The results of PIPE, PIDM and the "Learning to Export" program were analyzed positively.
The Prince of Asturias presided last Monday over the Extraordinary Board of Directors of the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX), held to mark the institution's 25th anniversary.
The event, which was also attended by the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Joan Clos; and the Executive Vice President of ICEX, Ángel Martín Acebes, reviewed the strategy that the institution is currently following to support the internationalization of Spanish companies.
During the meeting, the positive reception of the Foreign Promotion Initiation Plan (PIPE) in its first decade was highlighted, with 4.994 companies joining, representing 15% of all those that export in Spain.
The results of the "Learning to Export" program, launched in 2005 to encourage SMEs to operate abroad, were also assessed. Seventeen workshops have already been held within this program, with more than 7.000 companies participating.
The Council also reviewed the progress of the Comprehensive Market Development Plan, designed to identify areas with high commercial potential and which, according to the Ministry of Industry, has already resulted in an increase in exports to countries such as Russia, the United States and Japan.
Among other issues discussed, the positive performance of wine and olive oil exports was also highlighted, as well as Spain's image abroad in areas such as cultural industries and technology.
In this latter area, in line with the communication campaign "Spain, Technology for Life" launched in 2006, a new agreement is planned to be signed with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to produce reports on Spanish successes in the Technology Review magazine.
The Extraordinary Board of Directors of ICEX is composed equally of representatives from the General State Administration, the Autonomous Communities and the main sector associations.
gastronomic training
On the other hand, last Monday ICEX also inaugurated in Madrid the first course on Spanish Culture and Gastronomy for foreign chefs, which will serve to boost sales of food products to other countries.
The deputy director of Training at ICEX, Javier Serra, assured that the twenty chefs from five countries (Denmark, USA, Germany, Japan and Switzerland) will become, after a year of theoretical and practical training in our country, ambassadors of the best Spanish products.
The chefs will also visit the main markets (Mercamadrid, e.g.) and do internships in prestigious restaurants such as "Mugaritz" or "Arzak".
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