First, let me warmly welcome all of you here today, especially those who have travelled from abroad to join us today. I hope your stay in our country will be both rewarding and enjoyable.
It is once again a pleasure to attend and open this new edition of Spain Investors Day, which over the years has established itself as a consistent and trusted forum, even as the global environment has grown increasingly complex.
The commitment to stability and certainty shown by SID and its organizers is truly remarkable and commendable, especially in these times when uncertainty and instability are gaining ground on the international geopolitical stage. Times when practices we thought were no longer on the strategic and commercial “menu” –or were gradually disappearing from it− are making a strong and worrisome comeback; and when lessons from the 20th century, once considered solid and widely shared, seem now to be weakening rapidly.
Stability and certainty are qualities that, when present, often go unnoticed and are taken for granted. They only acquire genuine importance when they are absent, when we lack them. For investors, these attributes are of particular importance. Developing and implementing an investment project in a specific location is a long-term process, often taking several years from planning to execution. During this time, companies carefully consider a wide range of structural factors that they expect to remain consistent over the long term.
That is why, despite an increasingly unstable and uncertain environment, Spain continues to stand firmly by a strong commitment to free trade and international cooperation, viewing openness not as a vulnerability, but as a strategic asset.
It is in this context that Spain Investors Day remains as relevant today as it was back 16 years ago. It continues to be an outstanding showcase for Spanish companies and an excellent platform for fostering business opportunities among participants. But it is even more than that. It is also a statement: a statement that reflects our commitment to stability and international engagement, values that define our business sector and our economy as a whole.
"...Spain has long embraced openness to the world, not only as a driver of our economy, but also as a source of prosperity and well-being for its citizens while contributing positively to the global growth. Therefore we proclaim –not surprisingly–, that international investors and foreign companies are more than welcome in Spain..."
Especially in this challenging international context, I would like to reaffirm here today that Spain remains one of the most open countries in the world to international trade and investment. Our country is firmly anchored in the EU, fully committed to the single market, legal certainty and a stable framework it provides. Our European convictions go hand in hand with multilateralism and cooperation as guiding principles of our international relations.
This approach is also visible in Spain’s close and enduring bonds with Latin America, with which we share profound historical, social, economic, political, and cultural ties. Furthermore, we have consolidated our position as the world’s second largest tourism destination. Over the past year, our country welcomed close to one hundred million tourists from across the globe.
Spain’s economic performance also reflects this global openness and international appeal. From a business perspective, we also rank among the leading recipients of foreign direct investment worldwide. In addition, our country is achieving record levels of exports —the highest ever in our history—. Never before have we had as many exporting companies as we do today. The strength of our exports of goods and services reflects the international competitiveness of Spanish companies. Many of them are leaders in their respective markets and sectors —and several will be present at this event.
This is particularly encouraging. Internationalized companies are better prepared to navigate new challenges. They are more resilient across economic cycles thanks to the geographical diversification of their markets. They also create more qualified and stable employment and display a stronger capacity for innovation. Moreover, companies with a strong international profile generate important positive spillover effects, by transferring practical skills and technical knowledge through the international mobility of workers and the interaction among different actors in the value chain.
In short, Spain has long embraced openness to the world, not only as a driver of our economy, but also as a source of prosperity and well-being for its citizens while contributing positively to the global growth. Therefore, we proclaim –not surprisingly– that international investors and foreign companies are more than welcome in Spain. Their contribution has been decisive for decades in pushing growth, providing jobs and shaping a more open, competitive, and innovative economy.
Spain Investors Day is an excellent expression of the international drive of Spanish companies and of our society as a whole. I am confident that this forum will continue to foster new business opportunities and promising initiatives, built on trust and a shared long-term vision.
I hereby declare this XVIth edition of the SID officially open.
Thank you very much.