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amounting to 37 million euros, that will consolidate the
Catalan plant as the worldwide centre of reference for
the Swiss multinational in the production of soluble
coffee.
Furthermore, the Hong Kong company Thunder Power
has announced that it will invest 80 million euros to
open an R&D centre in Catalonia in the field of electric
vehicles. Lidl will open a new logistics centre near
Barcelona and the French firm Criteo has turned his
office in Barcelona into the company’s most important
European hub after that of Paris. These are just some
examples that demonstrate how Catalonia has been
able to position itself internationally as an innovative
region, with a solid industrial base and inclination, and
above all, connected to the world.
These companies are just some of the 7,086 foreign
companies established in Catalonia, which currently
are behind 18% of the country’s employment, 45.4%
of exports and almost 30% of turnover. These figures
show that multinationals are key players in the Catalan
economy, an economy open to the world and open to
business. Geographically, Germany, France and the
United States are the three main countries behind
multinational companies here.
Why choose Catalonia?
The British Financial Times Group recognizes Catalonia
as the best Southern European Region of the Future in its
latest report on the most attractive European locations
for future investments. What favourable conditions do
multinationals find when it comes to choosing Catalonia
to locate their businesses?
When multinationals from all over the world arrive in
Catalonia, they find a region of 7.5 million inhabitants
- such as Finland or Denmark - with a land area similar
to that of the Netherlands and Belgium and with an
industrial concentration in the economy above the
European average. Catalonia accounts for 16% of the
Spanish population but generates up to 20% of its GDP,
23% of its industry, 25% of exports and 35% of regular
exporting companies in all Spain.
Multinationals find a competitive ecosystem in
Catalonia with all the assets that will allow them to grow
and successfully continue their internationalization
processes. The Catalan economy is markedly industrial,
highly diversified in sectorial terms and with innovation
and internationalization as pillars for growth. Precisely,
its industrial muscle and powerful ICT sector put
Catalonia in a privileged position to lead the fourth
industrial revolution in Europe.
Industry represents 20%of the Catalan economy – higher
than the European average – and its commitment to ICT
has materialised into, among other things, becoming
the worldwide mobile capital thanks to hosting and
organising the Mobile World Congress each year, the
promotion of initiatives such as the 3D Printing Hub –
an international meeting point between suppliers of
this technology and companies from all over the world
interested in initiating projects in the 3D printing field,
or the Catalonia Living Lab – the pioneer testing ground
in Europe in the field of autonomous and connected
vehicles.
Beyond its commitment to the development of industry
4.0, Catalonia has many other attractions, such as its
privileged strategic location. It is clear that companies
must move, and look for new countries where they
can grow and create new international trade flows.
It is also clear that the economies of the 21st century
must be integrated in this global context. In this sense,
Barcelona offers full-modal transport integration (sea,
airport, motorways, railways) within 12-kilometre
radius, each with global connectivity, making Catalonia
an exceptional gateway to Europe and a unique bridge
to North Africa and Latin America.
Barcelona airport shows double digit growth rates
annually, and is today one of themost important airports
in Europe. It offers more than 200 destinations around
the world operated by 100 different airlines carrying
more than 44 million passengers per year. Airlines like
Norwegian are increasing their commitment to the
airport, with new facilities and new direct connections
to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami.
Korean Air has also announced direct flights between
Barcelona and Seoul.
A byword for innovation, research and technology
The Catalan public and private sector have both made
the promotion of innovation a top priority. Catalonia
combines a series of highly attractive factors that make
it a great location for R&D activities and that are hard to
find in other areas of the world. In this sense, business
R&D figures are growing year after year and Catalonia
is producing 1% of the world’s scientific output, with
0.11% of the world’s population.
For foreign companies, Catalonia offers access to
technology centres and world-class scientific facilities,
such as the Alba Synchrotron, the first particle
accelerator in southern Europe, the Mare Nostrum
supercomputer, Spain’s premium supercomputer and
one Europe’s foremost, as well as IDIADA, specialized in
providing design, engineering, testing and homologation
services to the automotive industry worldwide.
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