Basque Premier calls for greater commitment and speed from Europe and the Spanish state to safeguard the future of basque steel
Lehendakari, Basque Premier Imanol Pradales inaugurated “Steel Tech 2025, Congress & Expo,” the leading international event for the steel industry, which brings together global leaders, cutting-edge companies, and sector experts for three days at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC).
In his address, Pradales called for shared responsibility and swift political and economic action to ensure the future of the steel industry in both Euskadi and Europe.
“Here in Euskadi, we are taking action — but it is not enough. We need others to act as well. We need greater commitment and faster responses from both the Spanish State and the European Commission,” stated the Lehendakari, emphasizing that the Basque Government will continue to defend the sector’s demands “in every meeting and every working group.”
Pradales recalled that steel is a strategic and driving sector of the Basque manufacturing industry, on which thousands of jobs and a substantial share of the country’s wealth depend.
“The plans have long been defined; now they must be implemented with maximum urgency. This is the time for decision-making to protect Europe’s steel sector. Thousands of jobs, wealth, and the viability of one of the pillars of Basque manufacturing are at stake,” he stressed.
The Lehendakari also referred to his meeting last January with Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, who recently underlined “the importance of continuing to build a path toward a sovereign and decarbonized European steel industry.”
Steel Tech 2025: A Meeting Point for Steel Innovation and Knowledge
Organized by Siderex – Basque Steel Cluster Association and the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), in collaboration with UNESID, Steel Tech has established itself as a strategic platform for innovation, knowledge exchange, and business opportunities in the steel industry.
From October 21 to 23, the congress and exhibition combine presentations, exhibition areas, and networking spaces, fostering comprehensive interaction among leading companies, international experts, and agents from across the entire value chain.
The steel industry plays a decisive role in both the Basque and international economies. Euskadi is home to over one hundred companies covering the entire value chain and 11 steel production plants, placing it 12th in the European ranking, with a production capacity equivalent to 39% of Spain’s total output.
Moreover, domestic demand for steel products is reinforced by the presence of a highly diversified industrial fabric, including strategic sectors such as automotive, energy, shipbuilding, rail, machine tools, petrochemicals, capital goods, construction, and home appliances.
Following the opening ceremony, the Lehendakari, accompanied by institutional and business representatives, toured the Steel Tech 2025 exhibition stands, learning first-hand about the technological innovations and projects shaping the future of steel.
Internationalization Agenda Led by Basque Trade & Investment
As part of the event, Basque Trade & Investment (BasqueTrade), part of the SPRI Group, in collaboration with Siderex, promoted a program of activities aimed at strengthening the internationalization of the Basque industrial ecosystem, with a special focus on organizing B2B meetings.
To attract international buyers and decision-makers, BasqueTrade has worked to identify collaboration opportunities with countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and Colombia.
As a result, a Colombian delegation —comprising three steel mills and representatives from ANDI (National Business Association of Colombia), one of the country’s leading industrial organizations— took part in the event.
During their stay, the delegation held over 40 B2B meetings with Basque companies supplying equipment and solutions for the steel industry, thereby strengthening commercial ties and cooperation opportunities between Colombia and Euskadi.
In addition, five professionals from Germany, representing steel mills and technology centers, attended Steel Tech 2025 to explore the fair’s offerings and take part in several sessions of the technical congress.
