– The improvement in the international competitiveness of Catalan companies is once again evident at the IX Trobada de Centres de Promoció de Negocis del COPCA, what could be highlighted from this edition?
I would like to highlight the excellent response we've had at this ninth meeting, held during Internationalization Week, with the 37 directors of our offices abroad. Over these three days, we will have conducted nearly 800 interviews, although we have received requests for almost twice that number, around 1.600.
This is very important because we are still in a somewhat complex international situation with the Iraq conflict and other conflicts in different parts of the world, and with a very weak global economy in certain regions. For Catalan companies, this call for internationalization and expansion into other markets is positive, since the German economy, which is our second largest customer, is still experiencing a period of sluggishness and low growth.
Another key element of these sessions is addressing the issue of enlargement. We have brought together representatives from the ten internationalization agencies of the new EU markets to try to boost exports that started late in these countries.
– How would you currently assess the presence of Catalan businesses in these ten new EU markets?
It's a growing presence. Last year, with exports from Catalonia practically stagnating compared to the previous year, these markets grew by around 16% overall, and this year, in the first four months, exports are double the average growth rate of the Catalan economy as a whole abroad. If the international outlook becomes clearer, a number of investment projects will also emerge in these new markets.
– What would be the main advantages of negotiating with these transition economies?
They must evolve to the average standards of the Union's partners.
This implies improving the standards of citizens in the ten countries with increasing consumption options, improving the competitiveness of their production sectors with options for all industries focused on production, machinery, components, etc., and opening up important avenues for companies in the service sector, which can contribute to improving organizational and management systems.
– What can you tell us about this innovative concept of business platforms promoted by COPCA?
We will launch these business platforms at the end of Internationalization Week. The plan is to structure spaces around a business center that will host companies and serve as a starting point for their established, physical presence in that country. They are intended to be launching points for foreign investment.
We want these platforms to help companies grow and become independent, giving way to a new, physically established and consolidated company in the market.
– What assessment would you make of the trend in Catalan foreign trade in the first half of 2003?
Last year exports remained practically at the levels of the previous year, and this year we are around 5 points of growth in the first four months of the year.
If some of the economies that are important for businesses recover, we will achieve high levels of growth. We expect that alternative markets to the domestic market will become more consolidated and diversify the export offering.
– What destinations are being considered for the trade missions organized by COPCA this year?
The issue of expansion has been very strong. With China, the trend of the early years was broken by the SARS problem; however, we hope that the good news from the World Health Organization will consolidate this destination again. Another very important country is Brazil, which, as a major power in South America, has a great capacity to attract tourists.
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