Conference: “Castilla y León: a region to invest in”

Last Tuesday 7th November, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized in collaboration with Junta de Castilla y León and Instituto para la Competitividad Empresarial (ICE) a conference under the topic “Castilla y León: a region to invest in”.

Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg said a welcome word and thanked the participation of all the attendees.

Afterwards, David Martínez Hornillos, the Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Embassy of Spain in Belgium, provided an overview for foreign investment in Spain, highlighting the most relevant sectors in the economy of the country. He also underlined some examples of foreign companies with active investment projects in Spain.

Later on, Carlos Martín Tobalina, General Director of industry and competitiveness and Vice- President of Economy at the Government of Castilla y León, presented the region and the infrastructures that facilitate its accessibility and its potential investing. He highlighted the most important sectors of the region which are agri-food and viticulture, automotive and aeronautics, pharmaceutical, energy, ICTs, security, logistics and endogenous resources. In addition, he pointed out that the human capital is another strength in this region since there are highly qualified professionals who are specialized in those sectors.

On the other hand, another of the advantages that Castilla y León offers to potential investors is a very favorable work environment. Its main characteristics are: low staff rotation, high stability, low labor conflicts and high labor productivity index. In addition, he pointed out the high quality of life in the autonomous community, highlighting the wide cultural and gastronomic offer. Finally, the speaker wanted to remark all the support that Castilla y León provides to the international investors.

After the speeches, the attendees were able to ask their questions during a space dedicated to networking.

You can check David Martínez Hornillos’ presentation through the following link.
You can check Carlos Martín Tobalina’s presentation through the following link.

Success of the 7th Workshop on Social Media Management for Business and European Projects

Last 26th and 27th of October, the Chamber held the 7th edition of the Workshop on Social Media Management and European projects, in order to promote the image of business in the European market.

During the first day, after everyone’s presentations, the teacher Philippe Schifflers (@Philschifflers) started by explaining the role of a Community Manager, as well as their main characteristics and attributes. He also showed some of the most relevant tools that any social media manager should know. On the other hand, he explained how to elaborate a social media strategy and how to measure the ROI of our strategy. Finally, he focused on the social networks Facebook and Google +, explaining on the first place some useful data about each one of them, how to correctly use them in a company and, lastly, some success cases and best practices.

During the second day, Schifflers explained several social media networks: Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest. At the same time, he described the different functions that each one of those networks can offer and how companies can use them in order to create engagement and position their brands. Lastly, he focused on how to use Hootsuite, a Social Media Platform Management which is very useful in order to manage different accounts at the same time as well as plan the content to be distributed in each one of them. Hootsuite is a very helpful tool that may make Community Manager’s work much easier.

The workshop took place in a very participative and dynamic atmosphere, in which the participants had the opportunity to know the basis of a good social media management in their particular positions at institutions, organizations and companies.

 

DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition

On the 20th, 21st and 22nd October 2017, a new edition of the Brussels Fashion Days took place in Brussels. This is the most important event in the fashion sector held every year in Belgium. This Fashion Days gathered a wide audience in the Belgian capital, offering them a complete program of activities which aimed to promote fashion in Belgium between the sector’s professionals and the end consumers.

In this event’s sixth edition, Spain has been the guest country for the first time. Fashion Shows with renowned designers, emerging designers and fashion schools, pop-up stores, workshops and exhibitions are some of the activities that have taken place during the Fashion days in the most emblematic venues of the capital.

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg will be the entitled institution to manage Spanish participation at the Fashion Days. It also counts with the collaboration of the Spanish Embassy in Belgium and Marca España.

THURSDAY 19th OCTOBER

On Thursday 19th October, the Spanish Ambassador in Belgium, HE Mrs. Cecilia Yuste Rojas, organized a welcome reception for the Spanish delegation participating in the DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition. In this way, the Spanish Embassy thanked the designers and Spanish fashion professionals their collaboration in the promotion of Marca España abroad in such an important sector for the Spanish economy.

FRIDAY 20th OCTOBER

On Friday the 20th October at 15.00h, the Town Hall of Brussels organized the opening reception for the DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition. During this welcome event, a press conference took place with María Catalán, Secretary General of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, the Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, the president of ACME, Modesto Lomba, the Spanish designers Miguel Marinero and Ion Fiz, Calahorra’s mayor Luis Martínez-Portillo and Rafael Díaz, Director General at ESNE.

At the same time, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada was told that she had been awarded the National Fashion Design Award 2017 granted each year by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.

Later, at 18.00h the official inauguration of the DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition took place at Galerie Horta, where the pop- up space was located with the representation of 5 Spanish fashion brands. Socku with their fun and colorful socks, Alfredo Arranz and his handmade decorated silk shawls, Osö Design’s made in Spain clothes, Cache.Toi and their fur capuches and the sustainable fashion from The IOU Project. In addition, in the same space we could also find the exhibition “Fashionable vegetables. Designs of the Catwalk Ciudad de Calahorra (La Rioja)”. This was an exhibition where we can find the most representative dresses from designers such as Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Chanel or Elie Saab, but made with vegetables from the vegetable garden from La Rioja. Finally, in Galerie Horta D’icanno and ESNE exhibited a sample of their designs. The inauguration counted on the presence of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Miguel Marinero and Modesto Lomba. The mentioned space stayed open during the whole weekend.

During the night, at 21.30h the Opening Fashion Show took place in Galerie Ravenstein with the participation of Spanish and Belgian fashion designers. From the Spanish side, the designs with pure lines created by Eder Aurre shined in a catwalk full of color and finesse. Victor Nouman brought men’s fashion to the catwalk with designs that combine art, architecture and fashion. Adriana Cagigas, alumni at the fashion design school ESNE, presented the collection Timeless from the brand she created herself: Threeones. Débora Velasquez showed her long dresses and D’icanno, her most responsible and solidary designs. All of them maintained high standards during the first Fashion Show in the DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SATURDAY 21st OCTOBER

During the second day of the DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition, several events took place. At 19.00h, the Spanish Chamber organized at the Hotel NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon, in collaboration with Hispania Brussels, a Fashion Dinner as a tribute to Spanish fashion. The dinner was elaborated by the chef Marcos Morán, owner of a Michelin Star and three Soles Repsol. In addition, the attendees could enjoy Spanish wine offered by Bodegas Yuntero, and they toasted with cava Freixenet.

There were several speeches along the Fashion Dinner. First, Juan Rodríguez Villa, President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce delivered welcome remarks and thanked the presence of all the attendees, specially all the designers and fashion entrepreneurs that had traveled to the Belgian capital to celebrate the internationalization of Spanish Fashion. Then, Modesto Lomba, President of ACME (Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España) – association to which belong all designers from the upcoming Fashion Show – took the floor. He thanked the effort from all those professionals that fight day to day for the expansion of Spanish Fashion and help to make our fashion more important and acknowledged abroad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that, the president of the Spanish Chamber awarded Agatha Ruiz de la Prada with a distinction for her amazing work in the internationalization of Spanish Fashion. He also congratulated her for receiving the National Award of Fashion Design in Spain. Afterwards, Agatha took the stand and showed her enthusiasm about the awards and showed her happiness because Spanish fashion is more and more well-known in an international level. Finally, Jérémy De Lemos, Director General at the Hotel NH Collection Grand Sablon, said a closing word and showed his happiness because NH was taking part of such an important moment for the Spanish Fashion.

After the Fashion Dinner, the attendees headed to the Great Fashion Show that took place in Galerie Ravenstein. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada was in charge of opening the Fashion Show, filling it with energy and color. Afterwards, Leyre Valiente, presented her collection Chaos, her third collection inspired in the French illustrator Jean Giraud Moebius’ work, with a flawless dress collection. On his side, Ion Fiz added some ethnical touch to the catwalk, and Miguel Marinero was in charge of closing the Spanish participation with artisan prêt-à-porter designs, where leather, fur and paillettes were the main protagonists.

SUNDAY 22nd OCTOBER

During the last day of the DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, together with Jean Paul Lespagnard took part in a Fashion Talk at Galerie Horta, where both designers shared their perspectives about the fashion universe and the creativity in a comfortable and relaxed environment.

To close this big fashion event, on the afternoon Fashion Show, ESNE participated as the only Spanish fashion design school together with other Belgian fashion schools. Several students and alumni from ESNE showed their designs in the long catwalk at Galerie Ravenstein. The collections belonged to Toni Enríquez, Keka Fidalgo, Delfina Reca, Alejandra Cabrales, Paloma Suarez and Furs Lab ESNE. Victor Gimeno also presented his bags’ collection.

 

The DS Brussels Fashion Days have come to an end as a big success for the Spanish participants, with a large influx of attendees during all the event and with a very positive evaluation by the audience. The Spanish Chamber thanks all the Spanish participants for their time, dedication and contribution to the event’s success. The Chamber also wants to thank the sponsors ACME, ESNE and NH Collection, as well as the collaborators’ Marca España, AirEuropa, Hispania, Freixenet, UPS and Bodegas Yuntero (and their distributor Vin Munnen) for making possible the Spanish participation on the DS Brussels Fashion Days.

Conference with Intertrust Luxembourg

Last October 18th, Intertrust Luxembourg organized the conference “Luxembourg vehicules: structures to invest in Spain; structures to invest from Spain” in collaboration with the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg. The event counted on the presence of a wide audience representing the financial and complementary services’ sector.

José Luis Rodríguez Álvarez, vicepresident of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, welcomed the attendees, presented the conference’s program and introduced the speakers. Additionally, thanked Intertrust for their collaboration with the Chamber regarding the event’s organization.

Carlos Ferrer, Cuatrecasas’ member, explained the following financial tools to invest in and from Spain: FCPs, SIF, SICAR, RAIF, SOPARFI and SPF, detailing their characteristics as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each one of them. After that, he showed how the foreign investors invest their money in our country through the structures to invest in property and NPLs (Non Performing Loans).

Afterwards, Joel Cárdenas, Director General at Intertrust Luxembourg, presented the wide variety of services that his company offers and he highlighted the help that they provide to companies in order to solve administrative problems that show up when they decide to set up to another country,

Subsequently, there was a Q&A session where the attendees asked their questions to the two speakers.

Finally, Bram Eijsbouts, Commercial Director at Intertrust Luxembourg, started his speech by highlighting the professional career of Intertrust in the Grand Duchy since 1955 and underlined that it is the second local office with more professionals, in particular 450. He also explained the current situation of the company in Spain and pointed out its adaptability regarding the current challenges they are facing, guaranteeing a personalized service and adapted to each client.

[AFG_gallery id=’65’]

Luncheon-debate promoted by ONCE and its Foundation with Nadia Calviño, Director General for DG Budget at the European Commission

Last October 10th, ONCE and its Foundation promoted in Brussels a Lucheon- debate with Nadia Calviño, Director General for DG Budget at the European Commission, under the topic “60 years of Union: enterprises and human capital, added value for the future of a more competitive and inclusive Europe”. The event counted on with the support of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg and gathered more than a hundred business representatives, associations and authorities of the European communities’ institutions.

Juan Rodriguez-Villa Matons, President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg said a welcome word and expressed his recognition to ONCE team and its Foundation for the humanitarian and business work developed in favor to people with disabilities.

Alberto Durán López, Executive Vice-president at ONCE Foundation, during his intervention, explained that the Foundation, through his large experience, contributes to strengthen day to day the social dimension of Europe. As an example, the European Social Found, which celebrates its 60th  anniversary, and being trusted by the EU and the Spanish Government for more than 17 years, more than 240.000 people with disabilities have profited the training and labor insertion programs developed by ONCE Foundation, and more than 70.000 have found a job. Durán qualified the European Social Fund as an essential instrument of inclusion and social cohesion, and as a fundamental tool for more than 85 million people with disabilities in Europe. This collective has significantly improved its situation during the past 60 years, in different areas such as education, employment or social services, counting with the work from European Institutions, as well as the representative entities for people with disabilities, specially the European Disability Forum.

However, Durán pointed that there are still many barriers to tear down, in order to build a Europe for everyone, more competitive, inclusive and accessible, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Following this way, the European Social Fund must play still an important role in the following budget period. The Executive Vicepresident of ONCE Foundation, also highlighted the role of big companies and SME, which contribute every day to include people with disabilities into their employment opportunities, and which also develop accesible products and services. As an example, Alberto Durán mentioned the Forum “Inserta Responsible” from ONCE Foundation, which compiles more than 70 companies and other organizations, and whose activity counts as well on the support from the European Social Fund.

Among other remarkable landmarks, Durán mentioned the European Citizen Award granted by the European Parliament to ONCE and its Foundation in 2016. This award was also received this year by the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (CERMI), which recognizes the commitment and the willingness of people with disabilities in Spain for working towards a more social and equal Europe.

Finally, Durán presented the advertising campaign as a tribute for the 60th anniversary of the European Social Fund: Together changing the lives of people with disabilities, through the interactive video “You decide”, which at the end of the luncheon-debate was followed by other pieces entitled ”Just so you know”,  which aimed to spread the European Social Fund’s value.

Lastly, Durán introduced Nadia Calviño, Director General for DG Budget at the European Commission, and thanked her participation in the luncheon-debate by giving her a commemorative coupon.

Nadia Calviño, based her intervention in the European budget investment for reaching a stronger, social and solidary Europe, particularly facing the next financial framework “post 2020”. Calviño highlighted that currently, the two main challenges faced by the European Union regarding the future European budgets are: in one hand, the Brexit with the budget restructuration that it involves, and, on the other hand, that Europe needs to fulfill the European citizens’ expectations, with better social policies and ensuring not to leave anyone behind. The most important thing is not how much money we have, instead, is about investing it in the best way possible, claimed Calviño.

Additionally, the Director General, who reminded that the 75% of the EU budget is invested, among others, into the Cohesion Policy, undertook an overview along all the steps made as well as the upcoming ones, concerning the next budgets’ approval, something in which her Directorate is currently working. Thus, the Commission has started an expenditure review, and is developing a reflection and analysis about the different ongoing programs and how do they function. The Commission hopes to be prepared, based in this previous work, to integrate the expectations of the 27 European leaders by the end of the year, to have a consensual proposal by mid-2018 and to approve the whole budget before the elections to the European Parliament in 2019.

As a conclusion, Calviño mentioned this goal by saying the words of the current President Jean Claude Junker, to lead us to “a more prosper, competitive, secure, sustainable and solidary Europe”.

After the interventions, the participants had the chance to ask questions to the Executive Vice-president at ONCE Foundation and to the Director General for DG Budget at the European Commission. The main topics discussed were the investment of the European budget in accessibility improvements for people with disabilities, and the entrepreneurship aids for them.

[AFG_gallery id=’106′]

Industry leaders from the whole of Europe advocate in favor of the Mediterranean Corridor

The past October 3rd, the biggest Meeting for the Mediterranean Corridor (Corredor Mediterráneo), took place in Madrid (IFEMA). The Secretary General of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, María Catalán, attended this event which counted on the support of more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and civil society from the whole Spanish territory.

The meeting started with an exhibition displaying by means of information panels the present situation of the development of the related public works, segment by segment, as well as the foreseen benefits stemming from the Mediterranean Corridor (Corredor Mediterráneo);job creation and a higher level of employment, an infrastructure connecting over 20 million people, with an increase of the affluence of tourism, as well as the overall boosting of the Spanish economy and an improved mobility.

Thereupon, took place two panels in which leading members of industrial organizations & business groups, Chambers of Commerce as well as renown sportsmen explained why undertaking the necessary works for the development of such infrastructure is an urgent need. In the first panel, José Mª Albarracín, President of CROEM (Confederation of Business Organizations of the Region of Murcia), Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Javier González de Lara, President of the CEA (Confederation of Business Organizations of Andalousia), Salvador Navarro, President of the CEV (Confederation of Business Organizations of the Valencian Community) and Alejandro Valverde, Professional cyclist, highlighted the positive impact of the Mediterranean Corridor on tourism as well as on the improved mobility of both passengers and goods.

During the second panel, Federico Félix, President of the Pro-AVE (Spanish High Speed Train) Foundation, Joaquim Gay de Montellà, President of Fomento del Trabajo Nacional (Advancement of National Employment), J. Pablo Lázaro, President of the CEIM (Business Confederation of Madrid), Diego Martínez Cano, President of Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Almeria and Agnès Noguera, CEO of Libertas 7, explained their point of view on Transport infrastructures and their impact as the backbone of the National Territory and the competitiveness of the industry and the economy.

Following those speeches, Vicente Boluda, President of the Valencian Association of Business (Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios – AVE), the driving force promoting the communication channel www.elcorredormediterraneo.com, aiming to inform on the state of the works of the different segments conforming the Mediterranean Corridor, opened the closing ceremony of the event, which was conducted by Macarena Berlín (Ser radio station) and Diego Lorente (AVE – Valencian Association of Business). During his speech, Vicente Boluda presented the project and announced that during next November will take place in La Encina the 2nd sixmonthly monitoring meeting, in which will be studied from a technical point of view, the progress made in all the segments of the Corridor.

During the Closing Ceremony of the event, both Civil Society and the world of Business & Industry joined forces to advocate for the need of a key infrastructure for the whole of Spain. Susanne Czech, Director General of the European Retail Round Table, emphasized the European vision on the importance of infrastructures for the Economy. Javier Vega de Seoane, President of Círculo de Empresarios (Business & Industry Round Table), highlighted the role of the Corridor as a backbone of the territory.


Moreover the President of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Cámaras de Comercio de España), José Luis Bonet, stressed on the fact that exports represent 33% of the Spanish GDP, therefore, the Mediterranean Corridor would not only boost the export sector, but it would also have a positive impact on employment and job creation.

Juan Rosell, President of the CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations) also put forward his opinion, emphasizing the huge potential of the Corridor on one of Spain’s main sectors and a driving force of its economy – Tourism. A link connecting the whole of the Mediterranean region would improve and multiply the movement of people. The Leader of Círculo de Economía (Economy Circle), Juan José Brugera, added that the completion of this infrastructure should be an urgent priority, and a key factor as a backbone for the organization of the Territory to the profit of the whole of Spain.

The last speech of the event was that of the Minister of Development (Ministro de Fomento), Íñigo De la Serna, stating the commitment and the political will to complete this strategic infrastructure.

#QuieroCorredor (#IWantCorridor)

The campaign to collect signatures which started about a year ago to promote the awareness on the infrastructure among Civil Society, has already obtained 26.000 signatures of people supporting #QuieroCorredor (#IWantCorridor) .

The Embassy of Spain in Luxembourg celebrates the National Holiday

Past October 11th, the Embassy of Spain in Luxembourg celebrated the National Holiday. The reception, which took place in the Cercle Cité of Luxembourg, was sponsored by the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, Banca March, Santander Consumer Bank, Luxair, BBVA LuxInvest, PwC and Bankinter. The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, among other local authorities, as well as entrepreneurs, Spanish representatives of the EU institutions and many members of the Chamber.

The Ambassador of Spain in Luxembourg, his Excellency Mr.Carlos María de Lojendio y Pardo Manuel de Villena, thanked the attendees their participation in the National Holiday, and the Chamber and sponsor companies in the organization of the act.

Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, President of the Chamber, attended the reception with other members of the Board of Directors.

The Embassy of Spain in Luxembourg and the Chamber, thank their collaboration to the partners:

The Embassy of Spain in Belgium celebrates the National Holiday

Last October 12th, the Embassy of Spain in Belgium organized a reception at Palais des Beaux-Arts with the aim of celebrating the Spanish National Holiday.

The act, was organized in collaboration with the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, and some of its members: Indra, LaLiga, Interparking, BBVA, Everis, Iberdrola and Gómez-Acebo & Pombo. Additionally, the offices of Spanish Autonomous Communities contributed to the success of the event with different products and typical wines of various regions.

The reception was attended by local authorities, diplomats, entrepreneurs, European officials and representatives of Spanish public institutions, among other personalities.

The Ambassador of Spain in Belgium, her Excellency Mrs. Cecilia Yuste Rojas, thanked the attendees their participation in the National Holiday, and the collaboration of the Chamber in the organization of the event, as well as the different partners.

Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, President of the Chamber, attended the reception with other members of the Board of Directors and the Secretary General.