The Canary Islands accelerate their global leap: 266 million in foreign investment and new routes for business internationalization

EXPANSION AND INVESTMENT ATTRACTION STRATEGY

The regional government, through Proexca, is deploying an ambitious roadmap focused on boosting foreign trade , attracting foreign investment, and developing local talent. Backed by record figures projected for 2025, the archipelago is consolidating its position as a leading Atlantic hub , investing heavily in sectors such as the blue economy , artificial intelligence, and the audiovisual industry to enhance the competitiveness of its corporate sector in international markets.

---

The city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has become the epicenter of the debate on international business and corporate expansion opportunities. The Hotel Cristina hosted the Economics and Internationalization Conference , a forum chaired by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Internationalization and Vice President of Proexca, Gustavo González de Vega. Before a distinguished group of over one hundred figures from the business and institutional sectors, new pathways were outlined that will allow island corporations to scale their operations globally.

The meeting had a distinctly diplomatic and institutional character, reflecting the interest the archipelago generates for international investment . The presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Spain, Kulsoume Sinare Baffoe, accompanied by her Political and Economic Advisor, Beatrice Effah, and the Honorary Consul of Ghana in the islands, Daniel Fitzjohns-Sherington, was particularly noteworthy. The Ibero-American dimension was further emphasized by Narciso Casado, Secretary General of the Ibero-American Business Council (CEIB), who underscored the Canary Islands' undeniable role as a true business hub in the Atlantic , recalling the landmark achievement for the region of hosting the MSME summit in 2005.

Three pillars to lead global productivity

Under the title “Business Pathways and Tools to Compete Globally from the Canary Islands: A Roadmap to Productivity ,” González de Vega presented the regional government’s renewed strategic architecture. This plan revolves around three fundamental pillars for economic development: “Our roadmap is based on three very clear aspects of internationalization: boosting exports (Out), attracting capital and companies (In), and developing our talent (Grow),” the Deputy Minister explained.

To orchestrate this complex foreign trade mechanism , the Administration assumes an integral coordination role that will be articulated through the Regional Council for Internationalization (CRI), guaranteeing agile governance aligned with market demands.

Figures that support the attractiveness of investment and exports

The effectiveness of these policies is confirmed by the results of the previous year. The Canary Islands' ecosystem has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to attract capital. "The data speaks for itself: in 2025 alone, we attracted €266 million in investment thanks to 61 foreign projects that chose the Canary Islands, generating 489 direct jobs," González de Vega emphasized.

In parallel, the international expansion of local companies has yielded tangible benefits. The vice president of Proexca specified that the local business sector achieved an estimated €31,88 million in business volume , a success resulting from more than 3.300 strategic meetings ( B2B ) and over one hundred promotional activities.

In this context of growth, the audiovisual industry shone brightly. This sector generated over €432 million in direct economic impact, sustaining around 20.000 direct and indirect jobs thanks to the 180 productions filmed in the islands throughout 2025.

Sectoral Plans and connectivity with Latin America

To ensure deep integration into global value chains, the Administration has launched the so-called 360 Sectoral Plans . This initiative focuses its efforts on high value-added niches with international reach, such as technology , the blue economy , the aerospace sector , agri-food , health , and tourism . In addition, the Canary Islands-Latam Strategy will forge key technological alliances under the "Canary Islands Latamtech" umbrella with emerging markets like Colombia, and will lay the groundwork for impactful events such as the Ibero-American Tourism Forum planned for 2027.

Success stories: Expanding abroad as a driver of competitiveness

The practical session of the day brought these theoretical concepts to life through a round table discussion moderated by journalist Pilar Rumeu, entitled “Stories that inspire: when the international leap multiplies productivity .” Three companies illustrated how internationalization and the proper management of logistics and innovation transform business models.

First, Amuse Animation , represented by its co-founder Elena Catalán, highlighted Gran Canaria's potential to attract creative industry. This studio, which employs around one hundred professionals and boasts more than twenty awards, justified its decision to locate in the islands by citing an attractive combination of factors: a favorable ecosystem, excellent connectivity, advantageous tax treatment, and specialized talent.

For his part, Manuel de la Rosa, CEO of Ecos Group , outlined his consultancy's leadership in the field of the blue economy and sustainability. The company has positioned itself as a strategic benchmark in complying with European regulatory standards, pioneering the execution of essential environmental studies for the future deployment of offshore wind energy in the archipelago.

Finally, the digital disruption sector was spearheaded by Mottum Analítica . This startup, specializing in Generative Artificial Intelligence, demonstrated how institutional support programs—in this case, Canarias Aporta , which has already supported 314 initiatives—are crucial for expanding internationally. Thanks to this support, the company has successfully implemented its socially impactful technology solutions in North American markets, specifically in the Mexican states of Querétaro and Zacatecas.