On July 9-10, 2024, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Qatar, David Quintanilla Álvarez, and the Secretary General, Josefa Sandoval Ramírez, participated in the Assembly of Official Chambers of Commerce of Spain Abroad, held in Madrid. This event brought together representatives of the 44 official chambers abroad, consolidating cooperation and strengthening synergies between chambers around the world.

The event was inaugurated with a welcome speech by Ms. Amparo López Senovilla, Secretary of State for Trade, and Mr. José Luis Bonet, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain. During the conference, key issues such as the new geostrategic context and economic security were discussed, as well as the use of instruments to support internationalization. In addition, enriching debates were held on how to strengthen synergies and interaction in the chamber network, and innovative network projects and services were presented.

 

Highlights of the Assembly

  • Mr. José Luis Bonet, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, underlined the importance of cooperation between chambers to strengthen the economy and promote the competitiveness of Spanish companies.
  • Mrs. Amparo López Senovilla, Secretary of State for Economy, Trade and Enterprise, highlighted the fundamental role of the Official Chambers of Commerce of Spain Abroad (CAMACOES) as a support network for the internationalization of Spanish companies, especially SMEs.
  • Mrs. Inmaculada Riera, Director General of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, emphasized the complexity of the current situation and the need for chambers to support SMEs.
  • Adolfo Díaz-Ambrona, Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain and the Spanish Court of Arbitration (CEA), highlighted the importance of arbitration as a mechanism to resolve international commercial disputes.
  • Antonio Basagoiti, President of FECECA Spanish Chambers America, called for leading the internationalization of SMEs to improve competitiveness and strengthen the economy.
  • Guillermo Cobelo Fernández, Vice President of FEDECOM (Federation of Official Chambers of Commerce of Spain in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania), highlighted the institutional loyalty and effectiveness of CAMACOES as an instrument of economic diplomacy.

During the conference, attendees had the opportunity to listen to prominent speakers such as Judith Arnal, Senior Researcher at the Real Instituto Elcano, Ignacio Torreblanca, head of Madrid Office of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and Elena Gil, Director of AI & Big Data at Telefónica TECH.

The assembly was an invaluable opportunity to discuss strategies and strengthen cooperation between Spanish Chambers of Commerce abroad. We thank all participants and organizers for their commitment and dedication.

Commitment and Future

From the Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Qatar, we continue to work together to promote international trade and represent our companies in the best possible way.