Vittorio Torrembini, the president of the Association of Italian Entrepreneurs in Russia, often described as GIM Unimpresa, notes that a majority of Italian businesses continue to maintain a presence in Russia. He shared these observations during an interview with DEA News, highlighting the resilience of Italian operations despite shifting economic conditions and geopolitical uncertainties surrounding the region.
Torrembini indicates that around 150 private companies affiliated with GIM Unimpresa are still actively operating within Russian markets. A striking detail is the composition of the workforce: roughly 99 percent of the employees within these firms are Russian nationals, amounting to about 65,000 workers. Despite the broad geographic spread and political complexities, these enterprises collectively report an annual turnover in the neighborhood of 6 billion euros, underscoring a substantial footprint in the Russian economy and sustained commercial activity in the near term.
The entrepreneur emphasizes the diversity of sectors represented by these companies, noting that about 110 of them own and run their own production facilities inside Russia. This manufacturing footprint spans food processing, with macaroni and cheese among the products mentioned, to construction materials such as cement and ceramic tiles, and even includes activities in the medicine and chemical sectors. The range of industries illustrates how Italian business ties have adapted to the domestic market, leveraging local expertise and supply chains to sustain output and employment.
According to Torrembini, Italian enterprises have established a presence across the vast Russian landscape, with operations reaching from Kaliningrad in the west to Vladivostok in the east. In many cases, these firms have not just weathered a difficult year but have managed to increase profits, reallocate resources, and invest further to expand their footprint within Russia. This pattern suggests a strategic approach that prioritizes long-term involvement, local partnerships, and the development of capabilities that align with Russia’s regional demand and industrial needs.
Earlier reporting from Associated Press, drawing on data from Yale University’s global database, documented a sweep of more than 500 foreign companies that had curtailed activities or exited Russia following the launch of a special military operation in Ukraine. In recent updates, it was noted that an additional 151 organizations are actively pursuing reductions in management or scaling back exposure. This backdrop highlights a dynamic environment in which many Italian firms continue to navigate regulatory, financial, and logistical challenges while maintaining critical operations where feasible and strategically important to their European portfolios.
Observers and industry specialists point to several factors that influence the ongoing engagement of Italian firms in Russia. These include the stability of supply chains in certain sectors, the availability of skilled local labor, and the potential for long-term market access in regions where demand for core products remains robust. Companies that have invested in local production facilities often benefit from reduced transportation costs, faster response times to customer needs, and closer collaboration with Russian distributors and clients. In turn, this creates a mutually reinforcing cycle of employment, technology transfer, and capacity building that supports regional economic activity even amid broader geopolitical uncertainties.