Italy’s centre-right government has taken a tough stance on immigration, but studies show that foreign workers are playing a growing role not only in providing cheap labour but also as entrepreneurs setting up businesses.

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According to a report by Caritas/Migrantes, a Roman Catholic organisation, there are almost 4m foreigners living legally in Italy. By 2050, the number is projected to represent 18 per cent of the population. One out of 10 workers in Italy is born abroad and Unioncamere, a business association, estimates that they produce more than 9 per cent of gross domestic product.