With the collaboration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central or South America Measure strengthens the international competitiveness of Italian companies with strategic interests in Central or South America, supporting their productive and commercial investments, investments for capital strengthening, as well as investments for technological, digital and ecological innovation and staff training expenses.

N.B. measure pursuant to Article 1 of Law No. 207 of 30 December 2024

New: from 16 September 2025, extension of the non-repayable grant up to 20% for innovative start-ups and innovative SMEs. In addition, the offer is enhanced with new eligible expenses related to the identification of new business opportunities.

To Italian companies:

• that intend to invest in  Central and South America or
• that have a permanent presence in Central and South America or export to or source supplies from Central and South America, or
• that are permanent suppliers to the aforementioned companies, in accordance with the requirements set out in Circular 1/394/2025 (Par. 2.2, F)

The instrument allows for the financing of expenses aimed at strengthening the financial soundness of the company, including in Italy, financing the increase in share capital and shareholder loans of the subsidiaries of the applicant company, as well as expenses strictly related to the implementation of investments and the identification of new business opportunities and promotional expenses, including temporary stores, advisory/strategic consulting activities for market entry, travel and accommodation expenses for the development of commercial partnerships with local entities.

In addition, it will be possible to finance expenses for staff training in Italy or Central and South America, travel, entry and regularisation expenses in Italy for recruitment, as well as expenses for employment contracts for the training and integration of staff from Central and South America, subject to the requirements and constraints set out in the relevant Circular.

Maximum amount eligible for financing: the maximum amount of the Subsidy that can be requested is equal to the lesser of:

• 35% of average revenues resulting from the last two financial statements (item A1 of the income statement)
• €500,000 for micro-enterprises; €2,500,000 for SMEs and innovative start-ups; €5,000,000 for other enterprises
• Minimum amount of €10,000

Maximum non-repayable portion:

• up to 20% of the total amount of the subsidy requested, up to a maximum of €200,000.00 and in any case within the limits of the de minimis ceiling available to the enterprise, for enterprises with at least one operational office established for at least six months in a region of Southern Italy or for innovative start-ups or innovative SMEs
• up to 10% of the amount of the subsidy requested, up to a maximum of €100,000.00 and in any case within the limits of the de minimis ceiling available to the company, for all other companies.

*measure pursuant to Economic Decree Law 95/2025

Discover also the Plafond per commesse export in Central and South America.

• From 9 a.m. on 7 August 2025, it will be possible to access the Portal to complete and submit funding applications relating to the “Digital or Ecological Transition” instrument.
• From 6 p.m. on 6 August until 9 a.m. on 7 August, the Portal will be offline for updating in preparation for opening, and no operations will be possible.
• From 9 a.m. on 16 September 2025, it will be possible to access the Portal to complete and submit funding applications relating to (i) the new instrument “Strategic support for the Indian market”, (ii) the new dedicated conditions for ‘Competitiveness of Italian companies and supply chains in Central or South America’ and ‘Strengthening African markets’, (iii) the new dedicated conditions for strategic markets for ‘Market entry’, ‘Certifications and consulting’, ‘Trade fairs and events’, ‘E-commerce’, ‘Temporary managers’.
• From 6 p.m. on 15 September until 9 a.m. on 16 September, the Portal will be offline for updating in preparation for opening, and no operations will be possible.

Filling out the request

• For the purpose of filling out the application, it is necessary to (i) attach all the necessary Documentation as per the Circular, (ii) indicate the information of the legal representative, (iii) indicate the information of the beneficial owner of the requesting Enterprise, (iv) upload the contract for opening the dedicated current account, (v) Articles of Association of the enterprise. All documents must be digitally signed.
• In any case, the submission of the application does not imply the right to the deliberation/grant of the intervention, which remains subject to the completeness of the application, the existence of the access requirements, the successful completion of the SIMEST preliminary investigation and the actual availability of financial resources, as well as the positive deliberation by the Facilities Committee.