Italy had never understood the importance of “internationalisation” and was more inclined to see the economic rise of China and India as a threat rather than an opportunity.
The country had, indeed, long given the impression that it could prosper without engaging with the world. The fact that Italy had not understood that such investment as essential to economic growth was clear from comparisons of national financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU - €80 million in Italy, €400 million in the UK, €180 million in Germany, and €120 million in Spain.