Business and foreign trade promotion organizations in Spain

Institutions to turn to to do business abroad

Exports have played a determining role in the Spanish economic recovery and remain one of its pillars of growth.

Data from ICEX - Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade point out that in 2017 Spanish companies exported 277.000 million euros, 8,9% more than in 2016, a historical maximum, with a cumulative growth of 73% since 2009. In 2018 the figures continue to show a positive evolution, In fact, Spanish merchandise exports grew by 2,8% in the January-May period compared to the same period of the previous year and reached 120.192 million euros according to data from the Secretary of State for Commerce.

More and more companies are working to take advantage of the business opportunities that the global market represents and designing a internationalization strategy for your goods and services even from the beginning; supporting and promoting them is the reason for being of ICEX Spain Exportation and Investments, public business entity guinea pigThe main purpose is the promotion of the internationalization of the Spanish economy and companies and the improvement of their competitiveness, as well as the attraction and promotion of foreign investments in Spain.

The main work of ICEX is the promotion of the internationalization of the Spanish economy and companies and the improvement of their competitiveness, as well as the attraction and promotion of foreign investments in Spain.

To this end, in 2017 they carried out a total of 1.823 activities, facilitating more than 17.000 business participations in activities related to internationalization. Likewise, it answered nearly 52.500 queries through the Ventana Global service and provided more than 2.500 personalized services to companies in foreign markets. For its part, the initiation program to internationalization ICEX Next It incorporated 244 companies, according to entity data.

The Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade has its headquarters in Madrid and has more than 30 Territorial and Provincial Directorates as well as an extensive foreign network of almost 100 Economic and Commercial Offices. The ICEX works closely with the main business organizations, Chambers of Commerce, sectoral groups that encompass the Spanish business fabric and the Foreign Trade Organizations of the different Autonomous Communities.

Icex organizes and participates permanently events related to current topics and trends for the foreign business of companies in SpainSome recent examples are:

The conference “Sustainability,

responsibility and

internationalization”

The “Keys to

manage currency and save

in international payments»

The Google presentation

in Madrid of your tool

Market Finder

Or the announcement of the

the arrival of Spain

Tech Center a

Israel

Foreign Trade Organizations by Autonomous Communities

Andalusian Foreign Promotion Agency (EXTENDA): As an instrument of the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge that executes the internationalization policy of the Andalusian Government, extend aims to promote the foreign activity of Andalusian companies, to this end it makes available a series of services to support internationalization in terms of information, training, promotion, consulting and financing, a catalog of services tailored to Andalusian companies. , regardless of its size, sector or origin. The entity works with almost 40 subsectors of activity classified into 4 main sectors: agri-food, consumption, industry and services.

Through its Business Promotion Offices, it provides support and services in international markets on the five continents, and also provides all the information on the latest actions (missions, business opportunities, programs and courses) that allow companies to expand their portfolio of products. customers. In events that are attended by international buyers such as Fruit Attraction or the International Children's Fashion Fair, Extenda accompanies and supports the participation of Andalusian companies.

Extenda organizes and participates permanently events related to current topics and trends for the foreign business of companies in SpainSome recent examples are:

Extenda organizes a day

about opportunities in Peru

and France in Jerez de la Frontera

Extenda supports participation

of Andalusian firms at the Fair

Children's Fashion International

Although the most notable event organized by Extenda is the one in which it recognizes the activity of Andalusian companies abroad through its prestigious Wings awards for internationalization of the Andalusian economy.

Wings Awards 2016:

ACC1Ó: It is the agency for business competitiveness of the Generalitat of Catalonia that, attached to the Department of Business and Knowledge, specializes in promoting innovation and business internationalization through a network of 40 offices around the world.

The entity advises companies so that they can find the most suitable markets to begin their foreign activity or to consolidate it, to this end it offers guidance services for internationalization, technical advice and personalized and sectoral services, among others. ACC1Ó also supports companies through loans and grants and in seeking financing from private investors or venture capital.

As part of the activities carried out by the entity for the foreign promotion of Catalan companies, they annually organize the Internationalization Week, which in 2018 celebrated its 25th edition, focusing its content on making key companies aware of how to succeed with electronic commerce in the United States, the challenges of logistics in today's world or the particularities of exporting services.

Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León: Known until 2017 as the Business Innovation, Financing and Internationalization Agency of Castilla y León (ADE), the Institute for Business Competitiveness of the Government of Castilla y León has an external infrastructure with a presence in 18 cities in 15 different countries in Europe , Africa, Asia and America, created to support companies from Castilla y León on the ground in their international activity.

It also works on financing international expansion projects for SMEs and the self-employed and on actions for the promotion and marketing of products and/or services of Castilian and Leon companies.

Analyzing the potential of the company's products and/or services in international markets is part of the services offered by the entity, in addition to providing information on trends and marketing opportunities abroad, resolution of legal and legal issues that may arise in its foreign operations, financing solutions, personalized advice on logistics, international contracts, collections, taxation, customs, export document management, marketing and sales.

At ADE they also support companies in the search and location of potential buyers with interest in their product and/or service through the Destination Agenda and Importer Search Programs.

Throughout the year they carry out different events and conferences while supporting the participation of companies in the region in international fairs.

Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER): The Economic Development Agency of La Rioja works to energize and enhance business development in La Rioja, providing active services, granting financial aid and supporting the financing of companies. Among its objectives is to increase the size and capacity of the productive fabric, improve the competitiveness and productivity of companies and support their globalization, to this end it offers a wide range of services, including an area dedicated to internationalization.

Aware of the importance of being present in other markets, ADER has developed a series of tools aimed at promoting the incorporation, consolidation and presence of the products and services of Rioja companies in the foreign market. How to start exporting? How boost exports? How to establish yourself abroad? How to obtain financing? o Where to request advice? These are some of the questions that help to clear up.

Likewise, the entity participates as coordinator and/or partner in different projects co-financed by Community Funds, with the ultimate objective of increasing the competitiveness and internationalization capacity of the industrial fabric of the region, through direct and indirect actions in the business and institutional spheres. .

Every year ADER organizes a series of seminars and workshops on diverse topics and for the different Rioja business sectors, with the aim of awakening interest in foreign activity and disseminating information and knowledge in all areas and levels.

In general, specific aspects of international trade operations are discussed, such as financing or new technologies in the internationalization process, as well as export and/or investment opportunities.

Foreign Promotion Society of the Principality of Asturias (ASTUREX): ASTUREX was created in December 2005 with the mission of promoting a greater presence of Asturian companies in international markets, its objectives include consolidating and increasing the number of exporting companies (with special emphasis on supporting SMEs), promoting collaboration between companies for internationalization, increasing exports, promoting and incentivizing exports of new sectors and/or products and enhancing exports to new markets.

The entity makes different support programs available to companies according to their needs and current degree of internationalization. To this end, it has various export initiation and international promotion programs in which they help companies evaluate their current situation, their potential and its focus or possible refocusing in its internationalization project, offering personalized services at destination and origin, support in the company's foreign promotion strategy and advice for implementation, among other tools.

Likewise, through Asturias Coopera and bidding or digital internationalization projects, they facilitate the search for cooperation formulas between companies in order to address international markets with greater security, efficiency and lower risk.

Among its foreign promotion activities is the Agri-Food Forum, whose objective is to show the potential of Asturian companies in this sector and make Asturian products known to buyers and distributors from different parts of the world, and the Metal Sector Forum where businessmen from The five continents share experiences and have the opportunity to start commercial and cooperation projects.

Metal Forum is consolidated as an international platform for the sector:

Exterior Aragon (AREX): Aragón Exterior is the organization of the Government of Aragon that promotes the internationalization of the Aragonese economy by supporting companies in their going abroad in all areas of interest: export, supply, implementation of operations, selection of foreign trade technicians, alliances …etc. Their work philosophy is based on personalized attention through individual projects that meet the needs of each company, for which they have a structure of professionals both in Aragon and in more than 100 destination countries.

In the internationalization area of AREX, it helps companies find business partners and offers information on international markets, as well as tools to manage and promote their foreign activity.

The agenda of activities of the foreign promotion body of one of the most important logistics regions in the country is made up of trade missions, participation in fairs or networking sessions and information or training sessions held during the year in order to bring the Aragonese businessman closer to different sectors to the markets where your product or service has the opportunity to find a niche. Among these activities, the “AREX International Meeting” stands out, celebrating its 2018th edition in 8, becoming once again the reference space for the export community of Aragon that meets to learn about and debate current foreign trade.

AREX International Meeting 2017

Extremadura Advance: Extremadura Avante is a group of public companies of the Government of Extremadura that aims to provide services to Extremadura companies in the different phases of their development, so that they can be more competitive.

The institution has various support programs for entrepreneurs, among which the Foreign Promotion program stands out, a tool designed for the introduction and consolidation of the products/services of Extremaduran companies in international markets, its objective is to facilitate companies their access to other markets, generate marketing opportunities and increase exports, advise them on foreign and commercial trade, detect commercial opportunities and design and develop commercial meetings.

An example of the work they carry out is the event “International Network Meeting Point: Bringing Markets Closer” which offers Extremaduran companies the opportunity to hold interviews with the commercial delegations of Extremadura Avante abroad in order to propose the internationalization of in a close and accessible way, a day that is part of the institution's annual agenda of activities that includes workshops and courses, as well as the organization of trade missions and the participation of companies in the region in trade fairs.

Institute of Business Innovation of the Balearic Islands (IDI): The IDI is an instrument of the Ministry of Labor, Commerce and Industry of the Government of the Balearic Islands that acts as a Regional Development Agency (ADR), and as such, has the objective of promoting the development of economic and business activity by putting available to entrepreneurs and companies, especially SMEs, the information and means necessary for their implementation, improved management and increased competitiveness. They do this directly or through coordination and collaboration with other public and private entities that work in this line.

At the IDI they work under the premise that every product or service is, in principle, marketable in those foreign markets in which there are needs that they can satisfy and that the possibility of exporting companies does not depend so much on the size, as on the strategy and policies designed and developed by the management and business team. Aware of this fact, they make available to SMEs in the Balearic Islands a set of services on export, training and awareness, design of the foreign promotion plan, resources, pool of collaborators and foreign markets.

They also organize conferences and workshops on topics related to the export of goods and services and the internationalization process of the company, they also inform and participate in the promotional activities organized by the ICEX and the Chambers of Commerce in different countries: missions commercials, advertising campaigns, trade fairs, event brokerage...

Basque Internationalization Agency (AVI) / Basque Trade and Invest: The Basque Internationalization Agency (AVI)/Basque Trade and Invest, is a public company, belonging to the Spri Group, the result of the merger of the international services of Spri and the Internationalization Directorate of the Department of Development and Infrastructure of the Basque Government . It was created with the purpose of gaining flexibility and agility to provide a better service to the Basque company.

The entity works to provide an a la carte service to promote exports and imports, promote activities aimed at positioning itself in strategic markets, facilitate technical assistance in commercial and productive implementations, as well as provide support in projects financed by multilateral organizations. In addition, they advise those foreign investors who see Euskadi as their best ally in Europe.

The Basque Trade internationalization area team, with the support of its entire Foreign Network (presence in more than 70 markets through 15 own offices and more than 60 consultants around the world), provides services tailored to each company, whether the already exports as if it has not yet started this process, to do so, and in each case, they analyze whether the company is prepared to export and what its real potential is, they investigate which markets and countries are most suitable, develop stable marketing channels and They help companies strengthen their foreign presence through the creation of commercial or productive structures that determine their positioning in the target market.

The reference event in the region is Intergune+, a space where Basque companies can learn about the entire range of internationalization services, European policies, emerging countries and discover the possibilities of their company abroad. The forum is organized by the Department of Economic Development and Infrastructure through the recently created Basque Internationalization Agency within the SPRI Group and is part of the extensive calendar of activities carried out by the entity.

Canary Islands Economic Development Society (PROEXCA): The Canarian Economic Development Society is a public company attached to the Ministry of Economy, Industry, Commerce and Knowledge of the Government of the Canary Islands whose fundamental objectives are to improve the competitiveness of the company through support for internationalization and attraction towards the Islands of strategic investments. The entity has an external network that covers markets such as Germany, Brazil, Belgium, Cape Verde, Canada, Canary Islands, Colombia, USA, Morocco, Mauritania, Panama, Norway, United Kingdom, Senegal and Sweden.

Among the programs offered to companies with global potential is the “Canarias Aporta” program, which provides non-refundable aid for internationalization projects, both in their initial and consolidation stages, and provides up to 80 thousand euros (50% of the investment) for all companies that want to expand their business. They also focus on training through a scholarship program in international business that aims to train Canarian graduates in internationalization, as well as create a network of international agents that provide their services to Canarian companies. The program also has practical training in the positions of Export Manager in International Economic Organizations, Export Manager in Foreign Promotion Organizations, Export Manager in international companies abroad or Export Manager in other international institutions of economic interest for the Canary Islands.

Development Institute of the Region of Murcia (INFO): The info The Development Agency of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia has a highly specialized professional team responsible for promoting economic development and serving as a guide and support to companies and entrepreneurs in the new scenarios of globalization and competitiveness. .

Since its inception 30 years ago, the agency has promoted the export of Murcian companies abroad and from the internationalization area it offers international information services, financing, legal advice, initiation to export, support network in destination, pool of technicians or International tenders. They also have a team of international trade experts in 30 countries, native or with extensive experience in each country, who offer companies in the region an interesting catalog of services at destination (prospecting, commercial introduction, agendas, trips, etc. .), developing their work according to an Action Plan previously agreed upon with the company.

INFO also brings business opportunities through a network dedicated to the development of SMEs and international cooperation and promotes the participation of companies in conferences, information events, missions and trade fairs. Among these initiatives, the annual Internationalization Forum stands out. In 2018 it celebrated its 18th edition, it is a call traditionally organized during the first quarter of the year from the Foreign Promotion Plan, in which foreign trade specialists, companies and technicians share their knowledge and projects with the aim of expanding the perspectives of exporters in different areas of international trade.

The 2018 Business Internationalization and Innovation Forum is held in Murcia:

Instituto de Promoción Exterior de Castilla-La Mancha (IPEX): The Institute for Foreign Promotion of Castilla-La Mancha (IPEX) is a Public Law entity, attached to the Ministry of Economy, Business and Employment that acts as a reference body in foreign trade and attracting foreign investment in Castilla-La Mancha.

The mission of IPEX is to lead internationalization in the economic field in Castilla-La Mancha and promote social and institutional internationalization to turn the region into a competitive economy open to the world, to this end it makes a wide range of services available to companies. instruments, designed to help them achieve success in their international expansion.

IPEX promotes, facilitates and organizes the participation of Castilian-La Mancha companies in fairs and promotional events, direct missions, reverse missions, visits to fairs, etc. in the field of foreign trade and has, among others, online export potential diagnosis programs, initiation to export or business cooperation for internationalization developed depending on the degree of internationalization of companies from those that want to start in the export to those that are in more advanced stages and seek to consolidate themselves as international companies. It also provides information, advice, training, personalized services at the destination, investment attraction area, investor support service, post-implementation and an external network that has its own promoters in China, the United States and Germany and associated consultants in Japan that offer companies in Castilla-La Mancha personalized services at their destination.

IPEX also supports initiatives such as FENAVIN, aimed at promoting commercial activity in sectors with great potential such as wine, and in the International Promotion plan of the Foreign Promotion Institute of Castilla-La Mancha, it has planned more than 130 actions on the five continents. in order to promote the activity of companies in different sectors, including food and beverages, consumer goods, the industrial sector and tourism.

Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (IGAPE): The Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (IGAPE) is the agency, attached to the Ministry of Economy, Employment and Industry, for the economic development of Galicia. The mission of IGAPE is to support all activities that contribute to improving the Galician productive system, facilitating the processes of business creation, consolidation and growth. The objectives of the entity have to do with promoting the creation of new companies and decisively promoting the entrepreneurial spirit, increasing the competitiveness of Galician companies through innovation and technological development, facilitating internationalization and supporting cooperation and collective projects. of companies, to achieve this they provide companies with advice on: market information and cooperation, initiation in international markets, consolidation in international markets and support in destination, among other services such as financing for what the Foexga or Galicia Exporta Program has designed. Companies, among other means of help that they make available.

The IGAPE calendar of events and activities includes a series of initiatives well organized by the institution or in which they contribute to its dissemination, as they represent business opportunities for Galician companies. They are also committed to training through the call for places for the training of young professionals in business internationalization through practical training, with the aim of improving employability and making professionals available to Galician companies to help them improve their competitiveness. .

Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE): The Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness, IVACE, aims to manage the industrial policy of the Generalitat and support companies in terms of innovation, entrepreneurship, internationalization and attracting investments. One of their main lines of help is the internationalization of Valencian companies and that is why they have IVACE International, a business unit whose objectives include the promotion of the Valencian Community abroad, and the promotion of the internationalization of companies.

IVACE International has an international network that has 25 geographical points and support in 35 markets considered priority and selected by a Markets Commission in which Exporters Associations, the Council of Chambers of the Community, ICEX Spain Export and Investment and IVACE. It also makes available international mentoring programs, tailored services, assistance in public bidding processes, a list of services for internationalization that includes the wide range of instruments that companies have at their disposal to promote their expansion in foreign markets.

IVACE International and the Chambers of Commerce of the Valencian Community have developed the Start Exporting program, which seeks to work hand in hand with city councils to deliver internationalization support programs to the entire territory through a cycle of modules that They can be carried out gradually in order to respond to all business needs to start exporting.

In addition to conferences, missions and informative workshops, the entity organizes, together with the Chambers of Commerce of the CV and ICEX, the Go Global Internationalization Congress, which celebrates its third edition in 2018.

Society for the Regional Development of Cantabria (SODERCAN): SODERCAN is a public company of the Government of Cantabria, attached to the Vice Presidency and Ministry of Universities, Research, Environment and Social Policy whose mission is to actively contribute to the strengthening of the industrial fabric of Cantabria by supporting all activities that contribute to its improvement, facilitating the processes of business creation, consolidation and growth, and promoting R&D&I activities and/or projects, which promote the competitive improvement of companies in our region.

Among its objectives is to promote and facilitate the exit of companies from Cantabria to foreign markets, supporting internationalization strategies and actions that add value to companies, as well as actively participating in European cooperation activities and projects, in order to obtain community financing for develop and reinforce regional economic promotion actions and support for companies in the region.

The services offered in the area of international development refer to basic information on markets, export documentation, search for partners and agents, means of export support, commercial and/or productive implementation abroad, and participation in European projects. In the same way, they organize together with other institutions, such as ICEX, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, CEOE-CEPYME Cantabria, etc., information days, workshops, and trade missions.

The SODERCAN Group Foreign Network is made up of technical specialists in foreign trade located in Mexico City, Casablanca, Dubai, Santiago de Chile and Paris.