Moroccan entrepreneurs have a significant presence in Italy, with 53,364 individual business owners as of June 30. This number places Morocco ahead of Romania, which has 52,541 business owners, and China, with 50,166. The data, published by Italy's Unioncamere and InfoCamere, shows that these three communities account for 32.4% of foreign individual business owners in Italy.
The total number of foreign-owned businesses in Italy stands at 677,188, representing 11.6% of the country's 5.82 million registered businesses. A significant proportion, 79%, of foreign-owned businesses are linked to citizens from outside the European Union. Moroccan entrepreneurs are particularly active in the trade sector, with a strong presence in provinces such as Catanzaro, Reggio Calabria, and Messina.
Foreign entrepreneurship in Italy continued to expand during the first half of 2026. Between January and June, 37,140 new foreign-owned businesses opened, while 21,043 ceased operations. This resulted in a positive balance of 16,097 additional businesses. The growth is not limited to small shops and individual enterprises, with companies structured as capital-based entities increasing by 11% over the previous 12 months.
Individual enterprises remain the most common legal structure, accounting for around 70% of the total, although their growth has slowed. More than one-third of foreign-owned businesses have been operating for over 10 years, suggesting a lasting presence in the Italian economy.
A new agreement has been signed between Morocco and Italy to strengthen trade ties and support small and medium-sized enterprises. The memorandum of understanding, signed on October 9, aims to encourage joint ventures and long-term partnerships. Through the Organization for Trade and Industry of Morocco in Italy, Italian companies will receive support in identifying customers, suppliers, and business partners in Morocco.
The report also highlights that foreign entrepreneurship remains concentrated in northern Italy, with Lombardy and the wider northwest accounting for 32.7% of foreign-owned businesses. Southern Italy experienced a 3.6% decline, particularly in Campania and Calabria. Prato, in Tuscany, has the highest proportion of foreign-owned businesses among Italian provinces, at 33.7%.
The growth of foreign-owned businesses in Italy is a significant trend, with many entrepreneurs establishing a lasting presence in the country's economy. The agreement between Morocco and Italy is expected to further boost economic exchanges and support small and medium-sized enterprises.
Key points
- Moroccan nationals rank first among foreign entrepreneurs in Italy with 53,364 individual business owners.
- Foreign entrepreneurship in Italy continued to expand during the first half of 2026, with 16,097 additional businesses.
- A new agreement has been signed between Morocco and Italy to strengthen trade ties and support small and medium-sized enterprises.
