The Diplomat
Spain has increased its internationalisation in recent years by 3.6%, according to data from the European Commission, which shows that our country has had the greatest growth, ahead of the United Kingdom and France, according to KPMG.
In relation to the export of goods, these account for 35% of the total services offered. In addition, Spanish companies have regular foreign clients. Specifically, half of Spanish companies sell from one to five countries on a regular basis.
The Spanish market stands out for its influence abroad thanks to numerous subsidiaries. Specifically, it has a total of 7,000 subsidiaries in international territory, a figure that has grown by 65% since 2009.
Likewise, Spanish companies have a long way to go in the international arena, because three out of four companies surveyed in KPMG’s International Expansion of Spanish Companies report that they have more than ten years of international experience. In fact, 45% of the companies analysed identify themselves as being internationalised from the outset.
Furthermore, Spain is a benchmark country in the organisation of international congresses. Compared to other countries, it holds the second position in the ranking of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), thanks to the number of congresses held.
Compared to the previous ranking, Spain has climbed two positions, as it was in fourth place. It is only behind the United States, adding the Spanish territory in 2021 with a total of 369 conventions organised.
Internationalisation is a key aspect of today’s companies, without this characteristic a company cannot reach its full potential” explains Diana Filipescu, program manager of the MSc International Business at the TBS Education business school in Barcelona.
The key success factors for internationalising companies are numerous. Firstly, there is the quality of the service or product, since offering an impeccable service leads to more demand. So this is an element to work on in order to improve the business situation.
Competitiveness via price is the second aspect, followed by brand recognition. As soon as it is a recognised brand, the customer will consider it for future operations. Strategic alliances, human resources and RDI also play a role. “Companies are working more and more on factors to internationalise their business, because they improve the company’s position in relation to the rest,” says Diana Filipescu.
