Spanish Business Council evolves to become the first Chamber of Commerce of Spain in the GCC

Guillermo Cobelo Fernández is the Chairman of the Spanish Business Council (Cámara de Comercio de España) and now as the new Chairman of the first Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the GCC, he shares his thoughts in an interview with Khaleej Times

The Spanish Business Council (SBC) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2005 and enjoys the support of the Embassy of Spain in the UAE. For the past 14 years, the SBC has done exemplary work in creating and maintaining a robust corporate networking platform to bring together Spanish business entities and Emirati ones, both in the public and private sectors.

Its main aim is to promote Spanish commercial and business interests in the UAE and to encourage economic and commercial activities, investments and cultural ties between the UAE and Spain, all the while reinforcing the image of Spain in the UAE.

It comprises of a Board of Directors of 11 elected members, led by a Chairman and two Vice-Chairmen and an executive team that consists of a Secretary-General and an Office Coordinator. The council members are elected by vote during a General Assembly held each year.

Guillermo Cobelo Fernández, Chairman, Spanish Business Council explains about the business and trade environment in the UAE and what potential it holds for Spanish organisations looking to set up a base here. "Well, the numbers speak for themselves. In 2017 alone, more than 7,600 Spanish firms exported to the UAE, out of which almost 2,000 are regular exporters. If we combine this data with that of other countries, the numbers go up astronomically."

He adds, "The last few years have seen a phenomenal rise in new plans and projects in the Emirates. For instance, the new Investment Plan announced by ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) from 2019 to 2023 of more than US$132 billion in oil and gas projects is a real achievement and leads the way for other such projects in different sectors of the economy in the UAE. As such, the opportunities for Spanish companies is immense, and that is precisely where the Spanish Business Council steps in, providing the perfect platform to build contacts."

He elaborates on the recent change to Chamber of Commerce of Spain in UAE. "This is something we have been working on for a while now. The transition into the official Chamber of Commerce of Spain is the result of the hard work of past Chairmen, the Council of members and the executive team of the SBC, not to mention the unfailing support of the Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain."

However, the conversion to a Chamber of Commerce does not bring about any intrinsic change in the everyday working of the Business Council, as its objectives and activities remain the same, according to the chairman. "It does signify, though, being a part of the network of the Chambers' of Commerce of Spain worldwide and being able to source and share information at an international level to the ultimate benefit of our members, both Spanish companies with a local and international presence and Emirati corporations looking to expand in Spain."

As for commercial ties between the UAE and Spain, the chairman says, "The constant interaction between the ever-expanding members of the SBC from a variety of corporate and public sectors, is in itself a powerful medium that ensures that the latest information about market trends is being shared. Besides the fact that the Council provides members with an opportunity to share information and benefit from each other's experiences, the SBC organises a host of other events throughout the year where it invites industry specialists to impart in-depth analyses in their respective fields taking into consideration the local and international market."

Statistics 100 - Number of businesses and professionals that are members of SBC 40% - Membership growth (in percentage) since inception: Percentage growth over the last five years

SBC organises various activities for the benefit of its members. The National Day of Spain, the most awaited event in the calendar of the Spanish residents in the UAE is organised by the SBC jointly with the Embassy of Spain and is attended by almost 1,000 Spanish nationals each year. It also holds an annual gala dinner where it bestows honorary awards to meritorious candidates in the corporate field, various monthly breakfast meets, celebrates and honours women entrepreneurs on Women's Day, and organises business meets and conferences, seminars on education, science and the arts.

"In 2018 for example, more than 36 events were organised throughout the year. We strive to cover all the sectors that our members could be interested in. Most of these events are open to members and non-members and provide excellent opportunities to get to know other members and profit from their knowledge and experiences in this country," Cobelo notes.

"The latest, and if I may say so, the biggest achievement so far, without a doubt, is the conversion of the Spanish Business Council into the first Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in the GCC. This, in turn, grants our members more visibility in the international arena and looks to be a promising start for the SBC in 2019," he concludes.

- suchitra@khaleejtimes.com

Message I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Spanish Business Council whose staunch belief and tireless effort in upholding the values of the SBC has led us to this historical moment of time. As Chairman of the first Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the GCC, I am simultaneously humbled and proud of our joint achievement.

For more information, please log on to spanishbusinesscouncil.ae

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Suchitra Steven Samuel

• suchitra@khaleejtimes.com