Paco Pérez Botello (Volkswagen) assumes the presidency of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain with a focus on competitiveness

Economic Relations between Spain and Germany

Paco Pérez Botello, president of Volkswagen Group Spain Distribution, has been elected the new president of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain. He succeeds Osmar Polo (T-Systems Iberia) and will focus his term on boosting competitiveness in a context of bilateral trade that is projected to reach €90.000 billion in 2025.

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Change in leadership at the Spanish-German institution

Paco Pérez Botello, President of Volkswagen Group España Distribución, is the new president of the Cámara de Comercio Alemana para EspañaTheir election, formalized during the Asamblea General Ordinaria de Socios celebrated in Madrid, marks the beginning of a term focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the Spanish-German economic axis.

Pérez Botello takes over from Osmar PoloCEO T-Systems Iberia, who has been at the head of the institution for four years and has been a member of its Junta Directiva for seven. This change is part of the periodic renewal of the entity's governing bodies, which represents the interests of German companies in España and fosters bilateral trade relations.

New Board of Directors and strategic priorities

The new management team is completed with the appointment of Birgit Zondler, Managing Director of GEZE Iberiaas the new vice president. Zondler will share responsibilities with Manuel Zafra, President of Merck en España, who retains his position as vice president for the remainder of his term.

In his first address as president, Paco Pérez Botello stressed that the Competitiveness will be the central focus of his presidency.He highlighted the significant contribution that German-owned companies make to the Spanish economy in key areas such as:

• Direct investment and creation of skilled jobs.
• Strengthening the industrial fabric.
• impulse of the Dual Vocational Training, a German success story.
• Technology transfer and technical know-how.

A context of strong trade relations

The renewal in the presidency of the Cámara Alemana This occurs at a time of great strength for economic relations between España y AlemaniaBilateral trade reached record levels during the past fiscal year 2025, demonstrating the resilience and complementarity of both economies.

Spain-Germany Trade Relations (Data 2025)

Indicator	Price
Total trade	Approximately 90.000 million euros

The institution has the support of top-tier sponsoring partners such as Allianz, BASF, Deutsche Bank, Mercedes-Benz España, SAP, Siemens o Telefónica, which reflects its deep roots in the Spanish-German business community.

Key points and frequently asked questions about the new presidency of the German Chamber

What impact will this appointment have on Spanish companies?

The election of a president with the profile of Paco Pérez Botello, coming from a strategic sector like automotive, and its focus on the competitiveness, suggests that the Cámara It will intensify its efforts in areas such as Industry 4.0, sustainability, and talent development. For Spanish companies, this can translate into greater networking opportunities, access to best practices, and an institutional partner focused on removing barriers and fostering collaboration.

Why is the trade relationship between Spain and Germany so important?

Alemania is one of the most important trading partners of Españaacting as a key customer and supplier for thousands of companies, the €90.000 billion business volume demonstrates a structural interdependence in sectors such as automotive, chemicals, capital goods, and agri-food. The robust health of this sector is a barometer of the European economy and vital to the supply chain of many Spanish exporting companies.

What role does Dual Training, mentioned by the new president, play?

Dual Vocational Training is an educational model that combines theoretical training in educational centers with paid practical training in companies. It is one of the pillars of German industrial success, as it guarantees the availability of highly qualified personnel adapted to the real needs of the market. The fact that the new president has highlighted it as a key area indicates the intention to continue promoting this model in Germany. España to improve employability and business competitiveness in the long term.