The Club of Exporters and Investors has urged a decisive reinforcement of economic diplomacy mechanisms in an international scenario that, according to its alert, "the international context has become more complex due to armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and strategic rivalries between major powers."
The business organization has presented a benchmark study at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation that outlines a roadmap for Spain to protect and promote its economic interests more effectively outside its borders.
During the presentation event, Minister José Manuel Albares stressed the need for a comprehensive response from the country. "In a more complex, more competitive, and uncertain world, the best response Spain can give is coherent, ambitious, and shared action. An external action that combines the strength of diplomacy with the capacity of our companies and the involvement of our society," he stated.
The report, titled "The Role of Economic Diplomacy in Current Times," argues that Spain, like other advanced economies, faces a new international framework that requires rethinking priorities and tools.
The president of the Club of Exporters, Antonio Bonet, explained that, in addition to boosting exports and investments, economic diplomacy today assumes a second major mission: safeguarding the country's economic security against risks such as supply chain disruptions, loss of control over strategic sectors, or possible economic coercion by third states.
The study not only provides a diagnosis but also proposes ten recommendations to modernize and strengthen Spanish economic diplomacy, placing embassies at the central axis of this external action.
The first proposals focus on improving coordination. Bonet detailed that the Club advocates for greater articulation between the export sector and the administrations with direct responsibilities in this area, as well as with European Union partners, in order to align objectives and leverage synergies.
In the section dedicated to planning and economic intelligence, the Exporters Club calls for the implementation of multi-year strategic plans for economic external action and asks to strengthen economic intelligence systems that allow anticipating risks and detecting opportunities before other countries take advantage of them.
Among the proposed measures is also the increase of resources for the Foreign Service, particularly regarding the processing of business visas, considered an essential consular function to facilitate the activity of Spanish companies abroad.
In line with this approach, the Club proposes to more closely integrate economic diplomacy with development cooperation policies and to leverage the extensive network of Spanish professionals working outside Spain as an asset for the country's economic projection.
The tenth recommendation is directed directly at public opinion. The Club's analysis notes that economic external action continues to be seen by a large part of the citizenry as "an elitist activity far removed from their real interests," for which it calls for a sustained effort of communication and education that contributes to modifying that perception and bringing these policies closer to society as a whole.