Last month, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Jordi Pujol, traveled to Portugal to strengthen trade relations with the neighboring country, one of the main destinations for Catalan exports, along with France, Germany, and Italy. In addition to discussing the current state of foreign trade, Jordi Pujol also commented on the opportunities that the "new Europe" will offer Catalan businesses.
– Catalonia is undoubtedly an Autonomous Community with an export-oriented mindset, and one of the first, if not the first, at the national level in this area. What has been the evolution of the region's foreign trade in recent years?
The progress has been excellent. Consider that in recent years we have achieved export levels higher than those of countries like Portugal, Greece, the Czech Republic, Hungary, or Poland. Within Spain as a whole, we account for 28% of total exports. Furthermore, the internationalization process has not only resulted in an increase in our foreign trade, but also in a growing number of companies—164 according to the latest statistics—that now have nearly 400 production facilities in other countries.
Jordi Pujol, president of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
– In mid-October you traveled to Portugal where, among other activities, the study "Catalonia-Portugal: A New Horizon for Bilateral Economic Relations" was presented. Will trade/economic relations between Portugal and Catalonia intensify? What are the priority destinations for Catalan exports?
That is the desire we both share. Economic relations between Portugal and Catalonia are already very important. Consider that Portugal is the fourth largest destination for Catalan exports, and that both Portuguese and Catalan companies have an investment presence in the other market. Our participation in the European Union, the complementarity of our economies in many aspects, and the fact that our respective business sectors are largely composed of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), suggest that economic collaboration between Portugal and Catalonia will continue to expand.
Currently, the primary destinations for Catalan exports are the countries of the European Union—France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal leading the way. While this is logical, given that these are our partners in the Union, it is also important to note that Catalan companies are playing an increasingly significant role in other areas of the world with high growth potential.
– The automotive sector is the main export product, although there has been a decrease in its sales during the first half of this year, compared to the same period of the previous year, is this so? What other products could you highlight?
Catalonia's business fabric is highly diversified, which is reflected in the export field, where the automotive sector, machinery and equipment, chemical products, the textile sector or the agri-food sector have a very important external component.
Regarding the automotive sector, the decline in exports you mention in Catalonia is not very significant. Currently, it only affects passenger cars, and we estimate it at -0,5%.
– The EU's expansion will allow for greater internationalization of Spanish companies and a wider range of commercial opportunities. What advice would you offer Catalan companies regarding the possibility of establishing trade relations with Central and Eastern European countries? Catalonia also has three offices located in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary through COPCA.
The COPCA Strategic Plan 2001-2004 aims to increase the number of exporting companies to 20.000.
That's true. I believe that Catalan companies should view the expansion of the European Union as an opportunity to develop new foreign markets—markets with great potential. By joining the European Union, they will undergo significant transformations to improve their economies and bring them closer to those of their European partners. The Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya) established years ago its assessment of what these markets could represent for the Catalan business community as a whole. This assessment was reflected, among other instruments, in the opening of Business Promotion Centers of the Consorci de Promoció Comercial de Catalunya (COPCA) in some of the most representative countries, to facilitate the implementation of Catalan companies' strategies in these markets.
My advice to companies in Catalonia is not to wait for all the enlarged countries to join, for them to go through a long process within the Union, but to take positions as soon as possible, in order to take advantage, as I have mentioned, of the opportunities generated by the transformation and development of those economies.
– What internationalization policy will the Generalitat of Catalonia implement for the remainder of this year and for 2003? What projects and initiatives can you tell us about in this regard?
The Government of Catalonia has always prioritized promoting the internationalization of the Catalan economy. Currently, through the Consorci de Promoció Comercial de Catalunya (COPCA), an agency attached to the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the COPCA Strategic Plan 2001-2004 is being developed. This plan sets important objectives, such as increasing the number of exporting companies to 20.000 and reaching approximately 300 companies with productive investments abroad. The Strategic Plan includes a wide range of initiatives primarily aimed at developing programs and services tailored to the different levels of internationalization among Catalan companies.
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