With 12,115 companies, Verona is confirmed in first place among the Veneto provinces in terms of the number of foreign companies and second, after Venice, in terms of concentration, while at the national level the city of Verona ranks ninth, with Milan, Rome and Turin leading the ranking. This is the snapshot that emerges from processing data from the Verona Chamber of Commerce’s Business Register as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Of the more than 91,000 total businesses registered in the province, 13 percent are in fact foreign-led, a figure higher than both the regional (12 percent) and national (11.3 percent) averages. International conduction also registers an overall growth of 3.6 percent compared to the pre-pandemic period, in contrast to Italian conduction, which over the same period marks -7.1 percent.

“Our province represents an example of a healthy economy, capable of attracting investment from all over the world,” comments Verona’s Cciaa president Giuseppe Riello. ”Verona thus proves itself to be a strategic international business hub, with almost a quarter of foreign companies out of the total number registered in the Veneto region, and more than 14 percent of which are led by under-35s, while at the same time distinguishing itself as an important integration agora, where the presence of EU and non-EU entrepreneurs contributes to the dynamism of our economy.

Foreign businesses in Verona: more new openings than closures

The balance between new openings and non-official closures is positive (+770 firms): in 2024, 1,543 new foreign firms were registered (+6.3 percent from the previous year) compared to 773 closures (+12.7 percent). The birth rate of foreign firms (12.7%) is significantly higher than that of total firms (5.7%). Conversely, the mortality rate of foreign firms (6.3%) also exceeds that of total firms (5.3%).

Sectors where foreign entrepreneurs invest in Verona

Trade remains the main sector for non-EU firms, with 2,258 companies, while construction (1,080 units) dominates among EU entrepreneurs (38.5 percent of activities). Compared to 2023, the largest increase was in the primary sector (+100 firms). The industrial sector and personal services are also growing. Trade, on the other hand, recorded the most significant decline, minus 107 businesses in one year.

The identikit of the foreign entrepreneur

Among foreign companies, 67.6 percent are sole proprietorships, but capital companies are growing (+11.5 percent). There are more than 3,000 women foreign entrepreneurs (25.2 percent of foreign businesses) and they are concentrated in services and trade, while businesses led by young people under 35 account for 14.2 percent of foreign entrepreneurship (1,714 units) and show some diversification in their choice of field of activity: the most populated economic sector is construction (414 units, 24.1 percent of foreign youth businesses). Artisan status is assigned to 37.3% of Verona’s foreign businesses (4,521 units), mostly engaged in construction (2,528 activities, 55.9% of total foreign artisans)

The most active foreign communities in Verona

At the end of 2024, there were 16,084 (11.3% of the total) persons born in foreign countries holding positions (business owners, partners, directors and other positions) in businesses registered with the Verona Chamber of Commerce: 11,806 are from non-EU countries and 4,278 are foreigners born in EU countries. Romanians are the most represented nationality with 2,422 entrepreneurial positions, followed by Moroccans (1,804) and Chinese (1,399). The construction sector is dominated by Romanian and Albanian entrepreneurs, while trade sees a strong presence of Nigerians, Moroccans and Chinese.

Focus: boom in foreign entrepreneurship in Veronese agriculture

Veronese agriculture is increasingly speaking foreign languages. In 2024, the primary sector climbed the ranking of the economic activities most chosen by non-EU entrepreneurs, taking fourth place and overtaking manufacturing and transportation and warehousing activities. A shift that places agriculture just behind the trade, construction and accommodation and food services sectors.

Leading this green revolution are entrepreneurs of Indian origin, with 386 people holding entrepreneurial positions (up 18.8 percent from 2023).  Most of them come from Punjab, a region with strong ties to agricultural traditions. A curious detail, in fact, emerges from the company names: more than 70 percent of the agricultural businesses led by Indian-born entrepreneurs bear the terms Singh (lion, for males) and Kaur (princess, for females), typical of Sikh community names, a sign of an identity presence that is increasingly rooted in the local economic fabric.

Not to be outdone are the Moroccans, who with 336 entrepreneurial posts consolidate their presence in Verona‘s agricultural sector, registering a 5.7 percent growth over the previous year. Following with smaller numbers are entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka (43 charges), Switzerland (42), Pakistan (24), Albania and Brazil (21 each). The European Union also plays its part: among EU entrepreneurs in agriculture, Romanians (63 entrepreneurial posts) and Germans (41) lead the way, followed at a distance by Spaniards (14) and Poles (13). Veronese agriculture thus confirms itself as a strategic sector for the integration and growth of foreign entrepreneurs in the local economy.