On 14th January, the Expansión financial newspaper published a special report on the debate on the Spanish brands in the infrastructures sector, held in the Madrid home of the Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI, School of Industrial Organisation) on 20^th November. Spanish brands such as Ferrovial, Técnicas Reunicas, Indra and GMV analysed the challenges and opportunities of a sector in which Spain is a real key player worldwide. Balbino Prieto, Chairman of the Spanish Exporters and Investors Club, María José López of the Ministry for Industry, Tourism and Trade and Alfredo Fernández of Garrigues also participated in a debate chaired by Luis Díaz, Director of the EOI.

 

Today the leading Spanish engineering and construction brands manage and develop projects in the key markets throughout the world. Spain is unquestionably the world leader in infrastructure management. Indeed, six Spanish companies appear in the ranking of the main infrastructure management companies, published every year by the specialist journal Public Works Financing. It is, without a doubt, a sector in which Spain must support itself to convey a global image of Spanish companies: strong, professional and efficient. This is one of the conclusions reached by participants in the debate on Spanish brands in the infrastructures sector, organised by the Leading Brands of Spain Forum and published in the Expansión newspaper. In addition to analysing the factors that have contributed to the current success of the Spanish infrastructures sector, the participants in this debate also contemplated the future challenges of a sector in which the national brand is essential. Mr Prieto indicated the need to strengthen public funding for this activity, while Manuel Valencia, from Técnicas Reunidas, accused the government of "excessive short-termism" and of "not having created more innovative support mechanisms".

 

All the participants agreed that Spain had a considerable presence in the sector and in the importance of encouraging the relevant government bodies to communicate to the world the success of Spanish companies. Indeed, as Carlos Pérez, Manager of the Ferrovial brand stated “our strength in the sector is demonstrated by the fact that everyone asks us to bid in their projects”.