Isabel Arozamena.- \u00abSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that export are more competitive and create more jobs.\u00bb Diego L\u00f3pez Garrido, former Secretary of State for European Union Affairs between 2008 and 2011, starred in the first of three conferences scheduled by El Diario Monta\u00f1\u00e9s, with the collaboration of the Cantabrian government and Soderc\u00e1n, on the strategic future of Cantabria's industry.<\/p>\n
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 \u00c1ngel Cervera, who will speak about research transfer and the needs of new companies.<\/p>\n
L\u00f3pez Garrido has been a staunch advocate for companies\u2014both large and small\u2014to expand abroad, and to reinforce his argument, he has cited several reports prepared by the European Commission that show internationalization is key to companies\u00ab development. \u00bbCompanies that do not export create half as many jobs as those that do,\u201d since employment growth at the former is 2%, while for those that do expand abroad, it reaches 7%.<\/p>\n
Given the premise that companies that expand into foreign markets are more competitive, L\u00f3pez Garrido is committed to promoting sales to countries outside the European Union and to so-called emerging markets. 80% of Spanish companies\u2019 exports are destined for Europe, primarily to European Union countries.<\/p>\n
To boost this trade beyond European borders, L\u00f3pez Garrido mentioned \u00abthe importance\u00bb 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.<\/p>\n
L\u00f3pez Garrido is the director of the study that has just been presented, \u2018The State of the European Union. Europe\u2019s Political Crossroads,\u2019 a 149-page document analyzing the critical situation of the European bloc. He is also the author of the book \u2018The Iron Age,\u2019 referring to the major crisis \u00abfrom which we have not yet emerged,\u00bb he assured.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Bathco has commercial relations with a total of 70 countries thanks \u00abto the firm will of the company's founder 40 years ago.\u00bb Cobo has explained that the company's connection to the construction sector, which is in crisis in the domestic market, has forced its internationalization.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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