Ramón Palou: "We businessmen should invest in Africa, which has a very good workforce that is eager to learn"
The Africa Spain Business Summit held a new edition in Barcelona to analyse the economic links between Africa and Europe, with special attention to Spain.
Ramón Palou, representing Foment del Treball, took part in the inauguration of the second edition of the Africa Spain Business Summit. After his speech, he answered Atalayar's questions.
What is the relevance of holding a business forum between Africa and Spain such as the one held in Barcelona?
First of all, on a personal level, I would like to say that I am very happy and pleased to see the convening power that this forum has had. From a business point of view, from the point of view of my responsibility at Foment del Treball, for us, who are here to help companies to grow and seek opportunities, this forum has been truly spectacular and my assessment is very high.
The need for Europeans, Spaniards and Catalans to collaborate with Africa is obvious, isn't it? Africa is a continent of opportunities.
You, who have had the opportunity to interview me on other occasions, will have heard me say that I am a great supporter and enthusiast of Africa because for me and for many of those around me it is a place where there are many opportunities and great expectations, and it will surely be in the future, it is already, the pantry of Europe.
In your speech at the opening of this forum, you said that you are going to defend collaboration with Africa and that Africa has a partner in Foment del Treball that will work with them. In which sectors do you think Spanish investment in Africa is most feasible or best?
At Foment we have been analysing and we see many possibilities in the energy sector, the agri-food sector and in the new technologies sector. In addition to all this, we also have to make a contribution in education to prepare young people for tomorrow, so that they can be entrepreneurs. Everything related to education is a matter of great interest.
Is it essential to invest in African countries in order to provide citizens with training and opportunities in their own countries, avoiding the need to emigrate to Europe?
Indeed, we should consider in a very serious way that all this immigration is due to the fact that they have no opportunities.
What we businessmen and institutions have to do is to go to Africa to invest, where we have an interesting and good workforce and, moreover, due to experiences with training courses, they are so eager to learn that they train very well and very quickly. With these investments that we have to make, we can take advantage of this labour force, preventing them from having to migrate. This will also give us, as employers, a great deal of satisfaction.
Is it necessary to intensify public-private cooperation and for not only Spain, but also the European Union, to increase its cooperation with these countries?
Yes, and what we are going to do is make a great effort to talk to the authorities of the different African countries that are present here, to be in contact with them, encouraging them, organising these forums, providing information, in short, having a personal approach with the authorities, which is necessary for them to help us and for there to be collaboration.
From your personal experience as an entrepreneur, what can you highlight about the business, the investments, and all the projects you have in Africa?
My activity is mainly related to the automotive industry. We supply acoustic materials from Spain that are used in Morocco by Renault, among others, and we are delighted with how the business is developing.
We hope that other European, American and Chinese brands will come there and that they will expand from Morocco. We, the Spanish, have Morocco in front of us and we are privileged, because we can go there to do business. In short, we are very happy with this experience.
