Bouygues: Catalan independence “won't be a problem” for investing

Brussels (ACN).- The independence process “won't be a problem” for investing in Catalonia, said Paul Cartuyvels, Director for European Affairs of the French multinational Bouygues, a company with more than 125,000 employees and delegations in 19 countries. Cartuyvels participated in a meeting on foreign investment with entrepreneurs and companies from Europe, the U.S. and Asia, organized by the Catalan government during the “European Business Summit”. Bouygues is interested in Catalonia’s Global 3D Priniting Hub and considers the country “a natural partner for high level innovation”. The Catalan Minister for Business and Knowledge, Jordi Baiget, who explained Catalonia’s business assets during the meeting, said that the political debate is not negatively affecting foreign investment: in fact, in the last 5 years Catalonia has seen a 36% increase in foreign investment.

The director for European Affairs of the French multinational Bouygues participated this Tuesday in a meeting on foreign investment organized by the Catalan government together with 15 other businesspeople. Bouygues is specialized in construction, telecommunications, and television and interested in collaborating with the Global 3D Printing Hub, an industrial infrastructure to be installed in Catalonia, and which aims at becoming a world leader. “3D-technology is completely transforming the construction industry,” assured Paul Cartuyvels in comments to the press. “Before today's meeting I had already met with my colleagues in Paris to talk about possible collaborations with the Catalonia region,” he added.

Asked about whether the independence movement could be a threat to his group’s interest in Catalonia, Cartuyvels said it was not: “No. The relationship will be about work, activity, and collaboration. It will not be a problem”. The Catalan Minister for Business and Knowledge, Jordi Baiget, assured in comments to the press that “when companies look for places to invest in other countries they want to invest in areas where they can expect a return”. According to Baiget, the current figures “refute” the argument that the independence process scares off foreign investment. “Between 2012 and 2016 direct investment in Catalonia has grown by 36%, which means that during the 5 years of the independence process, foreign investment has increased,” the Catalan minister highlighted. And added: “Of course, people abroad ask us about the movement and we answer the truth. We explain that we want to decide our future by voting, and they understand that”.

According to Cartuyvels, Catalonia is a place of interest because it is “extremely dynamic and innovative”. “When we look from Brussels we look at the whole of Europe and we have spotted a number of regions in different countries where we really want to work,” explained Bouygues’ director for European Affairs. Bouygues already collaborates with Lyon and Milan, “which are cities that are already working with Catalonia”. All this makes Catalonia “a natural partner for high level innovation,” Cartuyvels concluded.

During Tuesday’s event with the title “Catalonia, a world-class digital hub”, the Catalan Minister for Business and Knowledge, Jordi Baiget, explained to some fifteen representatives of European, American and Asian companies that Catalonia “offers many opportunites” for foreign companies who are looking for “new possible headquarters” in Europe. Baiget remarked Catalonia’s “well connected network with Europe and the world” which makes the country “a good gateway for Asian countries”. He also added that there is “a high density of small and medium enterprises” which gives foreign companies access to “collaborators or technology partners” as well as “well-trained labor”. “All this combined with 12 universities, many technological and research centers, makes Catalonia an attractive investment zone,” Baiget concluded.

The business meeting took place under the umbrella of the “European Business Summit” in Brussels, with participants such as the German Minister of Finance, Wolfgang Schäuble, the vice presidents of the European Commission Jyrki Katainen and Valdis Dombrovskis, the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and multinational companies from all over Europe and the world. “It’s a summit where many political leaders participate but also many managers of multinational companies based in Europe. And this interaction, this continuous contact with companies and political leaders, is very interesting for us”, affirmed the Catalan minister.