The Basque Country: “fertile ground” for international industrial investment
Mikel Jauregi, institutional representative for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, brought together investors and economic stakeholders to highlight the opportunities offered by the Basque Country in an increasingly demanding global context. During the event, speakers emphasized that Euskadi is a distinctly industrial economy with manufacturing excellence, a strong innovation ecosystem, highly skilled talent, a competitive and autonomous fiscal framework, and a well-established model of public–private collaboration.
Jauregi stressed that “Euskadi is committed to more industry and more Europe. There can be no prosperity in Europe without a strong industrial base, as industry is a source of progress, wealth, and high-quality employment. This is the moment to accelerate European reindustrialization. In Euskadi, we are already investing in ambitious projects to ensure that Europe remains at the technological and industrial forefront.”
He further highlighted that “Euskadi is fertile ground for new industrial investments by leading companies in their respective sectors. Why Euskadi? Because we benefit from a unique system of political and fiscal self-government, which has enabled us to develop our own model: a business-friendly industrial environment combined with strong social cohesion and high quality of life.”
Jauregi also identified four key pillars that make Euskadi an attractive destination for industrial investment: “manufacturing excellence, innovation, talent, and public–private collaboration. These factors position us as a unique location for attracting industrial investment. We offer a trusted environment and a proactive government with an ambitious industrial strategy.”
Innovation and taxation: building the new Basque industry
The event was structured around two main sessions. The first roundtable, titled “Innovation and taxation: building the new Basque industry,” featured participation from Itxaso Berrojalbiz, Provincial Deputy for Finance and Treasury of the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, representing the three Basque provincial treasuries; Javier García Cogorro, General Partner and founder of Columbus Venture Partners; and Fernando González Zalba, General Manager of Quantum Motion Spain.
Each speaker analyzed why Euskadi currently represents an attractive destination for industrial and technological investment, highlighting factors such as the business environment, talent availability, and quality of life,el ements that reflect a sustained long, term strategy and are essential to the strength of the industrial ecosystem.
Particular emphasis was placed on Euskadi’s ability, through its provincial governments and self-governance framework, to design its own fiscal policy with a clear orientation toward industrial activity and innovation. In this sense, taxation functions as a tangible lever for attracting projects, capital, and talent.
These dynamics translate into concrete outcomes: new projects, increased investment, and job creation, supported by a public–private collaboration model that operates effectively in practice.
First-hand perspective: the industrial investor experience in the Basque Country
The second roundtable brought together industrial investors who have already chosen Euskadi as a destination for their investment projects.
Moderated by Gonzalo Sánchez, President of PwC España and member of the Global Strategy Council, the panel included Jimmy Vanhove (CEO of Virangen), Meinrad Spenger (CEO of MasOrange), Javier Hernández (Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Littelfuse), and Ane Miren de Ariño, Director of Entrepreneurship and Internationalization of the Basque Government.
Panelists emphasized that Euskadi offers a solid industrial base alongside highly developed scientific and technological capabilities, “a winning combination” for driving complex and innovative industrial projects.
Another key factor identified was access to talent, understood as a strategic differentiator. Euskadi demonstrates a strong capacity to train highly qualified professionals and retain them through a dynamic business environment and high-value career opportunities, complemented by an increasing ability to attract international talent.
Finally, participants highlighted the role of the Basque public administration as “close and proactive,” supporting companies throughout their entire lifecycle, from establishment to growth and consolidation. Public, private collaboration emerged as a decisive factor in creating a stable and predictable environment conducive to industrial development and reinforcing a virtuous cycle of investment attraction.
Why is Euskadi an attractive destination for investment?
Attracting foreign investment in high-potential sectors is a central priority of the “More Industry” axis within the Industry Plan Euskadi 2030. The Basque Country aims to position itself as a leading destination for foreign industrial investment in high value-added sectors with strong future growth potential. This strategy seeks to attract transformative investments capable of generating skilled employment, introducing advanced technologies, and strengthening the integration of the local industrial fabric into global value chains.
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted to international investors Euskadi’s institutional stability, the quality of its infrastructure, particularly in digital and energy domains, and its strong capacity to attract talent. These competitive advantages are complemented by a robust industrial base, advanced sustainability policies, and a high quality of life, factors that are increasingly decisive in global investment decision-making.
