Catalan companies look abroad to grow. A total of 46 companies have opened subsidiaries abroad this year with the support of the Government, through the aid for multilocation from its business competitiveness agency, Acció. In what has been the second call for aid, the figure has grown by 44% compared to last year, when this line was first promoted to facilitate the establishment of Catalan companies worldwide through subsidiaries.
The companies that have taken this step in 2024 cover multiple sectors, ranging from ICT to technical engineering and architecture services, including the chemical industry, machinery manufacturing, and the food sector.
Diversity also marks the countries chosen by Catalan companies to grow. Among them, the main markets where they have opened a subsidiary with the support of the Government have been Mexico, with seven subsidiaries out of the total, and the United States, with six, in addition to Colombia, Italy, and the United Kingdom, with four in each case.
More than 3,000 Catalan companies have subsidiaries abroad, with 8,300 in totalSince the promotion of multilocation aid last year, about 80 companies have received funds to cover 50% of the investment required to open abroad.With a maximum amount of 60,000 euros per project, the companies have allocated resources to issues such as space rental and the hiring of personnel or consultants.
These companies are in addition to the more than 3,000 Catalan parent companies established abroad. In total, they add up to a presence of over 8,300 subsidiaries, distributed throughout the world and with a special concentration in Portugal, the United States, and Mexico.
"The competitiveness of the Catalan economy depends, to a large extent, on the integration of our business fabric into global markets," defended the Secretary of Business and Competitiveness of the Generalitat and CEO of Acció, Jaume Baró, at the meeting Beyond Catalonia, com fer negocis al món l'any 2025. The event takes over from more than 30 editions of the Internationalization Week organized by Acció, and has gathered half a thousand entrepreneurs at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Barcelona.
Acció estimates that Trump's "protectionist surge" could lead to a 0.2 percentage point reduction in Catalan GDPThe event focused on analyzing the main issues that will affect the internationalization of the Catalan economy next year, in an "exercise of foresight and anticipation" in an international context that is "increasingly uncertain and complex," according to Baró. Opportunities in new growth markets and, above all, the international context that opens up after Donald Trump's victory in the United States have marked the dayAnd the result of the elections will also affect companies in Catalonia, in a context where the United States is the primary destination for Catalan exports outside the European continent. In total, more than 3,100 companies regularly export to the US market, valued at 3.65 billion euros. Furthermore, it is the country with the most presence of subsidiaries established in Catalonia, and the main country of origin for foreign investment projects attracted by the Government.
To analyze these possible effects, Acció has promoted a study on the economic and geopolitical impact of Trump's election, who has announced the application of tariffs of at least 10% globally, and 60% in the case of China. According to this study, "Trump's protectionist surge" could lead to a 0.2 percentage point reduction in Catalan GDP, as Baró detailed at the meeting. The event, which featured presentations by experts such as former EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, included practical workshops for companies and meetings with the Acció Network of Trade and Investment Offices, to receive personalized advice to continue promoting the internationalization of Catalan companies worldwide.
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