Italian banks in China: main objectives and patterns of Internationalization

Abstract

The aim of my thesis is to analyze what is the competitive advantage of an Italian bank in China, focusing on the following aspects:

1. carry out an analysis of why banks decide to internationalize considering two principal model of reference; I will also give an overview of the peculiar characteristics of Italian and Chinese economic scenario and banking system.

2. what are the strategies and patterns Italian banks adopted to enter China, basing on the degree of internationalization and the dimension of the Institution; what is their role in China and what kind of services they can give.

3. which are the main banks that operates in China (Intesa Sanpaolo, Unicredit, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Bper, Credito Emiliano, Banca Popolare di Sondrio, Credit Agricole Italia) from the bigger institutions to the mid-sized and small one, how they are structured, which are their main business lines and how they support the commercial and financial operations of Italian companies in high-potential sectors of the Chinese market. Furthermore, I will take a practical example of some Italian winery companies deciding to export to China, highlighting how practically banks can give their support to economic development through financial instruments, bilateral agreement and new technologies. In light of this, it will be possible to analyze the most suitable strategies and banks given the particular characteristics of the enterprises involved.