The Department of the Economy became operational with entry into force of  Prime Ministerial Decree No. 125 of 26 July 2023, published in Official Journal No. 220 of 20 September 2023.

Prime Ministerial Decree No. 125 assigns to the new Department of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance a series of competences that will be carried out by three General Directorates: Directorate I – Financial Interventions in the Economy; Directorate II - Corporate Shareholdings and Protection of Strategic Assets; Directorate III – Enhancement of Public Assets.

In particular, the Department ensures the design, implementation and monitoring of interventions aimed at supporting and encouraging growth in the various sectors of the economy, such as support for exports, public guarantees and financial facilities for businesses and households; supervision of bodies and foundations, including those of banking origin; the management and enhancement of State’s corporate shareholdings, exercising shareholder rights; policies for the rationalisation and enhancement of public assets: real estate, assets granted under concession and shareholdings held by Public Administrations, for which it carries out policy-making, monitoring and control activities on the implementation of the Consolidated Law on Publicly Owned Companies.

The head of the Department of the Economy is the Director General of the Economy.

At the proposal of the Italian Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Council of Ministers meeting No. 52 of 27 September 2023 resolved to appoint Marcello Sala as Director General of the Economy.

Pending the adoption of the measures to define the new Offices, the Department of the Economy will make use of the corresponding Offices and Services of the Department of the Treasury.