To optimize the time, avoid getting confused or even worse, risk losing documents or information. Save in exceptional cases, all documents have to be sent by e-mail . The use of Whatsapp is allowed in special cases for heavy attachments or after agreeing to derogate from the rule .

2. SEND A SITE WHEN ALL THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
Since we receive numerous lands and sites from all Italy every day and considering the existence of a coordination centre with competent technicians ( electrical technicians, restriction experts, project and commercial managers, etc. ), it is recommended to send a site when all the information is available, and to specify identification data in the subject line, for additions after the first send, in order to clearly locate the site . Example: 13 Hectares Mr Jack Place Street Region .

3. FILTER THE SITES WITH CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS TO MAKE THEM UNSUITABLE AT FIRST SIGHT
We ask you to filter sites presenting inappropriate characteristics for the installation of photovoltaic panels and where this is clearly evident :
- Wide coverings of shrubs .
- Olive groves where the shift in an identified area has not already been defined by the owner . This happens because the presence of olive trees or protected plants determine the application of strict rules and so in most cases it is not possible to uproot them but they must be replanted elsewhere .
- Lands with an high slope and incompatible with the installation of panels, unless areas with high slopes invest a small or limited portion, compared to the overall attractiveness of the site . However, another aspect less clear ( where we carry out internal checks ) is the situation in which there is a not excessive slope but that is opposite to that favourable north-south, therefore a south-north slope . This situation leads to less energy performance of the panels and therefore it is less accepted compared to the other slopes .

4. SUBCOLLABORATORS
Those who manage sub – collaborators have to consider it in the sending of documents, by identifying a code or an acronym to place before the name of the site for each collaborator, to correctly direct the land in the appropriate area of competence .

GO BACK TO HOME PAGE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION
IBS ENERGY

FAQ
WIND ENERGY – READ BEFORE SENDING SITES

FAQ – WHAT TO CONSIDER
WHICH ARE THE LANDS TO CONSIDER ?

Agricultural and industrial lands, dimension depending on the installable power, preferably lands situated on ridges and summits, generally sites exposed to strong wind, wind speed equal to or higher than 5 meters per second ( > 5 mt / s ) , measured according to the annual average wind speed at 100 mt a.l.l. / a.s.l. ( 100 mt above land level / above sea level ) .
HOW TO VERIFY WINDINESS
- Go to the website Interactive Wind Atlas http://atlanteeolico.rse-web.it/
- Select : “ Annual average wind speed at 100 mt a.l.l. / a.s.l. “ at the left
- Zoom the map in the area of interest and focus on yellow, orange, pink, purple, light blue and blue areas, with wind speed equal to or higher than 5 meters per second ( > 5 mt / s )

FAQ – WHAT TO SEND

WHICH INFORMATION DO I HAVE TO SEND FOR EACH LAND INITIALLY ?

1. FILE .KMZ WITH THE PERIMETER OF THE LAND
How to download Google Earth to produce the KMZ: https://www.google.it/earth/download/gep/agree.html
If you have any doubts about how to trace the KMZ perimeter of the land and save it with .kmz extension :
- Guided illustration : http://www.doingbusinessibs.it/news/opportunita/google-earth/?lang=it
- Watch the YouTube video : Click Here
- Telephone support to trace the KMZ : +39 348 29 20 146. ( required time 2 minutes )
Question : Why are number of cadastral sheet and parcels, cadastral document or map sheet not sufficient ?
Answer : Because the first verification focuses on conformation of the site and costs of electrical connection, therefore the KMZ file is fundamental for the checks .

2. GENERAL TAB
Question : Why do I have to send the completed Excel file ?
Answer : for basic information ( Municipality, Province, Region ), to know if the owner wants to cede the leasehold estate or he prefers to sell the land, and the possible economic expectations, if known . It is also important to indicate if there is any mortagage, community or non-repayable contribution and other information that must be highlighted about renting or sale of the land .
LINK for downloading the Excel file : Click Here

3. CADASTRAL DOCUMENT AND INFORMATION FOR RESTRICTION ANALYSIS
Minimum information required : Cadastral sheet and Parcels
Information to be attached when available : cadastral map / title search from the Italian Revenue Agency, certificate of town planning use class
Additional NOTES :
- After verifications, you will need to request the CDU to the city hall for all sites, before proceeding .
- At an early stage the CDU is fundamental also for sites of 3 – 6 Hectares . For sites larger than 10 Hectares if the CDU is available you can attach it, otherwise it will be requested by the owner to the Ufficio Urbanistica e Territorio (Urban Planning Office and Territory) of your Municipality after confirmation, before proceeding .
- Exceptions for small lands where the certificate of town planning use class has been requested : in that case the available documents can be sent before the CDU . However, if the CDU has not yet been requested, you can propose convincing arguments stating that the land has no restrictions of any kind .

FAQ – WHAT TO AVOID
IN THE SENDING OF DOCUMENTS

Here there are some guidelines in the light of the problems experienced during our business . We suggest you to follow these modalities for a better information management .

1. USE ONLY THE MAIL TO SEND DOCUMENTS
All the documents must be sent by e-mail to avoid confusion or to risk losing information and documents . Except when the sending via Whatsapp is accepted for heavy attachments, anyway after agreeing the modality with IBS .

2. SEND A LAND WHEN ALL THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
We receive daily several sites from numerous Regions therefore, it is important to send a land when the information is entirely available, in order to facilitate the information sharing to technicians ( restriction experts, electrical and commercial technicians, project managers ). For additional documents and additions after the first sending, it is recommended to specify the details of the site in the subject line, so that it is identifiable uniquely . Example: 20 Hectares Mr. Johnson Place Street Region .

3. SUBCOLLABORATORS
For collaborators who manage subcollaborators, when sending documents use an acronym or code for each collaborator to be indicated before the name of the land, to save the data of the site in the appropriate archive .

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION
IBS ENERGY

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italiano.

BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION ( BTS )

BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION ( BTS )

On behalf of service providers and phone companies, IBS looks for lands or host buildings on which to install BTS antennas ( base transceiver station ). It sends an authorization request to the authorities and takes care of the licensing process up to the “ cantierabilità ” ( the possibility of starting a building process ).

The BTS antennas or base transceiver stations are devices and equipments connected to the mobile phone . Their function is to receive and transmit the signal of mobile phones, allowing the transmission of the signal in bands of different frequencies, between 900 MHz and 2100 MHz, depending on the devices, that can be GSM, DCS, UMTS LTE, point – to – multipoint, digital mobile television DVB – H, Wi – Fi systems and WiMAX .

AND REQUIREMENTS OF BTS ANTENNAS

TO INSTALL BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION ANTENNAS :

- Lands of a few dozen square meters adjacent to densely populated urban areas ( high population density per square kilometre )
- The BTS antennas ( base transceiver station ) are installed on pylons, poles and different kinds of supports ( aqueduct towers, stakes fixed on the roofs of buildings, etc.)
- The height of the installation should be from 15 to 50 metres
- It is possible to install more BTS antennas ( base transceiver station ) of different companies on the same building .

HOW TO SUBMIT A LAND OR A BUILDING TO INSTALL A BTS ANTENNA ( Base Transceiver Station ):

The owners of the lands or buildings can send us the Google coordinates to check if that spot is appropriate to build a Base Transceiver Station BTS . There will be some checks and in case of a positive response the owner will be contacted to arrange an appointment in situ and an inspection will be made .

CONTACT US

Send an e-mail to info(a)ibsenergy.it or call the number +39 348 29 20 146.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The BTS ( Base Transceiver Stations ) are distributed throughout the territory according to the population density and the number of consumers . They can be positioned a few hundred meters from each other in metropolitan cities and kilometres in outlying areas . The attenuation of the signal caused by different kinds of obstacles ( walls, vegetation, etc. ) should also be taken into consideration .

Each BTS ( Base Transceiver Station ) can only serve a limited portion of territory, called “ cell ”. Its perimeter depends on the users density that needs to be served and the height, type and power of the antennas installed .

In the city centres, together with the traditional BTS ( Base Transceiver Stations ), is also possible to find micro and pico cellular systems . They are short range systems : the microcells can guarantee coverage in the areas where there is an intense telephone traffic while the “ picocells ” are used indoors and are also called extensor of coverage . These devices and systems have a limited visual impact compared to the traditional Base Transceiver Stations and, due to their low power, they can be installed at 3 meters from the ground, generally on the walls of buildings or signs .

PHOTOVOLTAIC MILESTONE

Milestone and main steps of the PV development

IBS is a company that is in joint – venture with structured engineering companies . It has development agreements with Italian and international investors, industrial groups and investment funds that invest in Italy, to create new PV power plants . This is done via a request to the operators of the Terna or Enel national electricity grid and entities in charge of new AU ( Autorizzazione unica : Single authorization ) and PAS ( ‘’ Procedura Abilitativa Semplificata ’’: simplified authorisation procedure ) PV authorisations, depending on the size of the plants to be built .

MILESTONE

RECEIPT OF LAND DOCUMENTS : a KMZ file, number of sheet and parcels, Greenfield land form, CDU ( Certificato di Destinazione Urbanistica : town planning use class certificate, building permit ), Medium – low voltage transformer cabinets and Google Earth coordinate .
- How to make a KMZ file: Guided Procedure / Youtube video
- How to download Greenfield land form : Download Greenfield form ( enter as much information as possible )
- How to correctly identify Medium – low voltage trasnformer cabinets : Cabinets description
- To read all the recommendations and FAQs on the sending of lands : Procedure Guideline

ANALYSIS OF DOCUMENTS : within 1 / 2 days up to a maximum of 7 days, checks on land configuration, inclination, and checks of connection costs to the national electricity grid will be carried out . Furthermore, you will receive the confirmation to proceed with the site through engineering checks on the restrictions . These may require additional days depending on the number of sites being analysed .

SITE ACCEPTANCE : If the result of the ckeck is positive, the land will be confirmed as ‘’ eligible ’’ and presented to an investor .

ACCEPTANCE BY THE INVESTOR : The investor, after ckecking the site and the file received from IBS with regard to its peculiarities, confirms the interest by sending a LOI ( letter of intent ), or via a building lease / purchase of the site contract .

TERMS NEGOTIATION : An agreement that satisfies both the landowner and the investor will be reached right after the terms of sale or cession of the land building lease are negotiated .
- As to the preliminary contract, IBS and engineering partnering companies will demand a connection to electrical networks ( TICA : Amalgamated law of the active connections ) and in 3 / 4 months they will get a reply from Enel or Terna .
- Afterwards, it will be possibile to confirm whether to proceed with the project, and so pay a non – repayable deposit to the landowner .
- The authorization process will be 18 – 24 months long, depending on the Region .
- If the concerned bodies happen to need more than the expected time, a second deposit will be paid to the owner .
- The total duration of the preliminary contract ( 24 / 36 months long depending on the investor ) is longer than the time required to complete the authorization process . Why ? Because contracts tend to protect the investors, who invest a lot of money . The actual times are shorter . Unfortunately, this is also necessary because Italy is known abroad for a quite impacting bureaucracy on procedures .
- However, the effective times of the Single Authorisation are those to be referred to for the drawing up of the final contract .
- The final contract, signed as soon as the Authorisation is ‘ ready to build ’, expects the purchase of land or cession of the building lease for 30 years .

PRELIMINARY CONTRACT SIGNING AND INSPECTION : after the negotiation and the acceptance of the terms laid down in the preliminary contract, an on – the – spot inspection to verify the technical aspects , and to present the investor to the landowner, will be carried out .

CARRYING OUT OF THE PROCESS : The process continues until the land is ‘ ready to build ’ and there is the final contract . The authorization process proceeds and, usually, the Single Authorization will be ‘ ready to build ’ in 18 / 24 months .

LIST OF QUESTIONS

1) How to proceed once the analysis on the site is carried out ?
You move on to the signing of a preliminary contract for the building lease or the purchase .

2) Who makes the preliminary contract ?
It is made on behalf of the engineering company and is then sold to the investor, but in some case it is signed directly by the investor .

3) Who makes the final contract ?
It is done by a notary on behalf of the Investor ( or Investment Fund or Industrial Group ).

4) How much does a Building lease cost ?
The standard market prices are around 2300 / 2500 € per hectare / year, but sometimes it may be higher as the connection to the electricity grid is closer and so costs are lower .

5) What are the Building lease types?
There are two types of Building lease ( DDS ) :
- The one with annual fees for a period of 30 years
- Pay immediately the whole sum but with a 45 – 50 % discount, only if the owner wants to monetize immediately .

6) How much does a land cost ?
It depends on the individual case . The price varies as you have to take into account the connection to the electricity grid costs .

7) And what if the land has partial restrictions ?
There ’s the ‘’ measure selling ’’ method ( buy only the useful part ), and also the ‘’ body selling ’’ method ( buy at a lower cost the unused part to satify the property needs ). But keep in mind that it depends on the case .

MORE LINKS AND INFORMATION

- Photovoltaic Guidelines in PDF format : Download Guidelines ( italian ) or Watch video
- How to calculate connection to the electricity grid flat – rates : Download Excel spreadsheet
- How to check the progress made by the Single Athorization ( AU ): Go to Status AU page

DOWNLOAD ZIP FILE WITH DOCUMENTS TO PRESENT SITES

- Word file with general information on the sites
- Excel file Greenfield land form
- KMZ example
- Medium – low voltage transformer cabinets example
- Medium – low voltage trasnformer cabinets example, through a Pylon transformer

DOWNLOAD ZIP FILE

Thank you for you COOPERATION !

RETURN TO PHOTOVOLTAIC PAGE

TRANSFORMER CABINET

TRANSFOMER CABINETS OR SUBSTATIONS

MEDIUM VOLTAGE
After the soil analysis, you have to find the nearest electric line or transformer cabinet to connect the photovoltaic system . For 5 – 10 MW photovoltaic systems the connection is done through the ENEL local grid in medium voltage 15 – 20 KW :
- Connection to the MV shunt electric line
- Direct connection to the HV / MV ( 132 / 20 KV ) substation in antenna

HIGH VOLTAGE
For photovoltaic systems with more than 10 MW power, the connection is done by TERNA << TSO >>, the italian trasmission grid operator that manages HV ( high voltage 150 – 132 – 64 KW ) and HEV ( extra – high voltage 380 – 230 KW ) electrical grids .
- Direct connection with medium voltage electric line to the HV / MV substation in antenna ( if the are stalls availaible )
- Bulding of a HV / MV substation and maiking a shunt connection to the high voltage electric line in pylon
- Alternatively, building of an overhead power line as far as the HEV / HV substation

EXAMPLES OF MEDIUM VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER CABINET

MEDIUM – LOW VOLTAGE CABINET WITH GOOGLE EARTH COORDINATES

MEDIUM – LOW VOLTAGE CABINET BY PYLON WITH TRANSFORMER ( WITH GOOGLE EARTH COORDINATES )

MEDIUM – LOW VOLTAGE CABINET

MEDIUM – LOW VOLTAGE CABINET

EXAMPLES OF HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER CABINET

HIGH – MEDIUM VOLTAGE CABINET

HIGH – MEDIUM VOLTAGE CABINET

LINK AND DETAILS

The transformer cabinet is intended for one or more of the following functions :
- Transformation
- Conversion
- regulation
- Sorting of electric energy

The transformer cabinet is composed of conductors, devices and machines capable of making available the voltage of medium voltage electric lines ( MV ) to the values of low voltage electric lines ( LV )
Instead, the cabinet of energy sorting is used to allow the derivation from one or more lines of energy input to a larger number of lines of energy ouput, without transformation . It is infact an hub of electricity brunch .
In this regard we must make a distinction between public cabinets and those private ( also called user cabinet )
- The public cabinets are owned by the public bodies of electric energy distribution Enel or Terna and they are used to power the low voltage electricity consumption with single – phase voltage 230 V and three – phase voltage 400 Volt
- The user cabinets are owned by the user and they power medium – large sized private systems ( larger than 100 KW of installed power ), supplying electricity in MV ( medium voltage ). The cabin is composed of three compartments : derivation of medium voltage, the electricity supply user can access ; control room of consumptions and the body / user can access there ; only the user can access to the third compartment : there are transformer, medium and low voltage electric panels managed by the user .

- High voltage
- Medium voltage – Electric power distribution
- Low voltage
- Transformer cabinet HV / MV – Transformer cabinet MV / LV – Distribution transformer
- Power grid – Electrical grid
- Transformer