The Interterritorial Council for Internationalization protects the 'Spain Brand' in Malaga and Andalusia activates 11,5 million in incentives

 

 

The Interterritorial Council for Internationalization (CII) has met in Malaga to analyze the strategic impact of country image on global business. Andalucía, whose six-month presidency is ending, has formalized the new Order of Incentives for Foreign Trade endowed with 11,5 millones de euros up to 2026.

 

The meeting consolidates the CII as the central forum between the central administration, the autonomous communities and the private sector (CEOE and Chamber of Commerce) to align strategies in the face of an environment marked by geoeconomic tension and protectionism.

 

The day's events were led by the CEO of Andalucía TRADE, Antonio Castro, and the CEO of ICEX Spain Export and Investments, Elisa CarbonellDuring the session, the need to strengthen the international competitiveness of the Spanish economy through public-private cooperation and institutional stability was highlighted.

 

Andalusia: Record exports and new financing

 

Taking advantage of the end of its term as president of the council, the Andalusian government has presented the Order of Incentives for Foreign Trade and InternationalizationThis financial tool has a budget of 11,5 million euros valid until December 2026, designed to support businesses in their international expansion.

 

Antonio Castro has highlighted the role of Malaga as the spearhead of the regional innovative model: "Málaga leads the region in attracting foreign investment, with 370 million euros, more than 44% of the FDI received in 2024, concentrating the largest presence of foreign-owned companies."

 

According to the data provided by Andalucía TRADEThe community has achieved record figures that validate its strategy:

 

Economic Indicator	Figure / Data	Context / Period
Incentives Budget	€11,5 Million	Valid until Dec. 2026
Exports Andalusia	+€40.000 Billion	Growth of 4,2% (2024)
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)	> €5.000 Billion	Cumulative since 2019 (+42% vs 2023)
IED in Malaga	€370 Million	44% of the regional total (2024)

 

Castro emphasized that these results, which include a trade surplus maintained throughout 2025, confirm that "the Andalusia brand generates confidence and contributes significantly to Spain's growth."

 

The value of intangibles and the tariff response

 

The central focus of the plenary session has been the debate on how intangible assets —country brand and image— act as a lever for foreign trade. Elisa Carbonell (ICEX), along with executives from Turespaña and the Department of agriculture, has analyzed how excellence in sectors such as tourism and agri-food projects a positive image that facilitates the entry of investments.

 

In this sense, the consultant Raúl Peralba, President of Positioning SystemsShe gave a presentation on differentiated positioning in saturated markets. For her part, the CEO of ICEX expressed her gratitude for the regional coordination in the face of the "new tariff reality," highlighting the expansion of the ICEX500+ Plan, which already assists more than 1.500 companies affected by trade barriers in the U.S.

 

Future strategies: Invest in Spain 2026

 

The technical meetings of Foreign Promotion Committee (CPE) and the Investment Attraction Committee (CAI) have served to chart the roadmap for the next fiscal year:

• Promotion: Progress has been made in the working groups on regular exporters (led by ACCIÓ) and data management (PROEXCA), in addition to addressing economic security and multilateral financing.
• Investment: The CAI has defined strategies to consolidate Spain as a safe destination in the face of global uncertainty. ICEX - Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade has outlined the main points of the strategy Invest in Spain 2026, aimed at attracting high value-added projects.

 

To conclude the day, the council representatives visited the logistics center of Mayoral at Intelhorce. The textile company, a leader in internationalization, manages the shipment of 50 million garments annually to more than 100 countries from these facilities, serving as a practical example of logistical and technological capacity.

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about the CII in Malaga

What new aid has Andalusia approved for internationalization?
The Foreign Trade Incentive Order has been published, endowed with a budget of 11,5 million euros available until the end of 2026 to support the export of Andalusian companies.

What was the main topic of this Council meeting?
The debate has focused on the strategic value of the "Spain Brand" and intangibles as a driver of competitiveness, as well as coordination in the face of tariff barriers and the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Who will preside over the Council in the next period?
After the second half of 2025 ends under the presidency of Andalusia, the Valencian Community will take over to preside over the Interterritorial Council for Internationalization in the first half of 2026.