The first Invest in Spain Summit was very positively received by both the representatives from the Spanish Government and the nearly 80 international companies from 25 countries that participated in this first edition. Despite the electrical issues, over 120 bilateral meetings were held during the day, in which proposals were exchanged and the needs of investors who have chosen the Spanish market were evaluated, thus reaffirming their confidence in the country's economy.

This major international forum, inaugurated by the King of Spain, was organised by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise through ICEX - Invest in Spain, which is headed by the Secretary of State for Trade. It was attended by a large representation from the regional governments, serving as an example of the close collaboration and coordination between authorities, as well as other Spanish public institutions, such as the Official Credit Institute (ICO), CESCE (official export credit agency) and COFIDES (public-private development finance institution).

Solid and stable destination
During the inauguration, the King of Spain encouraged international companies to choose Spain as “one of the world's main destinations for foreign direct investment”, after reiterating that “today there are over 18,000 foreign-owned companies established in Spain, and in ten years the country’s foreign direct investment has increased by more than 80%”.

He also highlighted that “Spain has one of the most attractive domestic markets in the European Union”, but it also offers great potential for foreign companies established in Spain to break into third markets, using Spain as an investment platform, thanks to its prime geostrategic position”.

He also emphasised the fact that in Spain “foreign investors find a solid, reliable and stable destination that responds to their needs” and underlined “Spain's firm commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation as pillars of economic growth, with the conviction that this openness to the world beyond Spain’s borders not only benefits our companies, but also generates prosperity for all”.

Finally, His Majesty concluded that, in the current decisive context for the international community, “dialogue is the fundamental purpose of this Invest in Spain Summit and will undoubtedly open the way to new opportunities for all”. 

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, Carlos Cuerpo, told the heads of the companies participating in the Invest in Spain Summit that Spain is open to investment and “open for business”, affirming the country's commitment to economic openness, multilateralism and generating an environment of confidence and certainty in an international context marked by uncertainty.

In this regard, the Minister stressed that “good prospects are one of the main factors that are attracting foreign investment to Spain. All investors cite this as an essential element in the country's international attractiveness.”

He also explained that Spain has become “an international hub for investment” thanks to “the talent of Spain’s workers, the country’s digital and physical infrastructure and its capacity to be a bridge between Europe and other regions, such as Latin America, Africa and the Middle East”.

Cuerpo concluded that “we will stay the course; we will continue to be a predictable, stable and trustworthy partner. Spain is a profitable country to invest in, as well as being a pleasant place to visit and to live in.”

Positive FDI performance
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) statistics in Spain are particularly positive from a qualitative point of view, as revealed by the latest figures for greenfield projects, the most interesting investment initiatives from an economic point of view insofar as they involve constructing new facilities and hiring employees.   

In fact, according to fDi Markets (the Financial Times Group's greenfield projects database), Spain has been the fifth largest recipient of greenfield projects in the world since 2019, after the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. During this period, 4,817 greenfield projects have been set up in Spain, involving a CAPEX of 184 billion euros and the creation of almost 500,000 jobs. 

In 2024, Spain received 857 greenfield projects from foreign investment, the second highest figure on record, and compared to the 813 received in 2023, thus making Spain the sixth-ranked country in the world, after the United States, the United Arab Emirates, India, the United Kingdom and Germany, and ahead of major powers like China, France, Japan, Canada and Italy.