BLOG POST WRITTEN BY ALEXANDRA TAVERNER GARCÍA
On the 28th of November, Cádiz Investment Hub held their first event in London, titled ‘Unveiling Cádiz: Spain’s New Horizon for Investment’. The event was moderated by El País’ Rafa de Miguel and introduced Cádiz Investment Hub, an initiative driven by the Cádiz Employers’ Confederation (CEC) and funded by the Regional Council of Cádiz aiming to assist companies to invest, consolidate, and grow in the region, attracting talent and creating a climate that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, and foreign investment. Throughout the morning, several of Cádiz’s emerging investment opportunities within the energy, aerospace, naval, blue economy, tourism and agri-food industries for UK companies were explored and emphasised.
In attendance, representing the Cádiz Investment Hub was Julio Hoyos, Project Manager and Head of Cádiz Investment Hub. Mr. Hoyos addressed the objectives of this new project and gave visibility to its interworking’s as a novel initiative. Cádiz Investment Hub itself is a point of cohesion between public and private sectors, the main objective being to promote the economic development within the region of Cádiz through various services including pre and post investment guidance, strategic support, business development and identification of investors. Mr. Hoyos even hinted towards the beginning of a start-up ecosystem within the blue economy.
Later, presentations were given by Almudena Martínez del Junco, President of the Regional Council of Cádiz, Carmen Romero, General Secretary of the Cádiz Employers’ Confederation (CEC), and Germán Beardo Caro, Fourth Vice-President and responsible for Planning, Coordination and Strategic Development Area of the Regional Council of Cádiz, who all emphasised the region’s bright future.
Following the presentations, two roundtables were expertly conducted and moderated by El Pais’ correspondent, Rafa de Miguel. The first welcomed Dr. Joe Nellis, Professor of Global Economics at Cranfield University. Dr. Nellis touched upon the region’s geographic and subsequent strategic advantage; Cádiz is the gateway to Africa, while also being part of an EU member state.
The second roundtable invited José María Martín-Mateos Espinar, Founder & CEO at Controlnet, an IT Consulting & Software Factory and one of 66,000 (as of 2022) active companies within the Cádiz region. Mr. Martín-Mateos strongly credited the Cádiz Investment Hub’s ability to source talent, which allowed his company to expand and evolve.
It is clear that the region of Cádiz is an attractive region that not only invites innovation but is also an established and historic economy. The work of the Cádiz Investment Hub has facilitated the region’s development and continues to do so for many UK companies looking to establish themselves in it. The very success of this event is a brilliant indictor of the strong bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Spain.
For more information visit: https://www.cadizinvest.com/