“Korea and Spain are two countries that are getting closer together”
It is for me a great pleasure to use the pages of Seoul City Magazine on
the occasion of our National Day celebrations. I have been living since
October 2014 and I must say it has been a fantastic experience. Thanks
to Seoul City Magazine, I have had the opportunity of visiting various
provinces and participate in numerous events so I am extremely grateful
for your assistance. My dreams about Korea have become real.
The Spanish economy is currently very open (it is the 5th country in the
world due to its degree of internationalization). Exports of goods and
services are 35.3% of country's GDP. By 2017 we expect an increase of
GDP of a 3%, one of the fastest growing economies among the advanced
countries according to the IMF and the European Commission.
At present Spain has an estimated income of 23,970 euros per capita.
Because of the past crisis, the Spanish government undertook a series of
structural reforms aimed, among other objectives, at fiscal consolidation
and the reorganization of the financial system.
We are confident in creating 500,000 jobs annually in 2017 and in the
coming years. Our risk premium was set of 94 points at July 2017 (at
historical lows). Spain is the first European destination with 75 million
tourists last year and 3rd worldwide. As a country playing a very active
role in the EU, Spain expects that Europe will intensify its relations with
Korea in all areas, using the existing Agreements.
In addition, it is the third country with the highest number of recognized
worldsites by UNESCO and the second in biosphere reserves. Koreans
who travel to Spain are interested in our churches and cathedrals, (Camino
de Santiago) as well as our National Parks.
My country produces excellent goods and services in traditional sectors
such as tourism, gastronomy and food industry, textiles and clothing, as
well asmodern sectors, incorporating R & D such as biotechnology,
communications, renewable energy, banking and the automotive industry.
Another remarkable sector is transportation and infrastructure (third
country in the world in its network of high-speed trains).
Spain counts on the confidence of the markets. The visitorsare pleased by
the hospitality and the climate, as well as the relative low cost of living.
Education and healthcare are free and of high quality. In addition Spain
is very generous with immigrants - workers, pensioners - who have been
attracted by its security and the rule of law, and the extraordinary
architecture that like Roman, Arab, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque or
Neoclassical monuments disseminated in our cities.
Spain, although geographically far away, feels very close to this country
and has great admiration for Korea who achieved a continuous and
strongeconomic growth, a fully functioning democracy (as it was the
case seen in the political crisis of the past few months), a great
presence of Korean companies overseas, and also for the sense of
resilience, organization and attention to the quality, that characterizes its people.
This year we celebrate the 67th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Our
bilateral relations have a lot of public diplomacy elements, such as the
annual Forum of civil societies, in cooperation with the Korea Foundation,
the close relationship with the 16 Korean universities with Spanish
department, strong tourism (already in 2017 we will reach the 400,000
visitors), the new Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Korea, and since
August 2017 the appointment of a new and dynamic Honorary Consul
of Spain in Busan. Hopefully in 2018 we can make reality the State Visit
of the King of Spain adjourned in 2016.
Korea and Spain are two countries that are getting closer together.
From the goodpeople to people contacts derive a multiplicity of initiatives,
but as I have said years of mutual knowledge have produced admiration
and sympathy, features that characterize a sincere friendship.