SICEP

Sicep is a leading company in the design, production, and installation of concrete constructions and prefabricated structures for the building industry, business, housing, logistics, and infrastructures. Operating in the market for 60 years, it is currently the main producer in the south of Italy with two plants in Sicily. It operates in international markets through a production centre and design company in Tunisia and a services company in Moscow. 

“We arrived in Tunisia before the Arab Spring in January 2011. That is when operations began at our plant. The socio-political events that followed definitely slowed down the growth of our activities in Tunisia in terms of volume, but not in terms of recognisability and assertion in that market. The upturn in confidence in the country on behalf of investors is leading to growth that we believe will be clearly visible as early as this year and will continue in 2015.” Claudio Civello, CEO of Sicep

Abroad, especially in emerging markets, companies may find themselves operating in contexts featuring a high level of political and institutional instability. Certain risks are so high that they could completely compromise business activities abroad. Events like the Arab Spring have forced all companies, including SMEs, to be more cautious and mindful of insurance instruments to protect against risks of a political nature.

In the case of Sicep, SACE insured the construction of its production plant in Tunisia for a sum of €2.5 million.

Through the Political Risk Insurance policy, SACE allows Italian companies and banks which invest abroad, directly or through associate or subsidiary companies, to insure against risks of a political nature: war and civil disorder, currency restrictions, direct or indirect expropriation, termination of contracts agreed with local public counterparties.

This product is also available online at the ExportPlus portal for equity investments of up to €5 million.