economy

Despite "politcal and monarchical pressure" to move the company's headquarters, the current political situation is not affecting production or sales

We’ll have to wait and find out, believes president of Small and Medium Business in Catalonia, while the secretary of economy is confident companies and banks will come back

Spanish government trims projections by 0.3% and says it will not meet its deficit target

The moves of firms moving HQs out of the country have “no real effects” on the economy, according to the executive

European markets also recovered on Wednesday, as fears over political crisis momentarily subside

These lesser-known companies will have the chance to be connected to outside investment and potential global connections

Overseas Catalan sales account for more than 25% of Spanish total

Chamber of Commerce presents revised report predicting GDP growth of 3.1% and labels threats to cut off funding to Catalonia “not viable” as an option for Spanish government

Economy and treasury minister admits concern over unemployment but insists rate will drop to under 11% by end of 2018

The country attracts nearly half of foreign manufacturing investment in Spain

The Commission for Economic Affairs adopts the draft law that could set the basis for a Catalan fiscal system separate from Spain's

The Catalan Minister of Economy and Finance, Oriol Junqueras, defended the good health of the Catalan economy on Friday and insisted on the Catalan executive’s commitment to continue within the European Union in case of independence. At the 33th Annual Meeting of the Economy Circle in Sitges, Junqueras confirmed that his executive expects to surpass 2.7% of annual economic growth and highlighted the fact that Catalonia account for 85% of the deficit reduction of all administrations in Spain. The Catalan minister also used the opportunity to communicate a message of calm to the economic sector, guaranteeing that “Catalonia will not leave the EU in case of independence” since there is “absolutely no legal mechanism that foresees this case”. Along this line, Junqueras stressed the “firm pro-European commitment” of the Catalan government and its determination of “strengthening” a common project and creating “excellent relationships” with neighbors, “especially Spain”. In this case, however, like “two states with the same powers”.

Catalan exports reached €17.6 billion during the first quarter of 2017, a 13.6% increase in comparison to the same period last year. The figures, published by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, are the best in the entire historic series. The exports in Catalonia between January and March 2017 represent 25.3% of the entire amount in Spain. In terms of imports, Catalonia saw in the first quarter an increase of 13.5% year-on-year, to €21.5 billion euros. The Catalan trade deficit was €3.9 billion, 13.5% more than the first quarter of 2016. The main exporting sectors were chemical products, which increased by 10.5% reaching €4.6 billion; manufacturing equipment, with an increase of 6.7% (€3.1 billion); and the automobile sector, which grew by 14% to €2.9 billion. The chemical products (14.5%, €3.9 billion) and automobile sector (8.8%, €3.3 billion) also contributed to the increase in imports.

The president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Arthur Brooks, explained in an interview with the CNA how the impact of an independent Catalonia on the European Union “could in a strange and paradoxical way have the greatest benefit that Europe could imagine”. The renowned American social scientist said that Catalonia, with its entrepreneurial culture, could become “an example” to other countries and have a “resuscitation effect” on a “struggling” Europe. Brooks also stated that “the Catalan independence movement is not populist”. Brooks was invited by the Catalan Council of Public Diplomacy (DIPLOCAT) to give a conference on “Populism and Human Dignity” in Barcelona on May 17.

Catalonia will offer a pioneer testing ground for autonomous and connected cars. This Thursday the Catalan Minister of Business and Knowledge, Jordi Baiget, and the Catalan Home Affairs Minister, Jordi Jané, announced the project launch at the Barcelona Automobile congress, currently taking place, from 11 to 21 May in the Fira exhibition center. The ‘Catalonia Living Lab’ project, designed by the Catalan Government, the industry and sector agents, aims to offer vehicle and component manufacturers to conduct tests and validations of this technology on Catalan roads, circuits, and in cities. To begin with, the ‘Catalonia Living Lab” tests areas will include 7 routes of almost 200 km, 7 areas of more than 12 square kilometers, and 3 circuits in different places around the country.