The eBay Government Relations Team recently hosted a delegation of four Italian entrepreneurs in Rome to meet with policymakers at the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as well as at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as part of eBay’s 2024 Italy Advocacy Day.

The sellers included Emanuele Iodice of Bruno Tras. Ferr., Maria Gabriella Russo of You Dream Italy, Michelina Ramano of Rubik Elettronica, and Massimiliano Vercellino of Otticanet, and they represented the Campania, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont Regions, respectively. The sellers were joined by Barbara Bailini, Head of Categories, eBay Italy; Nikolaus Lindner, Senior Director, Government Relations, Continental Europe; Ottavia Marotta, Head of Government Relations Italy & Southern Europe; Francesco Bondi, Manager, EU Affairs; and Georgiana Dorné, Head of Seller Advocacy Government Relations.

The Advocacy Day provided an opportunity for these small business owners, who sell across a variety of product categories, to share their unique success stories with policymakers, and how e-commerce has been a powerful tool for driving small business growth, even in challenging economic conditions.

The sellers detailed how eBay empowers small businesses to overcome geographical barriers, enter new markets, and showcase Made in Italy products to a global audience. The event also underscored the ways in which online selling has enabled entrepreneurs to balance work and family life, expand family-run businesses into larger enterprises, and reach a more diverse customer base.

Our Seller Advocacy Days provide a unique opportunity for policymakers to hear directly from sellers about their small business success stories, challenges, and how eBay provides opportunities for growth, no matter where they are located.

-Cathy Foster, VP, Global Government Relations & Public Policy

eBay’s New Small Business Activity Across Italy Report

The event also marked the publication of our new report revealing that eBay’s global marketplace is an engine of growth for small businesses throughout Italy, particularly in remote or economically disadvantaged regions. In fact, the Campania Region, which ranks #1 in our Index of small business per capita selling activity, has the highest share of its population at risk of poverty or social exclusion, the highest unemployment rate, and third-lowest regional GDP per capita in Italy. The report also highlights how eBay is connecting Italian small businesses to shoppers across Europe and around the world. An impressive 94 percent of eBay small businesses in Italy are exporters, compared to only 4.4 percent of traditional businesses, and 51 percent reach customers in at least 10 international markets with their goods. eBay is clearly a force for inclusive economic growth in Italy.

eBay has been present in Italy for over 25 years and is deeply embedded in the country’s economic ecosystem. Our marketplace provides all businesses, regardless of size or location, with the tools to reach customers worldwide and grow their business. By supporting and promoting the digitalisation process, it helps create opportunities for Italian small businesses, simplifying exports and making the market more open and accessible.

-Barbara Bailini, Head of Categories, eBay Italy

Learn more about eBay’s role in empowering small businesses exporting and growth here.

eBay Government Relations team’s commitment to Italian Small Businesses

The eBay Government Relations team has always been committed to building and maintaining an open channel of communication with Italian institutional stakeholders and highlighting eBay’s commitment to creating economic opportunities for Italian small businesses, while working to ensure that legislative proposals appropriately take into account the perspectives, needs, and experience of eBay sellers.  We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the sellers who took time away from their businesses to join us in Rome.  Your commitment and participation were crucial to the success of our Advocacy Day and we are proud to have such an extraordinary advocacy community!