First meeting of Spanish Chamber’s Plenary

Last 18th of February, the Plenary of the newly formed Spanish Chamber met in Madrid under the presidency of José Luis Bonet.

The Plenary is the supreme governing body and general representation of the Spanish Chamber and it is consists of more than 75 entities related to commerce. The President of the Spanish Official Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, Juan Rodríguez-Villa, participated in Plenary as President of FEDECOM.

During his opening speech, José Luis Bonet appealed to the responsibility of the organization, which includes more or less three million of businesses, to continue efforts in order to overcome the crisis that it is affecting our economy.

The President of Spanish Chamber appealed to the common sense, not sharing the opinion of those who predict a change in the system of society. “Thanks to the current system -he said- we have lived a long period of progress and have enjoyed an advanced welfare state”. The future, Bonet thinks, goes through a review of the mistakes instead of changing a system that has proven its effectiveness.

Juan Rodriguez-Villa intervened on behalf of FECECA (America) and FEDECOM (rest of world) to express his appreciation to the Government’s legislative initiative, which will promote cohesion between the Chambers in Spain and the network of the Official Chambers abroad. He also thanked the Bureau of the House and the responsables of International Relationships the mission being carried out to achieve a great cooperation between the Chambers in Spain and the Spanish Chambers abroad.

Rodriguez-Villa also wanted to stress that it is necessary that both the administration and the entrepreneurship work together in the process of internationalization.

Dehesa Maladúa

Last 16th of February, the presentation of the ham many consider as the best ham in the world (in any case, the most exclusive one) was organized in the Hotel NH Atlanta in Brussels, since it is produced by “Dehesa Maladúa” made from the “Manchado de Jabugo”; a special variety of the Iberian Ham that Eduardo Donato created in Sierra de Aracena (Huelva). A ham that, in addition to its incomparable flavor, has an Organic certification.

It was on his return from the Biofach Fair in Nuremberg, where he was present with a “stand”, that Eduardo Donato wanted to share with us his excellent ham and the rest of his products, including a unique cream of sobrasada bio with Jerez’s wine Pedro Ximénez.

The tasting also included a lecture by Ramon Jiménez Fraile, member of the company specialized in controlled-temperature storage Friologic, who talked about the characteristics of the Iberian ham and the Spanish legislation in the field of ham. Because of this new legislation, Jiménez Fraile explained, the expression “Pata Negra” can only be used when referring to hams made from Iberian pigs fed in freedom only with acorns and also having a 100% racial purity, as in the case of Dehesa Maladúa. With this legislation, only hams from this type of pigs can have a black seal, while those who have lower quality have a white, green or red seal, and cannot use the expression “Pata Negra”.

The lecture also explained the unorthodox marketing practices around the Iberian pig, the confusion of the consumers and the attitude of the well-known producers that work outside the protected designation of origin.

This prestigious ham has several years of history behind it. Encouraged by environmental and conservation considerations of quality of life, Eduardo Donato settled 25 years ago in the village of Jabugo (Huelva), where he founded “Dehesa Maladúa” and which has 700 hectares in the Natural Park of Sierra Aracena, biosphere preserved by UNESCO.

With both the variety of “Manchado de Jabugo” (easily recognisable by their distinctive stains) and the traditional “Capa Negra”, Eduardo Donato has conquered the palates as he did with the filmmaker Bigas Luna, director of the film “Jamón, Jamón”, interpreted by Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Presentation of the new Spanish Chamber of Commerce, chaired by H.M. The King

His Majesty the King Felipe VI chaired the presentation of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation. Felipe was accompanied by the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness Luis de Guindos, the Minister of Equipment Ana Pastor, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Turism José Manuel Soria, the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce José Luis Bonet and the High Commissioner of the Government for the “Marca España” Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros.

During his intervention, Felipe remarked three aspects in which the Spanish Chamber of Commerce is destined to do a very valuable contribution, boosting the freelancer and innovative spirit: the internationalization, the competitiveness and the helps for SMEs and freelancers.

About internationalization, the King stressed that “we are living in a world that is still accelerating his globalization and expanding his effects, a world where the economic progress of Spain and the future of young generations depends on how we face this important challenge. It is essential for our companies going abroad. Most of them have already done it, others are trying it and some of them have not started this adventure yet. But it is important for Spanish enterprises to be aware that their future depends on the opening to foreign markets“.

The president of the Spanish Chamber, José Luis Bonet, expressed during his speech: “We must strengthen our enterprises for the progress of Spain and the welfare of the Spaniards”.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce was established last November under the Law 4/2014, of the 1st of April, substituting to High Council of the Chambers of Commerce as the representative and coordinator of all the Chambers of Commerce.

The Spanish Official Chambers outside of Spain are represented in the Plenary of the Spanish Chamber. The president of FEDECOM -Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania- and president of our Chamber, Juan Rodríguez-Villa, and the president of FECECA -America- Rafael Roldán, attended the event of the last 9th of February. Both of them are members of the Plenary of the Spanish Chamber.