The King inaugurates the VI Ibero-American CEAPI Congress and focuses on the historic opportunity to promote a strategic alliance between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean

In Madrid

During the inauguration of the event, Felipe VI highlighted Spain's potential to become the connecting point between Europe and Latin America, at this time when it is about to assume the rotating Presidency of the EU Council and the EU Summit. -CELAC in Brussels.

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King Felipe VI has inaugurated in Madrid the VI Ibero-American Business Congress CEAPI pointing out the historic opportunity that is presented to enhance and consolidate a strategic alliance between Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe adapted to the demands and opportunities of the current context, as well as the potential of Spain to become the connection point between the two large regions, about to take over next July the Rotating presidency of the Council of the EU and the celebration of the EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels.

 

The event, which takes place in the Reina Sofía Museum Auditorium until tomorrow, is celebrated under the motto 'The bridge between Latin America and Europe. The time is now: the great opportunity', and puts the focus, in line with SM's words, on the importance of the business sector in strengthening ties between Latin American countries and the European Union and on the reflection on the need to forge a strategic alliance between Latin America and Europe, with Spain as an integrating bridge for this renewed association.

 

In his speech, the king has encouraged countries to become aware of the possibilities posed by the current situation: “We hope that, based on different realities and sensitivities, sometimes not easy to reconcile, substantial steps will be taken that allow countries in both regions to become truly aware of "the historic opportunity - given the difficult and complex global context - to move forward and achieve powerful agreements that give us greater security and guarantees in commercial exchanges and investment operations."

 

In this situation, “Spain is called to play a leading role by combining its Ibero-American and European projection. Our country wants and can be a magnificent promoter of this cooperation and joint work, because it firmly believes in the region,” he added.

 

He also wanted highlight the role of companies and entrepreneurs in the construction of Ibero-America, “weaving ties in multiple sectors and areas”, pointing out that it is “a work that not only involves governments, but also companies, business organizations... civil society and entities such as CEAPI, actors all with a very relevant role both in economic and social development and in the strengthening of democratic institutions.”

 

Likewise, he alluded to the History shared by Ibero-America and Spain, declaring that “at the bottom of our relations there is not only an economic-business component, but a deep historical-cultural root that should be extended to all of Europe and that goes back to more than 500 years.”

 

His speech was preceded by words of welcome from Núria Vilanova, president of the Alianza por Iberoamérica Business Council (CEAPI), which he emphasized at the opening of this edition, which stands out for the high percentage of women participants (40%), in the relevance of the common project that brings together the more than 400 attendees of this great event: the construction of Ibero-America in the current context marked by the reconfiguration of a new world order.

 

In this sense, Vilanova has pointed out the need to start talking about certainties after recent years and to focus on the future of the territory in terms of opportunity, a horizon where the potential of Latin America plays an essential role, and in which the commitment business for a fairer Ibero-America will be decisive.

 

Likewise, Vilanova has also highlighted the importance of Spain continues to be the 'hub' chosen by 'multilatin' companies to invest in Europe and grow in the rest of the world, in addition to the bridge for European and third country investors to strengthen economic ties with Latin America, in addition to defending the relevance of Ibero-America after the pandemic.

 

In this context, the president of CEAPI has stated about the members of her business council that the organization wants to be the voice that remembers that Latin America is important, that the time is now, that at this time a long-term alliance between Latam and the EU is more necessary than ever and that Spain wants and can be the door to promote and channel greater investment on the other side of the Atlantic from new actors interested in the region, such as India, the Middle East and Korea, which add to the renewed interest of China and other European countries, and traditional and veteran investors such as Spain and the United States."

 

Before the words of HM the King, the congress was also anticipated with the holding of a first panel, Latin America and Europe. The time is now: The great opportunity, in which, with the moderation of Núria Vilanova, president of CEAPI, have intervened Enrique V. Iglesias, first Ibero-American secretary general and honorary president of CEAPI (Uruguay); Andrés Allamand, Ibero-American Secretary General SEGIB (Chile) and Mariano Jabonero, Secretary General of the OEI (Spain).

 

In this way, with more than a day and a half ahead of round tables, panels and interviews with prominent Ibero-American personalities, The first participants have laid the foundations for a sixth edition featuring current economic, commercial, business and investment news in the region in times of uncertainty.

 

Núria Vilanova, president of the Business Council Alianza Por Iberoamérica (CEAPI), has opened this sixth edition that will run until June 1 in Madrid under the title 'Spain, the bridge between Ibero-America and Europe. The time is now: the great opportunity'

 

VI Ibero-American Congress CEAPI

 

The meeting has brought together 400 top-level Ibero-American and Spanish businessmen such as Isidoro José Alanís, executive president of Grupo Global Exchange (Spain); Carlos Aso, general director of the ANDBANK Group (Spain/Andorra); Alberto Baco, managing director of RE Capital (Puerto Rico); Ana Botella Serrano, founder and president of the Integra Foundation (Spain); Juan Luis Cebrian, honorary president of El País (Spain); Ismael Clemente, founder and CEO of Merlin Properties (Spain); Manuel Contreras, president of the Azvi Group (Spain); Beatrice Runner, president of Redeia (Spain); José Luis From the Goudie River, president of Dersa (Chile); Valentin Diez Morodo, president of COMCE and international honorary president of CEAPI (Mexico); Federico Toussaint Elosúa, president and general director of Grupo Lamosa (Mexico); Jaime Gilinski, president of the Gililnski Group (Colombia); Omar Gonzalez, president of the Trinity Group (Colombia); Dionisio Gutiérrez Mayorga, president of the Freedom and Development Foundation (Guatemala); Emiliano López Atxurra, president of Petronor (Spain); Nicolás Mariscal Servitje, general director of Marhnos (Mexico);); Alba Medina, co-founder of Avocado Coin (Mexico); Jaume Miquel Naudí, president and CEO of TENDAM (Spain); Isabel Noboa, president of the Nobis Consortium (Ecuador); Josep Oliu, president of Banco Sabadell (Spain); Juan Ricardo Ortega, president of Grupo Energía Bogotá (Colombia); Eloi Plans, CEO of Fluidra (Spain);  Frank Rainieri, founder and 'chairman' of Grupo Puntacana (Dominican Republic); Frank Elias Rainieri, president of the Puntacana Group (Dominican Republic); Francisco José Riberas, executive president and CEO of GESTAMP (Spain); Javier Targhetta Roza, CEO of Atlantic Copper (Spain) and Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, among many others.   

  

Within the institutional sphere, there are many prominent figures who have shared space with business leaders such as Meritxel Batet, president of the Congress of Deputies (Spain); Rachel Sanchez, Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda; José María Aznar, former president of the Government of Spain; Ana Pastor, second vice president of the Congress of Deputies;  Mariano Jabonero, secretary general of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI); Enrique V. Iglesias, honorary president of CEAPI; Sergio Diaz-Granados, president of the Development Bank for Latin America-CAF; Antonio Garamendi, president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) and Sacristan Gem, business director at IDB Invest, among others. Furthermore, during the last day of the Congress, the Luis Felipe Quintero, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Colombia.