This Wednesday, King Felipe VI defended stability, certainty and economic openness as key elements to attract international investment, at a time marked by growing geopolitical uncertainty, the tightening of trade rules and the return of protectionist measures. He did so during the inauguration of the 16th edition of the , held these days in Madrid, before a wide representation of and executives from large Spanish companies.
At the opening of the event, the King framed the meeting in an increasingly complex international context, warning of the deterioration of the geostrategic environment and the return of dynamics that were already perceived as outdated. “Practices that we believed were no longer part of the strategic and commercial menu, or that were progressively disappearing, are returning strongly and in a worrying manner,” while “the lessons of the 20th century, which were previously considered solid and widely shared, appear to be rapidly weakening,” he reflected.
The business and investment meeting is being held at a particularly sensitive time, marked by the intensification of trade tensions between the great economic powers after the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Added to the ups and downs is an increasingly frequent use of trade as an instrument of political pressure, in a scenario aggravated by the fragmentation of the multilateral system and by the .
Faced with this panorama, the King has emphasized the value of stability and certainty, recalling that “they are qualities that, when present, often go unnoticed and are taken for granted”, and that only become fully relevant when they disappear. In the field of investment, he has stressed that these factors are decisive, since business projects require long horizons and predictable regulatory frameworks.
In this sense, the King has reaffirmed Spain’s position as an open economy, even in an adverse context. “Despite an increasingly unstable and uncertain environment, Spain continues to maintain a firm commitment to free trade and international cooperation,” he stated, also highlighting that the country conceives openness “not as a vulnerability, but as a strategic asset.”
In the 16 years that this event has been held, more than 3,000 investors have attended the meeting, which has become the showcase for Spanish companies for foreign investment. In this edition, the forum will bring together the main actors in the Spanish economy, including members of the Government’s economic team, regulatory bodies, large companies and international investors. On this occasion, the participation of 42 listed companies and the arrival of nearly 200 national and international investors from a dozen countries are expected.
A showcase that Felipe VI has taken advantage of to also underline Spain’s firm European anchorage, fully committed to the single market, legal certainty and the stable framework provided by the European Union, as well as its commitment to multilateralism and cooperation as guiding principles of its international relations and its “close and lasting ties with Latin America”, at a time when the system of global rules faces growing tensions.
The speech has also highlighted the international profile of the Spanish economy. The King recalled that Spain is among the world’s main recipients of foreign direct investment and that it has reached record levels of exports, “the highest in our entire history”, with the largest number of exporting companies recorded to date. A dynamism that, as he has pointed out, reflects the international competitiveness of Spanish companies, many of them leaders in their respective sectors.
In this context, Felipe VI has highlighted that internationalized companies are more resilient to economic cycles, generate more qualified and stable employment and show a greater capacity for innovation, in addition to producing indirect positive effects through the transfer of knowledge and skills.
The King concluded by reaffirming that “Spain continues to be one of the most open countries in the world to international trade and investment” and sending a clear message to foreign investors, whom he assured that they are “more than welcome in Spain”, underlining their decisive role in growth, employment and the transformation of the economy over recent decades.
