News - Rome, Italy — Italy has strengthened its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) framework for Southern Italy by extending investment incentives for the ZES Unica, a nationwide special economic zone covering the country’s southern regions.

Established in 2024, the ZES Unica combines the previous regional SEZ structures into a single economic zone designed to attract domestic and international investment, accelerate industrial development, and reduce regional economic gaps.

Under Italy’s 2026 budget measures, the investment tax credit available to companies operating within the ZES Unica has been confirmed for the 2026–2028 period. The program includes approximately €4 billion in allocated resources, with €2.3 billion available in 2026, followed by additional funding in subsequent years.

The incentive supports companies investing in productive assets, including machinery, equipment, and facilities located within eligible areas. Depending on company size and location, investors may receive significant tax benefits to reduce the cost of new industrial projects.

The ZES Unica covers several regions of Southern Italy, including Sicily, Sardinia, Campania, Apulia, Calabria, Basilicata, Molise, Abruzzo, Marche, and Umbria, creating one of Europe’s largest special economic zones by geographic coverage.

Italian authorities have positioned the SEZ as a strategic tool to attract foreign direct investment, strengthen logistics networks, and support sectors linked to energy transition, digital transformation, manufacturing, and innovation.

The government’s objective is to transform Southern Italy into a more competitive investment destination by combining tax incentives, simplified administrative procedures, and infrastructure development.

The ZES Unica represents Italy’s latest approach to special economic zones: moving from fragmented regional incentives toward a unified national framework aimed at attracting large-scale investment and integrating Southern Italy into European and global supply chains.