Verona is the 12th province in Italy in terms of number of businesses, accounting for 1.6% of all national businesses; and the second province in Veneto, accounting for 19.6% of all regional businesses. There are 85,978 active businesses, and the number is continuously rising. The area of Verona covers 3,121 square kilometers and is characterized by multiple economic sectors: 16.6% is dedicated to agriculture (15,947 businesses); 10.7% to the industrial sector, which is made up of numerous manufacturers, mining companies and multifunctional companies (10,299 businesses); 15.3% to construction (14,678 businesses); 21.2% to trade (20,409 businesses); and 6.9% to the hospitality industry (6,651 businesses). The Verona area is at the center of five major industries:
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
Over time, the food and agriculture sector has become one of the major drivers of Verona’s economy. Its main pillars are national and international agricultural production and the food and wine industry. There is a strong emphasis on exports, which totaled € 1,289,200 in 2015 (+17.8% as compared to 2014).
WINE INDUSTRY
The number one economic driver in the area is wine. In 2015, wine production accounted for € 880.9 million. This includes both red and white wines, such as Durello della Lessinia, Soave (to the east of Verona), Custoza, Lugana and Bardolino (produced close to Lake Garda) and wines produced in the Valpolicella area, such as the world-famous Amarone.
MARBLE AND STONE INDUSTRY
The marble industry is a tradition in Verona. It boasts 484 active companies spread throughout the entire area. The value of exported marble is equal to € 432.6 million, with the major markets being the USA and Germany. These two countries alone account for 49.6% of all marble revenue.
CLASSIC FURNITURE INDUSTRY
The furniture sector features 1,179 companies, which is 11.9% of all Verona manufacturers, corresponding to € 101 million in exports.
TEXTILE INDUSTRY - CLOTHING
This sector is very important to Verona, with 973 companies in the textile-clothing industry. It accounts for 8.5% of all exports from Verona, equal to € 413.4 million.