Andalucía TRADE consolidates its position as a strategic pillar for promoting innovation and internationalization in Andalusian agroindustry.

 

Cordoba became the epicenter of the debate on the future of the Andalusian agro-industry in the global market, during the day Agrobank organized by Caixabank. Antonio Castro, CEO Andalucía TRADEHe highlighted the agency's fundamental role as "the instrument of Andalusian government through which to establish a solid alliance with the agri-food sector." In his speech, Castro emphasized the entity's willingness to offer "tools and services that allow for innovation, growth, and access to both new and established markets."

 

The CEO of Andalucía TRADE He outlined the range of support available to Andalusian companies, with a particular focus on the agri-food sector. "Currently, we have €244 million in incentives, co-financed with SPRING "And aimed primarily at SMEs, covering everything from R&D&I to business creation and industrial development projects," Castro explained. This offering will soon be complemented by new venture capital funds and an incentive program for... Capabilities, scheduled for May, with a budget of 11,5 million euros until 2027.

 

This new line of incentives has the main objective of promoting the presence of Andalusian products and services abroad, by supporting participation in international trade fairs and missions. "We want to increase and consolidate the presence of our companies in international markets," Castro stated.

 

Support through incentives is just one of the three strategic lines of the new internationalization model of Andalucía TRADE, which has a global budget of €63 million through 2027. The other two lines include market diversification through the Andalucía TRADE International Network, with a presence in 75 countries, and the provision of internationalization support services, ranging from information and training to consulting and customized promotional programs.

 

"In 2024, 1.007 agri-food companies participated in the 367 internationalization support actions organized by TRADE, representing half of our portfolio of user companies," Castro highlighted, underlining the importance of the agri-food sector for the agency.

 

In addition, Castro announced the creation of the Club MidMarket Andalucía TRADEA new service aimed at medium-sized companies, many of them in the agri-food sector. "These companies, which often lack sufficient public support, will receive a range of tailored incentives and services, including incentives for accessing alternative markets, facilitating access to..." Regional Resilience Fund (FRA) and participation in R&D&I projects in collaboration with SMEs,” Castro explained.

 

Andalusia, a World Agri-Food Power:

 

Andalusian agri-food exports reached a record €15.700 billion in 2024, consolidating the region's position as a leader in Spain and a global powerhouse.Andalusia is Spain's leading export region."Andalusia is the 4th largest exporting country in the EU and 7th in the world," Castro emphasized. The Andalusian agri-food sector, with a growth rate of 14,5%, contributes a surplus of €8.571 billion to the region's trade balance and represents 40% of Andalusian exports.

 

The diversification of destinations is one of the keys to the success of the sector, with exports to 176 countries and significant growth in non-European markets such as Australia, China, United States, Canada and Mexico. Without forgetting the leadership in Europe with countries like Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

 

Products such as olive oil, vegetables, and fruits lead exports, with historic records in 2024.

 

Agrobank Conference: Opportunities in the International Market:

 

The Agrobank conference, organized by Caixabank in Córdoba, served as a platform for discussing the prospects and opportunities for the agricultural sector in the international market. Experts such as Angel Camacho, Ana Cano, Rafael Sanchez de Puerta and Enrique de los Rios They participated in a roundtable moderated by journalist Elisa Plumed, where topics such as the impact of geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, digitalization, and new consumer habits were addressed.