Carbonell (ICEX): "Internationalization is already in the DNA of Spanish companies."

ICEX CEO Elisa Carbonell believes that internationalization plans "are already part of the DNA" of Spanish companies and are not a "one-off reaction" to situations such as the financial crisis or the tariff conflict unleashed by US President Donald Trump.

"ICEX will be prepared to support Spanish companies regardless of the context," Carbonell emphasized in an interview with EFE.

Last Monday, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo and Carbonell presented the ICEX High Impact Competitiveness Plan, which is part of the Trade Response and Relaunch Plan designed by the government to address global trade tensions.

According to Carbonell, one of the key points of ICEX's action plan is that it is the result of a collaborative effort involving the autonomous communities, the Chamber of Commerce, and the CEOE (Employers' Association).

"The starting point has been a shared assessment of the situation of the Spanish foreign sector at a time when we are showing signs of enormous strength," he notes.

The CEO of ICEX emphasizes that "the Spanish economy is the second most open in the European Union (EU), with more than 50,000 regular merchandise exporters."

"A structural change has been taking place. Our exports are increasingly sophisticated, increasingly distancing themselves from price competition. Internationalization plans are now part of companies' DNA and business plans and are not a one-off reaction to a crisis," he explains.

However, Carbonell points out that some challenges remain, especially in a situation like the current one, including the smaller size of Spanish companies than in other European countries, lower investment in intangibles, the need to incorporate more technology into exports , and improved access to public financing instruments.

According to a survey conducted by ICEX, companies exporting to the U.S. emphasize that the breakdown of multilateralism in global trade is not temporary, requiring long-term solutions; that they need more market intelligence; and that competitiveness and resilience are essential, which requires market diversification.

In this context, Carbonell explains, the plan consists of short-term and medium- and long-term lines of action.

In the short term, ICEX will provide companies with "personalized and immediate" service to provide them with "quality information."

In the initial phase, ICEX will offer personalized advice to the 500 companies that export the most goods to the U.S.

The public entity will inform companies about the Ministry of Economy's financing instruments—which will also be strengthened—and will evaluate their internationalization plans. In addition, it will make "an additional effort" to increase its documentary production, for example, reports on strategic alternative markets to the US.

ICEX plans to launch its new portal next week, which will use artificial intelligence to facilitate companies' access to information.

In the longer term, "we must seize the opportunity to address the remaining challenges, focusing on resilience through market diversification and competitiveness," Carbonell emphasizes.

ICEX has several programs to promote the growth of exporting companies depending on their type.

According to the CEO, access to the public financing instruments that have been strengthened is "fundamental" at this point. "The instruments are there, and what we want is to ensure that companies, and especially SMEs, have better access."

"We're going to change our approach. If up until now it's been somewhat reactive, we're going to opt for a proactive, project-generating approach. We're going to go to companies to analyze their internationalization projects and their financing needs," he adds.

ICEX will also focus on issues related to logistics and value chains.

"On the one hand, we're going to launch a program of personalized services for companies that want to streamline and increase the technology of their value chains. On the other hand, we're going to reach out to multinationals and offer them the services of Spanish companies, primarily SMEs," he explains.

Another key element, according to Carbonell, is the promotion of the country's brand and investment in intangible assets, an aspect the autonomous communities have emphasized.

"We are going to launch programs to train Spanish companies in this investment and management of intangible assets, such as branding and innovation," the CEO explains.

ICEX will develop a roadmap with dates for implementing each of the measures included in the action plan.

"The plan is a living element, basically because the final situation with the United States has not yet been clarified . That's why it needs to be made flexible and agile," he emphasizes.

Carbonell believes the US market will not be abandoned, but he is committed to diversification "to strengthen the position of Spanish companies."

Among the potential alternative markets, aside from trading partners such as Germany and France, the CEO mentions Canada, Mexico, the Mercosur countries, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Japan, and Singapore. EFECOM