The President of the Basque Country positions the Basque Country as stable, attractive partner at top global economic forum

• Imanol Pradales will use the World Economic Forum to highlight the Basque Country's investment and diversification opportunities.
• "Davos offers a unique opportunity to establish high-level political, economic, and financial contacts," the President emphasised.

The President is set to position the Basque Country as a stable and attractive region at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The event, currently underway, brings together leading economic and political figures from around the world. The visit forms part of the Basque Government's 'EuskadiGlobala' Strategy, reflecting Imanol Pradales' objective of "having a voice wherever decisions affecting the future of the Basque Country are made.” Amid geopolitical fragmentation and global uncertainty, Davos has cemented its status as a key forum for international institutional and economic dialogue.

Imanol Pradales leads a Basque Government delegation, including Secretary General for Foreign Action Ander Caballero, Minister of Finance and Treasury Noel d’Anjou, and Minister of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability Mikel Jauregi, to promote the Basque Country at this major economic forum.

Following an initial introduction to the Forum's operations on Tuesday, the delegation will engage fully with the agenda on Wednesday, analysing global economic risks, socioeconomic trends, and the opportunities presented by new technologies such as AI and quantum computing.

On Wednesday 21 January, the agenda features the delegation's participation in events spanning industry, technology, the green transition, security, and financial cooperation, alongside discussions on the major future challenges facing the financial and banking system.

"We are placing the Basque Country on the world's most important economic stage. Approaching this with humility, we are committed to participating in forums where we have interests. Davos offers an opportunity to hold numerous political, economic, and financial meetings," Imanol Pradales emphasised. He added that this visit, the first by a President of the Basque Government to this prestigious forum, also aims to provide insight into the event's mechanics to optimise future participation.

Basque Country and United Nations host joint event

On Thursday 22nd, the programme features a joint event between the Basque Country and the United Nations. During the session, Imanol Pradales will champion the Basque Country as a model for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda and highlight the region's industrial, economic, and social capabilities, which drive a distinctive competitive advantage. The event provides a platform for the President of the Basque Government to position the Basque Country as a stable and attractive destination for investment and portfolio diversification.

Imanol Pradales will outline how the Basque Country manages social and environmental risks through inclusive, long-term development strategies, crafted in partnership with governments and guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, the President will assert that the Basque Country offers a distinct "stability premium" on the global stage. This stability is underpinned by a solid financial position, evidenced by an A2 credit rating from Moody’s (higher than that of the Spanish State) and a unique tax system ensuring legal certainty and long-term predictability for investors and businesses.

The President of the Basque Government will also emphasise that the stability of the Basque Country is built on a solid social foundation. He will note that with a Gini coefficient (an economic measure used to assess income inequality within a society) of 26.7, significantly better than the European Union average, low inequality acts as a driver of cohesion. This serves as a safeguard against polarisation and the rise of populist rhetoric that erodes investor confidence in other contexts.

The meeting will also feature representatives from leading Basque companies engaging with international economic stakeholders operating in the Basque Country. Together, they will discuss the frameworks, policies, and economic and financial instruments required to build upon the success achieved by the Basque Country to date.

Meeting with Enrico Letta

Basque Government representatives kicked off a major two-day agenda today at the opening of the quantum computing event organised by IBM. At this event, the Basque Government showcased the transformative potential quantum computing offers for diverse business sectors, highlighting the capabilities the Basque Country and BasqueQ provide for sector growth through its quantum mile.

This afternoon, Basque Minister of Industry, Energy Transition, and Sustainability Mikel Jauregi took a central role on the Industry and Energy Transition Initiative panel (co-organised by consultancy McKinsey and Iberdrola) alongside global energy CEOs, government officials, and representatives from the European Commission. The panel also included Enrico Letta, former Italian Prime Minister, Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs at IE University, and author of the report laying the groundwork for Europe's industrial renaissance. Discussions centred on the challenges facing the electricity sector and the European energy transition aimed at decarbonising the continent while simultaneously driving its reindustrialisation.