Catalonia sets new strategy to attract €6 billion in foreign investment by 2030

The President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, announced on Wednesday the new government strategy for attracting, securing, and retaining foreign investment in Catalonia for the 2026–2030 period. At an event attended by representatives from institutions, chambers of commerce, business organizations, and mayors from across Catalonia, the President presented the strategy’s objectives, which are based on public-private collaboration and will continue to be led by ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment.

The main goals of the new strategy include reaching 600 investment projects with Government support by 2030, generating €6 billion in investment, and creating and maintaining 45,000 jobs. The Government also aims to reach a total of 10,000 foreign subsidiaries established in Catalonia.

This represents a 27% increase in the number of projects and more than a 60% rise in investment and employment compared to the results of the previous five-year period. In this regard, Illa emphasized that "we want to move from vision to impact, an impact that creates opportunities throughout Catalonia, including for the local business ecosystem, and above all, shared prosperity."

“The model we want for Catalonia is that of a country built on productive economic activity, industrial, resilient, and ready to face the challenges of the future”

Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia

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During the presentation, President Illa stressed that this strategy seeks to consolidate "a Catalonia that leads and generates shared prosperity", stating that "this spirit of sharing has led us, for the first time, to design a joint investment attraction agenda". He then explained that this agenda will be shared with the administrations, institutions, and stakeholders involved, "based on joining forces to multiply results so that Catalonia as a whole benefits from the competitiveness generated by productive investment." Illa emphasized that "the model we want for Catalonia is that of a country built on productive—not speculative—economic activity; a country that is industrial, territorially cohesive, resilient, and ready to face the challenges of the present and the future, such as the digital and green transitions or developments in health" while he stressed the role of foreign investment in achieving this model.

From a qualitative standpoint, the strategy aims for 50% of all investment attracted to be industrial, 75% of projects to be climate neutral, and 50% of investment and job creation to take place outside the Barcelona metropolitan area. It also sets the goal of reaching 3,000 startups and scaleups, 25% of which should be deep-tech companies.

The event also featured the participation of the Minister for Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper; the Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment, Jaume Baró; and several officials from the agency’s foreign investment division. In their remarks, they outlined Catalonia’s key assets as a destination for foreign investment, such as its diversified, industry-based economy; its status as an innovation and technology hub; its commitment to sustainability; its strategic location; and its position as a hub for both local and international talent.

Geographical and sectoral priorities

The new plan is structured around the prioritization of key markets as well as priority sectors. On the one hand, it identifies the United States and China as major global powers, while also seeking to consolidate relationships with Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium as leading European economies. Furthermore, it will focus on Japan, India, and South Korea, considered to be strategic Asian markets.

From a sectoral perspective, the strategy is based on consolidating a model for Catalonia centered on industrialization, digitalization, and sustainable transition. Priority sectors include those in which Catalonia already holds industrial leadership (automotive and sustainable mobility, food, semiconductors, and chemicals), as well as those that contribute to the digitalization of the economy (technologies such as artificial intelligence, ICT, and quantum, along with industries such as space, audiovisual, and video games). Also, health and life sciences (critical medicines, medical technologies, biomanufacturing) and industries that drive sustainability (renewable energies, circular economy, and decarbonization).

Main pillars of the strategy

The presentation also detailed the main pillars of the new strategy, which include supporting companies throughout the full lifecycle of an investment project—from promotion to retention—and giving support to address key challenges that investments face, such as those related to industrial land, utilities and resources, administrative facilitation, talent, and financial incentives.

Thus, the strategy is laid down in 25 specific measures, the most significant being:

• Designing an international promotion plan for Catalonia
• Deployment of sector-specific investment attraction plans
• Strengthening and creation of new International Desks for strategic Asian markets
• Retention of foreign companies already established in Catalonia
• Identification of demand for land for industrial and commercial activity and acquisition of new large-scale industrial sites
• Activation of industrial and commercial activity and creation of a map of available plots and buildings, in close collaboration with Incasòl, the Government of Catalonia’s land development and urban-planning agency
• Coordination and implementation of energy transition policies and the promotion of strategic projects within the Interdepartmental Commission for Energy Transition
• Facilitation of legislative, technical, and procedural improvements to foster investment
• Launching of a talent service
• Definition of advisory services for incentives and capital, as well as the strengthening of existing lines for attracting strategic projects

The government track record in attracting foreign investment

During the event, it was also noted that the Government of Catalonia was a pioneer 40 years ago with the creation of ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment, the first foreign investment attraction agency in Spain and one of the first in Europe. Over these four decades, Catalonia Trade & Investment has facilitated more than 1,600 foreign investment projects, totaling over €13.3 billion in investment and creating or maintaining more than 95,000 jobs. Catalonia Trade & Investment has been internationally recognized by leading publications, including those of the Financial Times group.

In 2024, the agency achieved a new record: through Catalonia Trade & Investment, the Government surpassed €1 billion in foreign investment attracted for the first time, 19% more than the previous year and the highest figure in the historical series dating back to 1985. For every euro of public budget allocated to investment attraction, €275 were generated in private international investment. These investments created and maintained more than 8,000 jobs, another record, representing a 44% increase over 2023. In total, 106 foreign investment projects were completed. Over the last five years, investment attracted has more than doubled, reaching €3.64 billion.