During his institutional visit to the Republic of Korea, the President of the Government of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, gave an address “Catalonia, always forward” to present Catalonia’s economic and business potential to relevant economic players in Korea.

During the presentation, which he gave in English at the Government Delegation in Seoul, the President stressed that “the assets we have in terms of research, talent and the structure of our economy, make our economy one of the most competitive in Europe”.

President Aragonès underlined the attractiveness of Catalonia for foreign companies, with infrastructure such as Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport and the ports of Barcelona and Tarragona, and highlighted the large number of international companies already present and the fact that exports represent 35% of the Catalan economy. “We are an international economy open to the world, innovative and with a solid workforce,” he added.

He also highlighted Catalonia’s research and knowledge system, especially in the health and life sciences sector, a key area of the South Korean economy. “Catalonia is among the best countries in terms of scientific research,” he said, adding that, over the last 30 years, Catalonia has focused its research on the health and well-being of its citizens. “That is why our health and life sciences ecosystem is one of the jewels in our crown.”

To illustrate the potential in the field of research and innovation and what is being worked on for the Catalonia of the future, the President presented 12 strategic projects that are under way in Catalonia to create new innovation and research centres. They are backed by public funding and could be an opportunity for foreign companies “that want be a part of these projects and take advantage of the scientific research that is being carried out.”

He talked about the new BiomedBist Institute of Science and Technology, the Alba II Synchrotron, the UNICAS building linked to Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, the Innofab project related to the semiconductor industry, the new Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, the Mare Nostrum 6 supercomputer at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, the Decarbonisation Research Centre, the Quantica - Mediterranean Valley of Quantum Sciences and Technology, the Barcelona Center of Applied Neurosciences, the Centre for Advanced Therapies of Catalonia, the new telescope at the Montsec Observatory and the project for the new hospital in Girona on the Health Campus.

Economic presentations round the world

This presentation kick-started a round of addresses of this kind that the President will be giving in various parts of the world. The aim is to present Catalonia’s economic and business attractiveness abroad in order to strengthen commercial ties with strategic countries with which there are shared interests.

From now on, the President will take advantage of some of his international trips to make presentations of this type to relevant economic and business players in each country. At each of these conferences, he will highlight Catalonia’s potential for the strategic interests and sectors of the country or region he is addressing. For example, in the Republic of Korea, the President has focused particularly on technology, innovation and research, and on the health and life sciences sector.