The Exporters' Club proposes to take advantage of the diaspora of professionals in order to internationalize the Spanish economy
The Reflection Committee on Internationalisation of the Spanish Exporters and Investors Club has approved a technical note proposing the design of a strategy on the Spanish "professional diaspora" as an asset for the foreign action and internationalisation of our companies. The aim would be to take advantage of the talent of people with a relatively high professional and educational level living in other countries, whose number and relevance has grown spectacularly since the 2008 crisis.
According to the technical note prepared by Enrique Fanjul, an expert in internationalisation and partner of the consultancy firm Iberglobal, the emigration of Spanish professionals has been channelled, since the last financial crisis, mainly towards countries in northern Europe, but also to a large extent towards countries in America (both North and Latin America) and other areas of the world, especially the Asian economies, which have experienced intense economic growth in recent decades.
Enrique Fanjul considers that, as other countries are doing in order to take advantage of this technical and intellectual capital, Spain should create a specific organisation to facilitate its coordination and connection with these professionals.
In his opinion, this instrument or organisation should be based on a public-private partnership, which would coordinate the participation of institutions such as business associations, Chambers of Commerce (both national and Spanish Chambers abroad), business schools, educational institutions and promotion bodies such as ICEX, among others. Furthermore, this organisation of Spanish professionals abroad should be in close contact with the Embassies and their Commercial Offices.
According to the technical note approved by the Reflection Committee on Internationalisation, this strategy is based on the conviction that Spanish professionals abroad can contribute to the development of business with Spain and help Spanish companies to develop business in their countries of residence. Likewise, they can serve to channel technologies, investments and business in general towards our country, and become a key element of our economic intelligence abroad, providing very useful inputs for both the Administration and companies through their contribution to market studies, the design of advertising campaigns and the identification of partners.
Likewise, guaranteeing the connection of Spanish professionals abroad, promoting communication between them and the institutions that form part of this strategy, would, in Enrique Fanjul's opinion, represent an important support for the professional development of these people, who would have information and guidance on job opportunities in Spanish institutions and companies, in the event that they were to return.
To date, one of the most advanced projects carried out in Spain to coordinate and take advantage of professional talent abroad has materialised in the scientific field, with the creation of RAICEX, the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad, set up in 2018 with the support of the Ramón Areces Foundation. And on a transversal level, the most elaborate initiative to date is Conexión España, promoted by the Forum of Renowned Spanish Brands and the Chamber of Spain.
"Spain has an important asset that can be very useful in its internationalisation: Spanish professionals (or those with an affinity with Spain) who live in other countries, and whose number and relevance has grown spectacularly over the last decade," said Enrique Fanjul.
