The Governing Council has approved the Strategy for the Internationalisation of the Andalusian Economy 2021-2027 (EIEA 21-27), which has an initial allocation of 618 million euros aimed at increasing the degree of internationalisation of the Andalusian economy and companies, generating quality employment and strengthening Andalusia’s position in the world, to increase exports and foreign investment.
Through this ambitious programmed investment, which doubles that of the previous plan (288 million euros for 2015-2020), the EIEA 21-27 plans to generate in the Andalusian economy the mechanisms that will allow exports to increase by 65% in these seven years, reaching 45. 45.8 billion euros; to reach 32% more regular exporting companies, which are those that export at least four years in a row and generate 93% of the Andalusian export bill, reaching 7,620 companies; to increase employment linked to internationalisation by 38%, reaching 459,469 jobs, and to reach 1,065 million euros of foreign direct investment in Andalusia in 2027, 38% more than that recorded in 2020.
The approved Plan is the result of intense work carried out within the Andalusian Government, led by the Regional Ministry of the Presidency, Public Administration, and the Interior, in special coordination with the Regional Ministry of Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Universities, as well as with the rest of the regional ministries with responsibilities in this area. It has also counted on the participation of the economic and social agents: the Andalusian Confederation of Employers (CEA) and the trade unions UGT Andalusia and CCOO Andalusia, as well as the Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Andalusia.
The Andalusian government aims to increase the number of exporting companies, working to detect potential companies throughout the territory and establishing a sectoral information system. In addition, the strategy contemplates personalised support with tailor-made services, information, and training.
In short, through the EIEA 21-27, the Andalusian Government is committed to increasing Andalusia’s presence in foreign markets, offering a map of business opportunities to companies; encouraging promotional actions with a market focus; projecting the image of Andalusia and its sectors to the world; stimulating a permanent international presence abroad and promoting policies of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
About the current economic situation in the world, which is in the midst of a crisis and uncertainty derived from the global COVID-19 pandemic, the new programmes offer an agile response to Andalusian firms, aimed at favouring decision-making in anticipation of changes in world geopolitics, through the use of business intelligence tools (Big Data).
The diversification of companies towards markets will also be encouraged so that they can expand their area of action to countries close to those in which they already operate, and expansion towards regions with greater growth prospects, such as Asia-Pacific, America, Africa-Middle East.
In this new scenario, Europe is also reinforced as Andalusia’s natural market, with a greater institutional and business presence of Andalusia in EU entities.
