Catalonia targets €6bn in foreign investment by 2030

Catalonia plans to attract €6 billion in foreign investment and create 45,000 new jobs by 2030, a 60% increase over the next five years.

In challenging times for global trade, amid rising US tariffs and protectionism, the government seeks to implement 600 foreign investment projects between 2026 and 2030 and reach 10,000 subsidiaries established in Catalonia.

Speaking at an event on Wednesday to present the 2026–2030 Foreign Investment Strategy, President Salvador Illa addressed business and municipal leaders, saying: "Catalonia is open to foreign investment."

"The message today is that Catalonia is open to receiving foreign investment – come and invest in Catalonia. Ask the companies that have already invested: we are an open country," said Illa.

The president added that global changes such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving should be seen as opportunities, not approached with "fear."

The event, attended by business minister Miquel Sàmper and foreign minister Jaume Duch, began with a minute's silence in memory of the 229 victims of last year's flooding in Valencia.

Sàmper, who opened the event, said the government's objective is to build "strong relationships," avoid short-term thinking, and focus not only on attracting investment but also on retaining projects and encouraging them to generate new business lines.

He acknowledged that geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, and rising protectionism – including tariffs introduced under former US President Donald Trump – complicate the current climate.

Nevertheless, he highlighted that while global foreign investment fell 11% in 2024, Catalonia has seen a 15% increase over the past five years, during which 9,600 companies were established in the region.

The government currently has more than 400 potential projects in the pipeline, about 150 of which have committed to investing. Around 70 have already chosen a specific location, half of them outside the Barcelona metropolitan area.

The government is targeting investments from major global economies, including the United States, China, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

In South Korea, Japan, and India, ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment is working to establish new international desks to facilitate collaboration, with expertise in language, culture, and business dynamics.

Sector-wise, the focus is on increasing industrial, digital, and life sciences projects. The government hopes to attract investments in electric vehicle plants, critical medicines, chemical recycling, food production, semiconductors, space, and quantum technologies, among others.