Tajani visits Spain to assist SME recovery

Antonio Tajani, European Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Industry and Entrepreneurship, has arrived in Spain to help SMEs emerge from the economic downturn and participate in the next economic growth cycle. Spanish SMEs have only recently started to show signs of recovery.

Tajani is travelling with Daniel Calleja Crespo, director general of DG Enterprise and EU SME envoy, to Saragossa, Seville and Mérida. The Vice-President is taking part in the European Industrial Forum in Saragossa, chaired by HRH The Prince of Asturias and co-organised by the European Commission and the Regional Government of Aragón. Tajani will receive the Aragón Empresa 2014 award for his efforts in promoting industry, SMEs and entrepreneurship.

Tajani will then travel to Seville, where he will begin a three-day ‘Mission for Growth’ trip, which will also include visits to Andalusia and Extremadura. More than 700 European companies from Spain and 35 other countries will participate in this event. It’s anticipated that more than 2,400 SME bilateral meetings will take place. The meetings will provide the opportunity to discuss business and technology transfer partnerships and internationalisation, as well as fostering business co-operation opportunities in key industrial sectors for Andalusia and Extremadura.

Tajani will co-host the event in Seville together with José Manuel Soria, Spanish Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism, and Susana Díaz, president of the regional government of Andalusia. Tajani will take the opportunity to introduce Horizon 2020, including the new SME Instrument, and COSME.

Tajani will also visit Mérida to open a second B2B matchmaking event with José Antonio Monago, president of the regional government of Extremadura. The event will involve more than 450 companies from other EU member states.