Milano is Lombardy's largest city and one of the world's most important economic hubs. For international business communities in the areas of finance, fashion, design and ICT multinationals, Milano represents both a benchmark and an epicentre. The city and outlying districts are home to some 3.5 million inhabitants and constitute Italy's number one area in terms of consumption and production. A total GDP per capita of €36,000 puts Milano in first place nationwide and eleventh in the world.
In addition, the area is an important international logistics centre, home to 20% of Italy's warehouses used by various operators. Milano has an international reputation as one of the cornerstones of the European economy, hardly surprising when you consider the huge amount of commercial traffic, people and global expertise that pass through every day.
Milano: the perfect choice for the 2015 Expo.
With over 100 consulates, Milano is second only to New York. The city's international repute is also enhanced by its superb transport infrastructure (three airports within a 50 km radius) and the presence of thousands of foreign companies and multinationals on Milanese soil.
More than 280,000 business of all sizes are based in the Milano area. Opening a business is easy in the city rated as one of the top ten economic hubs on the planet by Standard & Poor's. All you need is a week and a minimum level of required capital.
Milano is blessed with a perfect location and as such has been a key trading centre for centuries. Today, an efficient and extensive infrastructure network connects the city to major European, North African and Middle Eastern markets (some 780 million potential consumers).
One of the main reasons why foreign businesses invest in the Milano area is the quality of its human capital. Globally renowned academic institutions (Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and Politecnico di Milano) and distinguished fashion & design institutes (the IED) are based here.
The Milano Exhibition Centre offers lots of opportunities for businesses and contributes around €4.3 million to the local economy each year. Expo Milano 2015 will mark another important step in Milano's international development and 21 million visitors, exhibitors from 181 nations and 7000 events are expected.
