This evening, at the opening dinner for the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the president of the Government of Catalonia, Quim Torra, said:  “Catalonia is a country that has made its will to exist the hallmark of its identity, a place where we love democracy above all things. The Catalan people have always fought to defend universal human rights and civil and collective rights. It has been so in the past and remains so today. And it will continue to be the case in the future. Because we will never give up the principles of Pau Casals – those of a country defined by culture, talent and freedom.”

The head of the executive had a clear message for attendees: “We have full confidence in the future. Because we know where we come from. And, rooted in this land, we know where we want to go.”

During the ceremony, which was also attended by the Minister for Digital Policy and Public Administration, Jordi Puigneró, Torra recalled that two years ago it was President Puigdemont who attended the opening dinner. He also reminded the audience that there are members of his government who “cannot be with us today”. Torra noted: “Despite the months of upheaval, Catalan society, businesses and institutions have kept moving forward. They have not stopped working and growing.”

The president stressed that Catalonia has always been “a land of creators and revolutionaries in innovation”, reminding attendees that figures such as Gaudí, Miró, Dalí and Pau Casals  contributed to the progress of society by offering creative solutions. “Today, the people of Catalonia have the opportunity to lead change and meet the challenge of generating a new culture and a new model of governance though the digital nation.” Torra also expressed satisfaction that the MWC was being held in Barcelona within the framework of a “stable, long-term commitment”.

 

According to the Catalan president, “making Catalonia a cutting-edge digital nation by boosting and developing 5G and other advanced and disruptive technologies” is a “key priority”. In line with this goal, he said that on Monday the Government of Catalonia would approve Catalonia’s 5G strategy through the new Ministry for Digital Policy.

 

As for the event getting under way, Torra said: “Over the next few days, we’ll be seeing some of the innovations which in the coming years will become a daily feature in all aspects of our lives, with a dramatic impact on our productive, economic and social systems.”

 

The president evoked the words of the great architect Le Corbusier, reminding his audience that Barcelona is a “port open to the past and future, just as Catalonia has always been a port open to everyone”. During the MWC, the city “shines even more intensely and becomes the digital capital of the world,” he added.

 

Finally, the head of the Catalan government said that the past and the future are closely linked, and that Catalonia “has made its will to exist the hallmark of its identity”.