Spain has become a key supplier of industrial equipment to Ukrainian companies
The Federation of Employers of Ukraine met with the Catalonia government leadership and the Spanish Ambassador to Ukraine to expand industrial cooperation. The parties discussed implementing the Industrial Ramstein initiative using EUR 570 million in financial instruments. The event was attended by President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Salvador Illa i Roca and Minister for EU and External Action Jaume Duch Guillot. This is reported by the portal PromPolitInform, citing information from the Federation of Employers of Ukraine.
Representatives of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine held a working meeting with a delegation from Catalonia, which included President of the Generalitat Salvador Illa i Roca, Minister for the European Union and External Action Jaume Duch Guillot, and the newly appointed Ambassador of Spain to Ukraine Adela Díaz Bernárdez.
The meeting focused on leveraging the region’s industrial potential to support the recovery of Ukrainian manufacturing and foster joint business ventures.
Catalonia’s Industrial Potential and Cooperation Tracks
Catalonia generates approximately 19% of Spain’s gross domestic product, serving as the country’s second-largest economic center after Madrid. Over 32,000 industrial enterprises operate in the autonomous community, including Southern Europe’s largest petrochemical cluster in Tarragona and the only SEAT manufacturing plant in Martorell, which produced around 480,000 vehicles last year.
Additionally, the region houses more than 1,650 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including major facilities operated by AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Roche. Catalonia accounts for roughly half of Spain’s pharmaceutical production capacity and export volume.
Joint Projects and the Industrial Ramstein Initiative
The Ukrainian delegation highlighted expanding ties with Spanish partners, particularly through the Industrial Council established in July with SERCOBE, the Spanish association of capital goods manufacturers. Under this partnership, a delegation of Ukrainian railway machinery specialists is preparing to visit Spain, while a reciprocal visit by Spanish energy machinery manufacturers is scheduled for early November.
During discussions on the Industrial Ramstein concept, officials noted that Spain ranks as the fifth-largest machine tool supplier to Ukraine globally and third among European nations, delivering equipment worth EUR 40 million. Future machinery supplies to war-damaged Ukrainian plants will be supported by EUR 570 million in financial instruments introduced by the Spanish government.
The President of the Generalitat of Catalonia confirmed his willingness to facilitate ties with local business associations and the Chamber of Commerce to advance joint projects across machinery, metalworking, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.
Photo: Federation of Employers of Ukraine
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