Cantabria more global

Isabel Arozamena.- «Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that export are more competitive and create more jobs.» Diego López Garrido, former Secretary of State for European Union Affairs between 2008 and 2011, starred in the first of three conferences scheduled by El Diario Montañés, with the collaboration of the Cantabrian government and Sodercán, on the strategic future of Cantabria's industry.

On this occasion, the topic discussed was the importance of internationalization, while the following two forums will be held on June 14th and 23rd at the Hotel Sardinero, and will feature the president of the Cotec Foundation, Cristina Garmendia, and the Vodafone executive, Miguel Ángel Cervera, who will speak about research transfer and the needs of new companies.

López Garrido has been a staunch advocate for companies—both large and small—to expand abroad, and to reinforce his argument, he has cited several reports prepared by the European Commission that show internationalization is key to companies« development. »Companies that do not export create half as many jobs as those that do,” since employment growth at the former is 2%, while for those that do expand abroad, it reaches 7%.

Given the premise that companies that expand into foreign markets are more competitive, López Garrido is committed to promoting sales to countries outside the European Union and to so-called emerging markets. 80% of Spanish companies’ exports are destined for Europe, primarily to European Union countries.

To boost this trade beyond European borders, López Garrido mentioned «the importance» that the free trade agreement with the United States, the so-called TTIP, and also the one planned with Canada, will have in this scenario. In both cases, he stressed that the G-7 intends to approve it this year.

López Garrido is the director of the study that has just been presented, ‘The State of the European Union. Europe’s Political Crossroads,’ a 149-page document analyzing the critical situation of the European bloc. He is also the author of the book ‘The Iron Age,’ referring to the major crisis «from which we have not yet emerged,» he assured.

Ana Cobo, Export Director of Bathco, a Cantabrian company specialized in sanitary ware, and Carlos Raba, Director of Santander Teleport, shared their experiences as two companies from the autonomous community that are strongly committed to going international.

Bathco has commercial relations with a total of 70 countries thanks «to the firm will of the company's founder 40 years ago.» Cobo has explained that the company's connection to the construction sector, which is in crisis in the domestic market, has forced its internationalization.

In the case of Teleport, the characteristics of this innovative technology company, along with Erzia, have made internationalization a common practice. Bathco exports about 60% of its products.

Source: El Diario Montañés