Interview Carlos Dalmau, international director Banco Sabadell

Leading entity in international business services for Spanish companies

"Our expectation is that companies will continue to advance in their international expansion, seeking and diversifying into new markets. We are seeing that companies have picked up the pace and recognize that there are opportunities or better options for international business, and not only within the European sphere."

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El Banco Sabadell It was founded in 1881 in the city of Sabadell, Barcelona, ​​Spain. Its origin is in the credit society "El Sabadellés", founded by a group of textile industrialists from the city.

 

Since then, Banco Sabadell has become one of the leaders in international business services for Spanish companies. thanks to its extensive experience, global presence, complete range of products and services, specialization, innovative technology and solid track record. The entity closed in 2023, managing a volume of investment in international currency very close to eight billion euros. This figure consolidates its position as one of the main leaders in this area in Spain.

 

In a time of uncertainty like the one the global economy is going through and the most recent social and technological changes, from experience and calm Carlos Dalmau, director of International Solutions at Banco Sabadell, analyzes in this interview for EmpresaExterior the moment in which we find ourselves: volume and international openness of our companies, risks, threats, opportunities and competitiveness are the most relevant points that we review with the manager.

 

• What does Banco Sabadell expect for this year in terms of its activity from companies in the foreign sector?

Carlos Dalmau: The expectations we have are that they continue to advance in their exit abroad, seeking diversifying new markets, which is what we are seeing, that companies have picked up the pace and see that there are possibilities or better international business options and not only within the European sphere. Yes, we hope that at the European level we will see a certain improvement this year and can help export mainly and also looking, as I said before, for new markets, obviously some already consolidated, such as in United States or may be Latin America and in Asia, that there are more and more sectors of activity that are being located. Africa It is the great unknown. We have been saying this for perhaps 20 years, but Spanish companies, especially those in the north of Africa, are developing these markets very efficiently. The vision is positive, of continuity and we hope that exports will grow this year 2024.

• What are the main risks or threats that arise in the short and medium term for the exporting company?

CD: The main threats. We consider that the changes are so sudden that there are, constant changes to which Spanish companies have to adapt. For a few years now we have known the different circumstances that have occurred in the last three or four years. We see that Spanish companies have to adapt to these changes very continuously and that they also have to develop plans, plans B in case they happen. We have the Red Sea, unfortunately we have what happened in Ukraine, because I think it has affected many company plans. We are in a time when companies continually live with the possibility of a new accident, incident or geopolitical movement that causes very rapid movements.

We have an advantage, the Spanish company, unlike other perhaps European environments, which are medium-sized companies with much more turnover, is much more manageable and at a level of service that really stands out. So, in these circumstances, their ability to move is relevant and the truth is, experience tells us that they have been able to adapt very well to these contexts.

 

• What important opportunities, trends or challenges do you point out at Banco Sabadell for the foreign sector by 2024?

CD: In the outdoor sector there are very consolidated sectors of activity, such as capital goods, food and beverages, chemistry and pharmaceuticals, what we see and perhaps the trend where we should achieve The greatest share is all those products that involve technology. These products that involve technology, which are products with greater added value and to which companies can accompany them or attach digital services, are the ones that we believe can have a more valuable action. In fact, in the latest numbers or statistics we already see that the technological part is gaining a certain weight. This, together with the Spain brand, went to the international, which is very highly rated. We find a brand mix, a mix of good service from Spanish companies, to which we do incorporate the technology and added value that the market really expects from Spanish companies.

 

• In this changing global market, where is the Spanish company in terms of competitiveness?

CD: It is well positioned. Perhaps the numbers indicate that competitiveness has been lost at the price level.

We have been gaining it at a volume level, perhaps in the last year, but we believe that the trend that the Spanish company has with a strong commitment to what is the foreign trade mainly, obviously, as I said before in the European environment, but that it is opening to new markets, they make a more positive expectation. This is the part that perhaps we see the most progress.

 

• What message would you like to give to Spanish companies that are thinking about internationalizing?

CD: Well, a message very much based on the three P's that I talk about: patience, be very patient when you enter a market, do not wait to obtain profitability in the first year. Prudence. Prudence is obviously a factor that must be taken into account and planned. The p of planning, plan properly, focus. Perhaps in one country, do not focus on a very large geographical area, position yourself well in that country and advance little by little. The prudence Above all, patience would be the two essential factors for a Spanish company that decides to go abroad to have a project with viability in the medium and long term. We don't have to think in the short term, we have to think about a project in which the entire company, the entire organization, thinks that it is dedicated to it and plan it appropriately, get advice. And it is the last P with the partners preferable, that is, those partners who can help and accompany you. And this is a bit of what we at Banco Sabadell try to do. Be a partner of Spanish companies that go abroad.