Catalonia strengthens business ties with China to attract investment in mobility and battery sectors

As part of its efforts to deepen economic ties with China, Catalonia has carried out a high-level institutional mission across six Chinese cities (Wuhu, Liyang, Huizhou, Dongguan and Shenzhen), led by the Minister of Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper, and supported by Catalonia Trade & Investment. The initiative, organized by the agency’s International Trade and Investment Offices in China, forms part of the China Desk’s broader strategy to attract foreign investment to Catalonia.

The mission focused on promoting Catalonia as a key investment hub in Europe, particularly in the automotive, mobility, and battery sectors. With a strong pipeline of Chinese companies already operating in the region, Catalonia is positioning itself as a gateway for further strategic collaboration and industrial development.

"Chinese companies have long shown strong interest in investing in Catalonia. Across our three offices in China, we maintain close ties with local businesses and provide continuous support to help them explore opportunities in our region. In the past five years, Chinese investment in Catalonia has exceeded 1.2 billion euros", said Madrona Marcet, director of Catalonia Trade & Investment’s offices in China.

“Spain ranks second in the production of new energy vehicles in Europe and the government is very active in promoting green energy transformation”

Lu Jialong, CEO of SMM

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During the visit, the Catalan delegation met with Chinese entrepreneurs and companies, including those already present in Catalonia, to strengthen partnerships and gain insights into their investment interests.

Catalonia’s strategic location in Southern Europe, its strong industrial base, and its commitment to sustainability continue to attract Chinese business interest. "Catalonia is strategically located in Southern Europe and very well connected to the rest of Europe. More than 200 Chinese companies are already present in Catalonia, and we would like to welcome more of them", emphasized Jaume Baró, CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment.

China Desk has a portfolio of over 100 investment projects and strengthens industry ties through Chery collaboration

In 2024, the China Desk at Catalonia Trade & Investment achieved significant milestones, highlighting the strength of the bilateral relationship. "In 2024, China Desk was able to attract a total of 112 potential investment projects in Catalonia. Additionally, we received over 30 Chinese delegations in total and connected through industry platforms to mutually share and exchange information for the development of both Chinese and local enterprises", said Qiaoshan Xue, Head of China Desk.

She added, "We collaborated with automotive company Chery leveraging their platform, to link with some of their excellent suppliers in China facilitating their supplier’s next steps in going global".

SMM brings Li-ion Battery Europe Congress to Catalonia, highlighting its role in Europe’s green transition

From the Chinese business side, interest in Catalonia is rising due to its relevance in Europe’s energy transition. "Barcelona, Catalonia, is a market that we have always been very concerned about. This is mainly due to the fact that Spain ranks second in the production of new energy vehicles in Europe. At the same time, the government is also very active in promoting green energy transformation", said Lu Jialong, CEO of SMM.

Catalonia’s vision for a sustainable future is clear and aligns with the interests of global investors. "Catalonia is on a completely straight path towards electrification and towards a neutral climate in 2050 without any doubt. We want China to be on our side on this path, to take us as a benchmark and put value on our clear path towards this electrification that we have as a goal as soon as possible", concluded Minister Miquel Sàmper.

Connect with our China offices to explore investment opportunities in Catalonia

If you are a Chinese company interested in investing in Catalonia or exploring collaboration opportunities, our Catalonia Trade & Investment offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are ready to support you. Contact us today to discover how we can help you succeed in Europe’s innovation hub.