Data from greenfield foreign direct investment monitor fDi Markets shows that there has been a steady decrease in the number of outward FDI projects from Italy since 2008. Capital investment has also decreased in this time. However, job creation as a result of outward FDI from Italy has actually increased year on year between 2009 and 2013.

Between January 2003 and March 2013, a total of 3845 Italian outbound projects were recorded, equating to a 2.5% share of global FDI. These projects represent total capital investment of $108.3bn, which is an average investment of $118.4m per project. During the period, a total of 139,019 jobs were created.

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The number of outward Italian FDI projects peaked in 2008, when 532 were recorded. Capital investment figures also peaked in this year, with $23.6bn-worth of investment recorded. The number of outward FDI projects declined in 2009 by 13%. This figure further decreased in 2010, 2011 and 2012, representing decreases of 21%, 28% and 34%, respectively, from the 2008 peak. Capital investment also declined between 2008 and 2012, decreasing by 57% to $10.1bn.

The US received the largest number of Italian FDI projects, with 385 projects recorded from 263 companies between 2008 and 2012. China was the second biggest recipient with 345 projects and France was in third place with 217 projects. 

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