Intesa Sanpaolo launches the “Crescibusiness” program for sustainable projects

It kicks off Crescibusiness We Design Sustainablethe new valorization initiative that Intesa Sanpaolo dedicated to small businesses and VAT numbers in trade, crafts, personal services, catering and tourism. The objective is to reward good practices in the ESG field and promote sustainability as a growth and development factor for companies, in line with the Pnrr and the group’s industrial plan. These are issues that have become priorities on the Italian economic agenda and also applied to many small companies. A culture of sustainability that is also making its way in these companies, more than 4 million companies – of which over 800,000 Intesa Sanpaolo customers – equal to 95% of Italian companies with fewer than 10 employees and up to 2.5 million sales.

Thanks to the contribution of partners such as Cerved, Intrum, Regalgrid, with the collaboration of Monitor Deloitte and the support of Visa, the companies that participate in the program will be included in a growth path in the three ESG areas – environmental, social and governance – as well as to benefit from information activities and workshops. Dedicated products such as the new line of S-Loan Progetti Green investment solutions are also designed for them, to plan and implement investments in sustainability, also supported by the Guarantee Fund. «The vitality of companies is the real engine of the economy of the territories and of the country, which is why we have identified over time a development program for each business segment, from the smallest businesses to mature companies», he states Stefano Barresehead of the Intesa Sanpaolo Territori Bank division.

Crescibusiness Progettiamo Sostenibile is part of Intesa Sanpaolo’s broader national plan, which makes 5 billion euros available to small tourism, trade and craft companies for development interventions towards digitalisation, sustainability and innovation. «Among the 800 thousand small companies we serve – adds Barrese – we find many virtuous examples that already today consider sustainability, respect for the environment and for people a determining factor for their growth and competitiveness. Over the last three years, we have provided them with over 14 billion, combining the excellent service of the leading Italian bank with the bond with entrepreneurs and the territories in which they operate.”