SODERCAN Next January, four young women from Cantabria will be joining the commercial offices of the Spanish Embassies in Chicago, Dubai, Lisbon, and Singapore. This initiative aims to train them in foreign trade for a year and support the strategy of Government of Cantabria to attract investment and wealth to the region.
Renewal of Cantabrian talent in the international network
La Society for the Development of Cantabria (SODERCAN)The public company, which reports to the Regional Ministry of Industry, has completed the selection process for its annual internationalization training scholarships. The selected candidates, all from Santander and aged between 22 and 26, hold degrees in [specific fields not mentioned in the original text]. International Relations, Business Administration and Marketing, and Translation and interpretation.
The new scholarship recipients will take over from the previous cohort, ensuring continuity in the representation of regional interests in these key markets. The allocation of destinations and the generational handover are detailed below:
| New Intern | Destination (ICEX Office) | Outgoing Intern |
|---|---|---|
| Paula García Herrero | Singapore | Diego Sainz |
| Cristina Losada Campa | Chicago (USA) | Andrea Martínez |
| Sara Quintana Lostal | Lisbon, Portugal) | Roberto Iglesias |
| Carolina Revuelta Álvarez | Dubai (UAE) | Carlos Fernandez |
Strategic objectives: Investment attraction and promotion
During the official welcome, the CEO of SODERCAN, Angel Pedraja, together with the Director of New Markets and Internationalization, Raquel ManzanaresThey have outlined the critical functions these professionals will perform. Their main mission will be to support the regional government in the task of "attracting wealth, investment, and industrial projects," as well as identifying export opportunities for companies in the autonomous community.
The public entity has urged the young women to maintain an attitude of proactivity to take advantage of an experience described as a "unique opportunity." They are expected to act as true "ambassadors" of Cantabria abroad, achieving a development that will mark a turning point in their professional and personal lives.
Institutional framework: Internationalization Plan 2025-2028
This scholarship program is the result of a collaboration agreement with the ICEX - Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade and aligns with the objectives of Cantabria Internationalization Plan 2025-2028Specifically, it responds to the line of action focused on the Talent, designed to mitigate the existing gap between the supply and demand of qualified professionals in foreign trade.
As indicated from SODERCANCompanies are currently facing serious difficulties in recruiting professionals specializing in this sector, a situation they describe as "a widespread reality nationwide." Therefore, training young people for international promotion is vital for:
- To contribute to the internationalization of the Cantabrian business fabric.
- Promote the region's products and companies in global markets.
- To generate experts who facilitate regional economic development.
Key points and frequently asked questions about SODERCAN – ICEX Scholarships
What is the main objective of these scholarships?
The objective is twofold: to train young talent specializing in foreign trade in the face of a shortage of professionals in the sector, and to support the attraction of investments and industrial projects for Cantabria from abroad.
What profile do the selected people have?
They are young graduates in areas such as International Relations, Business Administration, Marketing and Translation, from Santander, aged between 22 and 26, selected through an annual call for applications. SODERCAN.
Within what temporal and strategic framework are they framed?
The internships last one year, starting in January. They are part of the Talent program of Cantabria Internationalization Plan 2025-2028, as a result of an agreement with the ICEX - Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade.
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