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New Arab Capital, an opportunity for Spanish companies
From April 03, 2013 until April 10, 2013
At its Madrid and Cordoba headquarters, Casa Árabe has presented the results of a study titled "New Arab Capital: Main role-players and opportunities for Spanish companies", completed by Jacinto Soler.
In Madrid, the report presentation took place on April 10 and was carried out with the support of Marca España, the CEOE, ICEX/Invest in Spain and Zawya (Thomson Reuters), with the cooperation of Madrid’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Exporters and Investors Club and the Spanish Institute of Financial Analysts (IEAF).
This book, financed and published by Casa Árabe, was presented by the General Director of Casa Árabe, Eduardo López Busquets; the High Commissioner of the Government for the Spain Brand (Marca España), Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros; the Director of the ICEX/Invest in Spain, José Carlos García de Quevedo, and Pamela Chikhani, Director of Financial Solutions, Zawya – A Thomson Reuters Business, a business news agency whose headquarters is located in Dubai, with a database which the report was based on.
This day of events consisted of two round table discussions. The first, moderated by Antonio Oporto del Olmo, Secretary General of the Circle of Businessmen, was dedicated to providing an overview of Arab capital, with its main role-players and investment strategies. Participating in the event were the author of the book, along with Rafael Matos González de Careaga, Vice-President of Gala Fund Management; Javier Méndez Llera, Secretary General of the Spanish Institute of Financial Analysts (IEAF), and Josep Marsal, a partner at Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira.
The second of the round table discussions, moderated by Joan Canals, Chairman of the Committee on Mediterranean Countries, Gulf Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa of the CEOE, had the opportunities which Arab capital can offer to Spanish companies as a debate topic. Speaking in the debates, in addition to the book’s author, were Álvaro Ortiz of BBVA Research and Guillermo Canalejo Lasarte, a partner of Uría Menéndez.
Of the 15 largest sovereign funds in the world, six are Arab, and the expected increases in oil revenue lead to forecasts that Arab capital flows will continue increasing in upcoming years, with investment wherever opportunities arise.
During this day of events, it was highlighted than in the last two decades, what is known as “New Arab Capital” has become sophisticated, specialized and professionalized, seeking appealing opportunities in industries like high-quality real estate, the luxury sector, finance and infrastructures. Arab capital is also committed to sectors of innovation and high technology, such as renewable energies and robotics, to capture the knowledge of foreign companies.
Within this context, the various speakers during the day corroborated that Spanish companies can find great opportunities, due to both the quality of what they offer, and because they are at the international forefront in many sectors (engineering, construction and energy), in addition to their skill at creating joint venture companies in Arab countries. This last factor was highlighted during the meeting, because Arab capital, due to the Arab and Islamic culture from which it has arisen, seeks involvement and shared participation in projects, and is interested in partners of reference with international contacts and experience in joint ventures.
After having surmounted the poor image of Spain as an investment recipient, due to problems that arose with certain investments in the eighties, Arab capital has begun to make a fresh commitment to our country and currently sees Spain as a land of opportunities, at a good time for entering the market. Similarly, Spain constitutes an excellent springboard for entering Latin American markets, where Arab capital still has a low profile.
This book, financed and published by Casa Árabe, was presented by the General Director of Casa Árabe, Eduardo López Busquets; the High Commissioner of the Government for the Spain Brand (Marca España), Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros; the Director of the ICEX/Invest in Spain, José Carlos García de Quevedo, and Pamela Chikhani, Director of Financial Solutions, Zawya – A Thomson Reuters Business, a business news agency whose headquarters is located in Dubai, with a database which the report was based on.
This day of events consisted of two round table discussions. The first, moderated by Antonio Oporto del Olmo, Secretary General of the Circle of Businessmen, was dedicated to providing an overview of Arab capital, with its main role-players and investment strategies. Participating in the event were the author of the book, along with Rafael Matos González de Careaga, Vice-President of Gala Fund Management; Javier Méndez Llera, Secretary General of the Spanish Institute of Financial Analysts (IEAF), and Josep Marsal, a partner at Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira.
The second of the round table discussions, moderated by Joan Canals, Chairman of the Committee on Mediterranean Countries, Gulf Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa of the CEOE, had the opportunities which Arab capital can offer to Spanish companies as a debate topic. Speaking in the debates, in addition to the book’s author, were Álvaro Ortiz of BBVA Research and Guillermo Canalejo Lasarte, a partner of Uría Menéndez.
Of the 15 largest sovereign funds in the world, six are Arab, and the expected increases in oil revenue lead to forecasts that Arab capital flows will continue increasing in upcoming years, with investment wherever opportunities arise.
During this day of events, it was highlighted than in the last two decades, what is known as “New Arab Capital” has become sophisticated, specialized and professionalized, seeking appealing opportunities in industries like high-quality real estate, the luxury sector, finance and infrastructures. Arab capital is also committed to sectors of innovation and high technology, such as renewable energies and robotics, to capture the knowledge of foreign companies.
Within this context, the various speakers during the day corroborated that Spanish companies can find great opportunities, due to both the quality of what they offer, and because they are at the international forefront in many sectors (engineering, construction and energy), in addition to their skill at creating joint venture companies in Arab countries. This last factor was highlighted during the meeting, because Arab capital, due to the Arab and Islamic culture from which it has arisen, seeks involvement and shared participation in projects, and is interested in partners of reference with international contacts and experience in joint ventures.
After having surmounted the poor image of Spain as an investment recipient, due to problems that arose with certain investments in the eighties, Arab capital has begun to make a fresh commitment to our country and currently sees Spain as a land of opportunities, at a good time for entering the market. Similarly, Spain constitutes an excellent springboard for entering Latin American markets, where Arab capital still has a low profile.
