<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>More than 75 multinationals from 25 countries met this Monday in Madrid at the Invest in Spain Summit international forum. The King stated that “Spain has one of the most attractive domestic markets in the EU” and the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, affirmed that Spain is “a profitable place to invest.”</strong></h4> The Invest in Spain Summit, organized by ICEX-Invest in Spain and the first of its kind held in Spain, allowed for bilateral meetings between members of the Government and public entities (such as the CNMC and the Bank of Spain) with the companies attending the meeting. Government sources indicated that 22 of the 75 multinationals present at the forum were from the United States. In addition, there were ten Japanese companies, six from China, five from Germany, another five from the United Kingdom, four from France, four from Switzerland, three from Australia, two from Canada, and two from Italy. By sector, the most notable companies are information and communications technology (ICT), automotive, life sciences, energy, chemical and mining, aerospace, agri-food, and audiovisual, all of which were selected over several months by ICEX. During the inauguration, King Felipe VI stated that "Regarding foreign investment, Spain remains one of the most attractive destinations worldwide." "More than 18,000 foreign-owned companies are operating in and from our country; they are well established, and in just 10 years, the stock of FDI received by Spain has increased by more than 80%," he stated. According to the King, "Spain has one of the most attractive internal markets in the EU" because "it not only represents a land of opportunity for companies seeking growth, but it is also a strategic platform for entering third-country markets." “Our privileged geostrategic position favors access to markets outside the EU: from Spain it is easier to access the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, and, above all, Latin America and the Caribbean,” he added. For his part, Carlos Cuerpo stated that Spain is “reap the benefits of balanced and sustainable growth, leading advanced economies for the second consecutive year.” “Furthermore, Spain has become an international investment hub,” he continued. “We will stay the course, continuing to be a predictable, stable, and trustworthy partner, a profitable place to invest, a pleasant place to visit and live,” he added.
