The Business Year Special Report
Eyes on THE PRIZE
With a global network of trade offices in more than 100 locations around the world, ICEX works with regional development institutes on the internationalization of Catalonian companies.
What were the origins of ICEX, and how has it evolved?
ICEX was established 32 years ago through the natural evolution of different services supporting Spanish exports. ICEX has evolved in line with the economy of the country. We focus on promoting exports and investments. We have certain branches set aside for attracting FDI. I am the regional director of ICEX, which is in close contact with Catalonian companies and firms. We assist them in connecting with the whole batch of services that ICEX provides. We also connect them to a global network of trade offices in more than 100 locations around the world, from which we cover nearly 200 countries. Our main goal is to provide and be in connection with this two-pronged network, locally and globally.
What measures are in place for you to attract FDI into Spain?
This is a centralized issue and service, so it is dealt with primarily through our headquarters. However, I support regional development institutes in some cases, for example ACCIÓ or local facilitators such as Barcelona Activa. We work closely with them in supporting internationalization of Catalonian companies. Training is a major part of what we do, and every year ICEX grants nearly 300 students the opportunity to specialize in international business or marketing. This can be B2B or B2C, or it can also be in relation to international financial institutions. The purpose of these 300 highly qualified students is to provide fresh blood to the economy. Other entities also try to provide such services with more targeted seminars related to internationalization, finance, and regulations. Our main task is the organization of workshops devoted to covering the sector and geographical approaches.
The Financial Times Group has ranked Barcelona the best place in southern Europe for start-ups. Can you elaborate on this?
The business climate is stable, which is why Barcelona receives highly valued assessment from entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. The Spanish economy is the fifth largest in Europe, the fourth largest in the EU, and it is diverse. We cover all sectors, but we focus on SMEs because they are the most affected by the lack of information related to international markets. Large enterprises are also our clients. We also help companies in traditional sectors with their digitalization strategies. This is the only way they can survive and prosper. In terms of training, we are implementing our Digital Cross Border program, which helps CEOs of SMEs become more familiar with digital skills and the strategic importance of digitalization. We have trained 25 CEOs of Catalonian enterprises, mainly SMEs. This was a huge success, and will be repeated in Girona in 2020. There will be 25 such programs all throughout Spain. One of the companies we work with is TGD, the largest cheese producer in Spain. This program will help it become stronger and face foreign competitors. While the expectations are higher, so is the return on investment through this process of digitalization.
With the overarching aim of internationalization, do other regions present opportunities for Spanish and Catalan companies?
It depends. For example, the average SME in Spain should look at Portugal, France, Germany, and Italy. These markets are close. Eventually, they can find channels into Poland and Eastern Europe. This is not only in terms of exportation but also collaboration, which is another area on which we should focus. Companies should integrate technology transfer into their strategies. It is important to gather the information that makes Spanish businesspeople safe in terms of resources. We want to focus on traditional European markets. In Spain, we should not take for granted the fact that it is easy to access a number of markets.
Created years ago
Over locations around the world
Represents more than companies