Nearly 2.000 executives explore new international business opportunities at the ICEX 2025 Forum, marking a milestone in supporting Spanish companies.

 

El ICEX Forum 2025, held in Madrid, has become a essential platform for the Spanish business community seeking to expand its horizons. Crucial questions such as access to Asian or Latin American markets, financing for exports or emerging risks in global trade, have been the central focus of this intense and productive work day. The event, an initiative of the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business through ICEX - Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade, has significantly expanded its reach in this second edition, with a notable increase in the number of square meters, business meetings, specialized workshops, and top-level speakers. Cesce's collaboration as a sponsoring organization has also been fundamental.

 

One of the pillars of the Forum has been the direct access to market intelligenceMore than 50 Spanish economic and commercial advisors abroad have held more than 1.000 personalized interviews with business leaders. These sessions have been crucial for sharing knowledge of the field, identifying concrete opportunities, and guiding strategic decisions, constituting one of the greatest attractions for attendees.

 

The focus of the event has shifted from "what" to "how," offering a program with a strong practical componentMore than 100 speakers participated in 10 thematic workshops and 7 "Up Close" meetings, designed to translate global diagnoses into useful tools for business action. The workshops covered topics ranging from geopolitical and financial risk management to market diversification, competitiveness through innovation and talent, and positioning in key sectors such as agri-food and [other sectors]. scale ups industrialists. Likewise, the "Up Close" meetings have provided valuable testimonials from former ICEX scholarship recipients who now lead global projects, successful entrepreneurs in the e-commerce international and professionals who have integrated sustainability and open innovation in complex markets.

 

The Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business, Charles Body, stressed the importance of this institutional support: “The Spanish foreign sector is in good health, thanks to the efforts of thousands of companies that, despite the uncertainty, continue to grow in a changing environment. We are here to listen, share, and move forward, putting the full potential of the Spanish commercial administration at your service with knowledge, financial instruments, the search for new markets, and new strategic alliances.The presence of all the public instruments supporting internationalization has allowed companies to learn about and access solutions tailored to their needs.

 

The new portal www.icex.es has been presented, incorporating Artificial Intelligence functionalities with the aim of expanding the scope of support services for business internationalization, through the customization of content and services.

 

A singular moment of the Forum was «The hearth of the markets", a participatory experience where six economic and commercial advisors from key destinations such as China, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, India and ItalyThey shared "recipes for success" for entering and growing in their respective markets, informally and alongside the chef Alfonso Fernández-Morro.

 

The ICEX 2025 Forum also devoted space to strategic reflection. A dialogue between Minister Carlos Cuerpo, writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez, and NindusLab CEO Ana Lozano, moderated by ICEX CEO Elisa Carbonell, explored Spain's role in the world from economic, cultural, and business perspectives. Additionally, Cesce President Pablo de Ramón-Laca and economic journalist Belén Carreño analyzed the perception of Spain in the international press, offering insights into the country's reputation.

 

One of the great novelties of the event has been the official presentation of the new portal www.icex.esDeveloped with the goal of optimizing and expanding the effectiveness of services to businesses, the new website focuses on identifying and meeting the specific needs of each company in its internationalization process. It incorporates Artificial Intelligence functionalities to improve the accessibility, usability, and personalization of content and services. A smart registration system allows for navigation to be adapted and user needs to be anticipated, recommending markets, programs, or solutions in a personalized manner. This technological evolution allows ICEX to serve a greater number of companies, combining the efficiency of automation with close, professional support.

 

The ICEX 2025 Forum has been, in short, an intensive day of connections, learning and making state resources available to accompany companies on their path to internationalization.