IDEPA’s XXVIII Business Forum reinforces the position of the region as an ideal destination for investment
Asturias is an attractive place to invest. The region presents ideal conditions to host industrial investment projects aligned with the ecological transition and others based on the talent and knowledge generated by innovative and technology-based companies.
This is the main conclusion drawn from the XXVIII edition of the Asturias Business Forum, organised by the Economic Development Agency of the Principality of Asturias (IDEPA) and held last Thursday 12th. December at the Hotel de la Reconquista, Oviedo.
During the Forum, the President of the Principality of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, assured that our region continues to be an industrial territory. He focused on innovation to transform traditional industry and face the ecological transition: “Innovation, talent and science lead the way to the future of Asturias”, said Barbón.
Asturias is “a natural paradise with an industrial soul”, insisted Belarmino Feito, president of the Asturian Federation of Businessmen (FADE).
In order to attract investment, Asturias offers very favourable conditions for companies, such as institutional support, direct aid, high professional qualifications, talent, a competitive business environment, its strategic location and quality of life.
Multinationals with presence in Asturias
These favourable conditions have been taken advantage of for years by important multinational companies, which have found in Asturias an ideal place in which to set up production units.
This is the case, among others, of ArcelorMittal, Glencore, Bayer, DuPont, PMG Powder Metal, Saint Gobain or thyssenkrupp, world leaders in their markets and with a strong presence in Asturias, as highlighted by the Regional Minister of Science, Innovation and University, Borja Sánchez.
One of these success stories is DuPont, whose president in Spain and Portugal, Ángela Santianes, explained the reasons why the multinational has decided to continue growing in our region. Among them, Santianes highlighted the high professionalism of the staff and the excellent results they obtain, the talent that attracts Asturias and the quality of life.
Ignacio de Colmenares, president and CEO of the ENCE Group, explained the enormous importance that has treasured the Asturian biofactory of Navia, flagship of the company (leader in cellulose production and renewable energy with agroforestry biomass), thanks also, among other factors, to the support of the regional government and the local talent.
Trust in Asturias and innovative ecosystem
“The concept of trust summarizes and identifies the main attributes of Asturias as a place to invest. Trust in the region and in the multinational companies already established here“, said the General Director of IDEPA, Eva Pando. “A set of unique infrastructures in Asturias make part of a highly innovative ecosystem in which the University of Oviedo, technology centres, companies and the Administration are perfectly synchronised”, added the General Director.
And the data reflect this reality: Asturias is the fourth Spanish autonomous community in terms of foreign direct investment stock, with 16,352 million euros in 2017, as highlighted by Elisa García Grande, Project Director of Invest in Spain. Energy, metallurgy and life sciences are among the leading sectors in terms of foreign direct investment in our region.
Talent in Asturias
Asturias is also fifth among the 17 autonomous communities in terms of talent, according to the methodology of the Global Index of Competitiveness in Attraction and Retention of Talent explained by Jorge Barrero, General Manager of the COTEC Foundation for Innovation, present at the Forum.
Daniel Suárez, CEO of Zapiens and an example of entrepreneurship and the desire to do things from our region, also spoke about the talent “made in Asturias”.
These Business Forum, attended by about 370 representatives of business promotion organisations and companies, lay the groundwork on which we will continue to work from the regional administration to attract investments that help diversify the productive fabric and generate stable and quality employment in the coming years.
