Private and public sector form Barcelona’s Boating Industry Cluster to make the city a world leader in the sector

Barcelona (ACN).- The Barcelona Boating Industry Cluster has been created this week to make the Catalan capital and its surroundings an international leader in the sector. The Cluster is initially made up of 35 companies, which have united with public institutions such as the City Council and the Port of Barcelona. It is a non -profit organisation that will help achieve higher levels of productivity and competitiveness in the sector in order to boost the economy. The main goals are creating jobs, wealth and welfare, consolidating the existent industrial sector, attracting new investments and working towards a better awareness of the boating-industry sector. According to the statutes approved last Monday, the group will support the creation of cooperatives to promote innovation and technology transfers between research units and companies.

The creation of a Boating-Industry business cluster is part of Barcelona’s strategy to economically boost certain sectors. This initiative follows Barcelona’s strategy to identify specific business sectors and create clusters to strengthen them. The Catalan capital already has clusters related to Nanotechnology, Mobile Technologies, Food-Industry, Biomedicine and Automation, among others.

Building on Barcelona’s strengths

Furthermore, Barcelona has a deep maritime tradition. Each year, the city hosts one of Europe’s main boat fairs: the International Boat Show (Saló Nàutic), which takes place in Barcelona’s Port Vell and Montjuic venues. In the last years, the fair has reduced its size due to the economic crisis. However, visitors of the 2013 edition have seen a variety of 650 boats being displayed and showing the latest tendencies in the sector.

According to a combined study by the Barcelona Foundation for Ocean Sailing (FNOB) and the University of Barcelona, in 2012, 1,175 companies were involved in the Boating Industry in Catalonia, 68% of which were located in the Province of Barcelona. The dynamism of Por of Barcelona can account for such figures. Indeed, it serves as an economic platform in Europe for exporting and importing goods, with a privileged connection with Northern Africa and Asia harbours. In addition, it is the fourth most important cruise ship harbour in the world.

A Cluster to become world leaders in the sector

During the meeting officially creating the cluster, the organisation’s statutes were approved and the members of the Board were elected. Toni Tió, who has been chairing the Catalan Maritime Forum (Fòrum Marítim Català) since 2010, will also chair the recently created Cluster. The Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, and the President of Barcelona Port, Sixte Cambra, attended the Cluster's presentation.

According to the initiators of the cluster, Barcelona and its harbour have optimal conditions to become leaders in the Boating Industry on an international level, generating economic, social and environmental exchanges between all the actors involved.