32 DECEMBER 2015 | http://www.ibi-plus.com
Markets & Regions
SPAIN | BARCELONA CLUSTER
Barcelona firms
join forces to make
the most of the
Spanish upturn
SPAIN’S IMPROVING ECONOMY IS PROVING TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR
THE COUNTRY’S LEISURE MARINE FIRMS – PARTICULARLY THOSE NEAR
THE CATALAN CAPITAL WHO HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO IMPROVE
THEIR BUSINESS EFFECTIVENESS
WORDS: DENNIS O’NEILL
I
n November, economists reported that the
historically ailing Spanish economy had defied
all expectations and was starting to grow at a
rate 18 times faster than the US economy. Some even
suggested that, having finally recovered from its
deep and protracted slump, Spain is now the nation
most likely to lead the eurozone out of stagnation.
This recent dramatic upturn is due almost
entirely to the introduction of effective labour
market reforms and long overdue cuts to Spain’s
burdensome income tax levels. The Spanish
economy is now predicted to grow at 2.7% in 2016.
The nation’s leisure boating industry,
however, has been well aware of this
renewed economic health for some
while now, with Spanish boat registrations currently
up 10% year on year.
And at the heart of Spain’s leisure marine
resurgence is Barcelona.
In October, the city’s annual boat show attracted
55,000 visitors over a five-day period, while exhibitor
numbers were up 4% over the previous year to 260.
The number of new and used boats on display was
also up, by 3% to 670. Among the boatbuilders
represented at the show were Beneteau, Sealine,
Jeanneau, Cranchi, Windy and Azimut Yachts.
Interestingly, many of the city’s marine firms
have been agreeing to come together formally as
an association in order to increase their business
effectiveness, both nationally and internationally.
The association they are joining is the Barcelona
Clúster Nàutic, which was set up just two years
ago. It has now signed up more 70 companies as
members, including boatbuilders, repair yards,
marine equipment manufacturers, and even research
institutions.
“Our mission is to support and promote the
development of the economic and business activities
that will boost our members’ competitiveness in
the marine sector and thereby encourage the
generation of wealth and job creation within and
around the city of Barcelona,” explains Alejo Trullás,
CEO of the Clúster.
“This includes the promotion of investment
projects and research and development, while
keeping good channels of communication open with
national government and local authorities in order to
help advance our business development, and promote
specialised training.
“There are four main aspects to the Clúster’s work:
sourcing business opportunities and marketing our
services nationally and internationally; identifyingSBarcelona, a boating hub with big ambitionsWClúster
CEO Alejo
Trullás aims
to boost
investment