Barcelona has the best strategy for international economic promotion in Europe

Barcelona boasts the best strategy for promotion and investment attraction in Europe, among 64 participating cities and ahead of leading capital cities, such as London, Berlin, and Dublin. This is confirmed by fDi Intelligence (Financial Times), the specialised magazine in market positioning and international investment flows, which has published its annual report on European Cities and Regions of the Future 2024.

The FDI Strategy category, which Barcelona leads, is one of the most prestigious international rankings, used by multinational corporations to explore future business investment projects. The city has won for the third year due to its articulated investment promotion strategy, focusing on growing its clusters in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, health, and biotechnology.

Within the publication, which analyses up to 330 European cities, Barcelona has also positioned itself in the overall Top 10 of major European cities, as well as in the areas of human capital and lifestyle, and economic potential.

The attraction of international investment, a priority

The judging panel, made up of experts in investment promotion and foreign direct investment, highlighted the work of the International Economic Promotion Directorate of the Barcelona City Council, encouraging the arrival of large technology companies to the city. The municipal services facilitated 23 investment projects for companies that chose Barcelona to set up or expand in 2023.

fDi Intelligence cited examples of these achievements, such as the inauguration of the new corporate headquarters of the Japanese company NTT in the 22@ district and the announcement by the British pharmaceutical and biotechnological company AstraZeneca to invest 800 million euros in its research and development centre in the city, in addition to the creation of 1,000 new jobs.

Stimulating the Start-up Ecosystem

The publication also highlights Barcelona’s commitment to maintaining its strategy to boost the start-up ecosystem. It mentions the role of the Barcelona International Welcome Desk in attracting international talent and highlights it as a pioneering service that informs and facilitates the personal landing procedures for entrepreneurs, investors, and digital professionals.

It also emphasises the efforts of the Business Advice Office (OAE) and Barcelona Activa’s Business Landing to attract investors and facilitate reinvestment for small and medium-sized enterprises.

“This is a recognition of Barcelona’s strategic and consolidated commitment to attracting investments in innovative areas, which help to diversify the city’s economy and benefit not only its international projection but especially in generating opportunities for the entrepreneurial fabric and local talent, which need to be stimulated and retained,” states the First Deputy Mayor of Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion, and Tourism, Jordi Valls.

The Financial Times will present the fDi Intelligence Awards on 12 March during the MIPIM event in Cannes.