Spain

Catalonia: a competitive European region

Catalonia has the perfect balance between productivity and operating costs, is able to attract multinational talent, and its companies are known for their high level of excellence and quality

Catalonia, located in the northeast of Spain, offers very attractive business opportunities for American companies in Europe. With a population of 6.8 million people, 15.7% of the Spanish population, similar to that of the state of Massachusetts and an area close to that of Maryland, Catalonia generates 18.8% of Spain’s GDP and 26% of the Spanish industrial GDP, 27% of its exports and represents 38% of its high-tech exports. Catalonia offers to the companies that invest in the region a large, diversified business community, an extensive, modern infrastructure network, an excellent quality of life and efficient, qualified and motivated human resources.

More than 3,000 multinationals are settled in Catalonia and around 360 of them are American — including half of the Fortune 100 — which represent two thirds of all US companies in Spain. Many of them have been operating in the region for more than 10 years. These highly stable companies have shown an excellent return on their investment and are very satisfied with the competitiveness of the region.

Privileged geographical situation
Catalonia is strategically located on the Mediterranean coast, with easy access to EMEA countries (Europe, Middle East and Africa). With two leading ports, three international airports, extensive highway and train networks that link the region to the rest of the continent, a modern and efficient logistics infrastructure, a large pool of qualified and multilingual human resources (with 12 universities) and high-quality research (46 research centres) the region offers outstanding conditions for American companies’ operations in Europe.

Barcelona, “European City of the Future”
A thriving cosmopolitan population (126 different nationalities), and talented labour pool support its high international reputation. The Financial Times and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) magazine, chose Barcelona as the European City of the Future 2004/2005. “Not only is Barcelona one of Europe’s most attractive cities, its obvious ambition to be the most successful city of the future is supported by solid economic fundamentals. These include labour costs and availability, the value of office space, access to markets, excellent transport and an impressive quality of life.” According to a study conducted by Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker, Barcelona, the capital city of Catalonia, has the best quality of life in Europe, and has maintained this position since 1996.

High Added Value Economy
With a highly diversified economy, top sectors in the region include automotive, chemicals, electronics, food processing and pharmaceuticals. But the region is also home to a number of emerging industries such as biotechnology, aeronautics, renewable energies and recycling. In resent years Catalonia has become a hot spot for shared services centres (SSC) with pan-European scope, for sales, customer support, internal/back-up operations or IT support. Companies such as Citigroup, Hewlett Packard, General Motors, Sara Lee, Agilent and Computers Associates have selected Barcelona as their location for SSC for Europe, EMEA and, in some cases, Latin America.

Furthermore, Catalonia stands for innovation. The region is succeeding in enhancing its industry with cutting-edge technology and R&D activities, by promoting innovation and partnerships between industries and universities. One of the most favourable tax regimes for R&D activities and for holding companies in Europe has helped to boost new investments into the region.

Catalonia Investment Agency

With headquarters in Barcelona, an office in Madrid and branches in New York and Tokyo, the Agency provides advisory services and assistance adapted to the needs of companies interested in setting up or expanding their facilities in Catalonia. The aim of the Catalonia Investment Agency (ACI) is to promote the region as a top-rate site for investment and adapt location to the specific needs of each project.

probusiness approach to:

• Promote the creation of stable, quality jobs;
• Strengthen the existing business community;
• Support innovative and knowledge-based projects;
• Attract sustainable projects;
• Promote equal opportunities.

We offer specialised, tailor-made consulting services — on a confidential basis and free of charge — to companies with investment projects that are considering the possibility of beginning operations in Catalonia. An experienced, multidisciplinary, professional team will give its full commitment to your investment project and collaborate with your company before, during and after the implementation of your investment in Catalonia.

Services
We are willing to help American companies who are looking to enter the European market either through local partnerships or through the establishment of their own facilities and to ensure that all investment projects in Catalonia are successful, the Agency offers:

• Technical assistance at all stages of the operation, from the initial investment plan until the business gets under way
• Advisory Service in incentives and financing.
• Business Location Service.

Results
Since its creation in 1985, the Agency has managed more than 2,500 projects, involving investments of over €44 billion. Two examples of American companies that the Agency has recently helped to invest in Catalonia are:

Dow Chemical
Dow has opened a centre for the development of synthetic fibres in Tarragona which will give support to the group’s branches throughout the world. This centre will enable the company to concentrate and consolidate its fibre business in Catalonia, given that it has also recently opened a production plant for the same business line.

Gore-Tex
The company has chosen Barcelona as the location for its customer service centre, which will handle the Medical Products Division´s orders and billing in Europe.

In deep: Hewlet Packard in Barcelona

Established in 1985, Hewlett Packard employs around 2,000 people in Sant Cugat, Barcelona. HP began its operations in Catalonia with an assembly plant for inkjet printers, but then added an R&D centre which has been consistently growing. Currently this is the worldwide HQ with R&D, marketing, finance and operations responsibilities for large format printers. Last year they came up with 200 innovations. Manufacturing was relocated to Singapore.

Main activities of HP in Barcelona:

Business Process Outsourcing.
Financial and accounting services for the EMEA region. Worldwide back-up centre. Assistance in 20 different languages. Created in 2002, it employs around 150 people. IT services & support for internal and external clients. Management of 6,600 servers and 150,000 IP addresses for the EMEA region. 30% HP internal cost reduction thanks to this centre. 100 employees.

Imaging & Printing Group.
Marketing, finance and operations for the EMEA region.

 

Contact details:
Catalonia Investment Agency to obtain more information
Barcelona Headquarters Office Tel: + 34 934764916 - E-mail: catalonia@cidem.gencat.net
New York Office Tel: + (212) 755-8830 - E-mail: cidem@catalonia.com - Website: www.catalonia.com

 

All pages are copyright of © Roxby Media Ltd - European American Business is a Roxby Media publication.