Plenary Session of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce

On 30 June the plenary of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce met in Madrid. The Official Chambers of Commerce from Spain in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania were represented by the President of FEDECOM, Mr. Juan Rodriguez-Villa Matons. During the Plenary session, the Master Plan 2015-2018 was approved. This Plan will establish the actions of the Chamber for the next 4 years.

The main objective is to represent, promote and defend the general interests of the economy and the Spanish companies. The Chamber will concentrate its own efforts on priority areas that they will define according to three criteria: competitiveness, internationalization and strategic relevance.

For each of these priority areas, evaluation diagnosis and specific proposals will be carried out that will be incorporated in the Chamber Competitiveness Plan (every two years), the Internationalization Plan (every year) and the Private Activities Plan to help the companies.logo_camaras_-_c_-_listado

The Chamber´s Competitiveness Plan will be structured around 8 key areas for intervention that will take into account the external and the internal factors they influence in the competitive capacity of the companies. The main areas for intervention will be training, entrepreneurship, technological innovation and financing.

The Internationalization Plan of the Spanish Companies will be organized around 4 points: information, awareness and training, internationalization competitiveness and institutional cooperation. The Plan will include the actions of the Chamber to offer to the companies the knowledge and advice that they will need to export and consolidate their presence abroad.

Concerning the Private Activities Plan, it will include all of the services to help the companies carry out without public funds and advice.

In addition, the Chamber will create advisory commissions, at horizontal and sectoral levels, in which they will incorporate the Chamber´s vision and proposals in each work area to help define how Spain should be in 10 years. So far, the Training Commission, University-Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade have been created.

The application of the Master Plan is based on three basic pillars. In the first place, the territorial net of the Chambers of Commerce, a main point in the implementation of the projects that guarantees the direct qualitative and homogeneous action for business and entrepreneurship in Spain In the second place, the large companies as an important element of the set of the productivity activities. And finally, the institutions, with the Chamber of Commerce acting as a border between the public and the private, capable of ensuring an effective public-private collaboration.

Ultimately, the Master Plan of the Chamber of Spain shows the commitment of this institution to stabilize the system. The company will be the major player in the process of adaptation to the current economic and social changes and they are consolidating the basis for the progress and the collective welfare of the future of Spain.

The new organization chart

The plenary of the Chamber of Commerce was informed about the new organization chart of the institution to give a better service to the business and the Chambers net. In the new organization chart the position of Manager Director is now vacant. Javier Carretero, the latest Manager Director, informed the President of the Chamber of Commerce on his decision to resign.

Source: Chamber of Commerce from Spain

 

Expo Milan 2015: Business Opportunities

With the participation of 147 countries, the World Expo in Milan presents an excellent opportunity to promote and improve contact between companies worldwide.

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, in collaboration with The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Italy, established in Milan, provides a range of business programs to promote networking with potential partners, including services:

 

  1. Expo Business Matching
  • B2B Meetings
  • Business activities
  • Networking and institutional relations

 

  1. Events Expo 2015
  • Gastronomic Packages – Spain Pavilion

 

  1. Ready to work
  • Services shared office and meeting room
  • Travel facilities

 

More information

Logo-Fedecom

 

Federación de Cámaras

Oficiales de Comercio de España en

Europa-África-Asia-Oceanía

FEDECOM awards the Company of the Year 2015 Award to NH Hotel Group

On 15 June, FEDECOM, the Federation of Spanish Chambers of Commerce in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, granted the award for Company of the year 2015 to NH Hotel Group, multinational operator with about 400 hotels and 60.000 rooms in 29 countries in Europe, America and Africa.

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The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, wanted to support the Official Spanish Chambers abroad by participating in the award ceremony of the FEDECOM Company of the Year 2015 Award, granted to the NH Hotel Group. This way, the impulse for internationalization and the commitment of NH Hotel Group with its excellence services was recognized.

Juan Rodríguez-Villa, President of FEDECOM, commented that “when we live abroad or when we travel frequently outside of Spain, we are proud to discover the emblems of the NH Hotel Group within the landscape of so many cities in the world, at the facades of prestigious buildings and in the best urban areas. If we make use of the facilities the NH hotels offer us, we will find, here and there, references to the quality of the services, the tasteful wink to the Spanish gastronomy or the decorative detail that approaches us at home”.rajoy3

On the other hand, Federico J. González Tejera, CEO of the NH Hotel Group, mentioned that “the recognition of a prestigious organization that is present in every city in the world in which we operate and that boosts the development of economic and business relations on an international level with so much dedication and passion, involves a true honor for anyone who is a member of the Group and encourages us to keep growing and transforming the Company to offer memorable experiences and convert NH Hotel Group in the reference destination of the consumers when they plan a trip or a meeting for leisure or for business”. rajoy2

The President and the CEO of the NH Hotel Group, Rodrigo Echenique y Federico J. González Tejera, have received the award at the Spanish Pavilion at the Universal Exposition of Milan from the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, at an event that has counted on the presence of José Luis Bonet, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

The President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet, held in Paris his first official ceremony abroad

bonet3The conference, entitled “The internationalization of the Spanish company: Freixenet, Fira de Barcelona and Spanish Chamber”, was the first official ceremony as President of the Chamber of Commerce, in one of the Spanish chambers of commerce abroad since he became president on November 19, 2014.
The Lunch Conference, attended by the Ambassador of Spain in France, Don Ramón de Miguel, as well as representatives of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce in Benelux, Hong Kong and the president of FEDECOM (Federación de Cámaras de Comercio Españolas en el extranjero), had a large influx of attendees, most business representatives foster international relations, in particular between Spain and France.Bonet, in his speech, made a great emphasis on the current recovery Spain, the importance of international relations and export as well as the leading role in Europe. Specifically, he closed  with a summary: Talent, Labour and Determination and in one word; “optimism”.

“I think we can be optimistic about the possibility that Spain took again another quantitative and qualitative leap, to the surprise of many over the past 50 years. With this perspective we will work in the Spanish cameral system that has always been at the service of the country. ”

bonet2The new President of the Spanish Chamber, who represents 88 Chambers of Commerce in Spain and 38 Spanish Chambers abroad, summarized in three main objectives, points to be addressed by the Chamber; “1- The representation, promotion and protection of the general interests of commerce; the industry, the services and the navigation, in other words the general interests of the company, 2- The internationalization of companies and 3- the competitiveness of companies.”

Joseph Michel Garcia, President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in France, opened the event with a speech in which he emphasized the strength of the Chambers abroad as interlocutors of the exporting companies and invited to strengthen ties between the Spanish chambers of commerce abroad and in particular to reinforce relations between the Spanish chambers of commerce abroad.

 

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The Chamber starts its Twitter account

After the renovation of the LinkedIn profile a few weeks ago, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is being present on social networks launching its Twitter account.

The Chamber will inform about its upcoming activities and economic latest news, facilitating a faster, direct and simple interactivity with its partners.

Meeting with Alfredo Bonet, International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce

On 25 March, the President and the Secretary General of our Chamber met in Paris with Alfredo Bonet Baiget, who will soon be responsible for the policy of internationalization of the Spanish enterprise at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting was organized within the framework of FEDECOM, for which Presidency and General Secretariat are held by Juan Rodríguez-Villa and María Catalán. José Michel García, President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in France and, in turn, vice-president of FEDECOM, also attended the meeting.

Alfredo Bonet was the Economic Head at the Permanent Delegation of Spain to the OECD. The new International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce has also been Secretary of State for External Trade and Director General of ICEX. He also was stationed in Miami (USA) and Milan (Italy), as Trade Commissioner of Spain and Economic and Commercial Counselor.

On behalf of the Chambers associated to FEDECOM, Juan Rodríguez-Villa expressed his wish to collaborate in the success of the new task of Alfredo Bonet.

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.

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.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Spain is born (Chamber of Commerce of Spain)

Freixenet president, José Luis Bonet, has been elected as the new president of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation by taking a vote during the constituent sitting of the Plenary celebrated today at the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. He is being accompanied by the president of Santander Bank, Ana Botín, and the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce of Barcelona and Cantabria, Miguel Valls and Modesto Piñeiro, who will occupy the three vice-chairman of the Executive Committee appointed by the plenary members. Barceló group president, Simón Pedro Barceló, will hold the position of Treasurer.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce replaces the High Council of Chambers by virtue of the Law 4/2014 of 1st of April, approved with the support of all of the Parlamentary groups. The main goal of it is updating and revitalizing the Spanish business landscape, mainly consisting of Pymes, and the contribution to the growth of the Spanish economy and the employment creation. It is born with the vocation of being a meeting point where they can discuss and work together with the main actors of our economy.

The Chamber, that keeps the legal nature of a corporation under public law, will be supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and will represent and coordinate all of the Chambers.

It will also have to develop the Chamber´s plans of Competitiveness and Internationalization of the economy, in collaboration with national and international network of Chambers and Public Administrations, as well as the momentum of the dual vocational training in collaboration with the companies.

Furthermore, it will operate in the areas of entrepreneurship or mediation and arbitration.

 

 

Composition of the Executive Committee of the Spanish Chamber

PRESIDENT Freixenet Group: Mr. José Luis Bonet Ferrer

Vicepresident 1st Santander Goup: Ms. Ana Patricia Botín

Plenary Assistant: Enrique García Candelas

Vicepresident 2nd Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona: Mr. Miguel Valls i Maseda

Vicepresident 3rd Chamber of Commerce of Cantabria: Mr. Modesto Piñeiro García-Lago

Treasurer Barceló Group: Mr. Simón Pedro Barceló Vadell

 

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Chamber of Commerce of Lleida: Mr. Joan Horaci Simó y Burgués

Chamber of Commerce of Andújar: Mr. Eduardo Criado García

Chamber of Commerce of Madrid: Mr. Pedro Antonio Martín Marín

Chamber of Commerce of Valencia: Mr. José Vicente Morata Estragues

Chamber of Commerce of A Coruña: Mr. Marcelo castro-Rial Schuler

Chamber of Commerce of Bilbao: Mr. José Ángel Corres Abásolo

Chamber of Commerce of Miranda de Ebro: Mr. Fernando Escobillas López de Silanes

Chamber of Commerce of Cuenca: Mr. Félix Aceñero Morillas

 

BIG COMPANIES

Grupo Corporativo Fuertes: Mr. Tomás Fuertes Fernández

Grupo Iberdrola: Mr. José Gasset Loring

Grupo ACS: Mr. Antoni Garcia Ferrer

Técnicas Reunidas: MR. José Lladó

Grupo Volkswagen: MR. Ramón Paredes Sánchez-Collado

Repsol: MR. Arturo Gonzalo Aizpiri

Grupo Inditex: MR. Antonio Abril Abadín

Grupo el Corte Inglés: MR. Juan Ignacio Lamata Cotanda

Caixabank: MR. Juan Antonio Alcaraz García

Telefónica: Ms. Maria Garcia-Legaz Ponce

Indra: Ms. Emma Fernández Alonso

Grupo BBVA: Ms. Eva Piera Rojo

Grupo Planeta: MR. Patrici Tixis

Asisa: MR. Francisco Ivorra Miralles

  

CEOE

MR. José María Lacasa Aso

MR. Agustín Cordón Barrenechea

MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS

Ms. Carmen Cárdeno Pardo

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, ENERGY AND TOURISM

MR. Víctor Audera López

ORGANIZATION OF AUTONOMOUS– ATA

Ms. Soraya Mayo Alonso

Source: Spanish Chamber of Commerce

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New Law of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Spain

The Official Spanish Chambers abroad gathered in Madrid

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg participated in the meeting of Spanish Chambers abroad that took place in Madrid on 6 and 7 November, gathering a total of 58 members from Spanish Chambers abroad. The meeting was called by the “National Council” which will be renamed to “Chamber of Spain” in a near future. Besides the Spanish Chambers, 17 Chambers from American countries, 7 from Europe and 4 from Asia gathered together in order to strengthen ties and study future ways of coordination and cooperation.

The presentation of the meeting was given by the general chief of the Council, Mr Javier Carretero, who explained the attendees the highlights of the new Law of Commercial Chambers, pointing out the challenges that the new Chamber of Spain -that will be set up on 19 November- will have to face.

Once the presentation was closed, a round table was organized with the purpose of exchanging experiences and point of views between the Chambers both in Spain and abroad. The roundtable was conducted by the General Secretary of the Council, Mrs Carmen de Miguel, and in it, took part the General Manager of the Spanish Chamber in México, Mrs Joana Torrents, the General  Secretary of The Spanish Chamber in Belgium and Luxembourg, Mrs María Catalán, the General Manager of the Chamber of Almería, Mr Fernando Ruano, as well as the internalization and Sales Manager of the Chamber of Castellón, Mr Joaquín Andrés.

The chairman of the National Council, Mr Manuel Teruel closed the first day of the meeting together with the chairman of FECECA, Rafael Roldán, the chairman of FEDECOM, Mr Juan Rodríguez-Villa and the Managing Director of ICEX, Mr Francisco Javier Garzón.

In the second day of the meeting, member of different departments in the Council discussed the project and services the National Council has channeled through a National Chamber Network. The areas presented, besides aspects related to corporative and marketing proposals, were International Commerce, Certification Service, Formation and Employment, Arbitrage, Retail Commerce and Tourism, Funding and Innovation.

For all of the Spanish Chambers abroad interested in the programs and projects before exposed, a networking was arranged by members from the Council who explained further details about them.

Source: High Council of Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Spain.