Canary Islands Sponsored by Canary Islands Proexca
Why Us
Because....
1. Capital available for innovative projects
The current economic development occurring in the Canary Islands is to a large extent the result of growth in the services sector; mainly for construction and tourism. This has generated an investment pool of around 3300 million euros derived from the Canary Island Investment Reserve tax incentive, the materialization of which will be through new viable investment projects, which favor the diversification of the Canary Island economy. In addition the majority of nationally and internationally important banks and investment houses are represented in the islands.
2. Unique natural environment and quality of life
More than twelve million tourists visit the Canary Islands each year, making it one of the favorite tourist destinations for citizens of the EU. Temperatures range between 16ºC and 25ºC all year round. The rich and varied vegetation in its many protected areas (national parks, nature reserves, biosphere reserves, etc.) and its historical and cultural wealth mean its inhabitants can also enjoy an excellent quality of life with the perfect combination of business activities and the best leisure options.
3. Privileged geostrategic location
There are strong historical and cultural links with Latin America, and major commercial and institutional links with West Africa mainly because of its location. The Canary Islands is therefore an excellent commercial and logistical springboard for the transfer of services and technologies between continents since they are located on the main routes of international commerce.
4 Excellent service and communications infrastructures
Eight airports, six of which are international, receive more than 32 million passengers a year. All the main airlines as well as low cost flyers operate in the Islands. For example, there are 467 direct weekly flights to and from the United Kingdom and 334 to and from Germany. There is a large network of commercial, fishing, leisure ports, making the islands a leader in Spain in terms of movements of goods and crossings. The Canary Islands is a port of call between Europe, Africa and America, and in the last few decades Asia, as well as being a strategic center for the provisioning and repair of the ships of the Atlantic.
Satellite coverage and underwater fiber-optic cables mean the Canary Islands are perfectly suited to the setting up and development of any type of activity related to information and communications technologies.
5. State-of-the-art technological research
Technological research in a wide range of Canary Island centers and institutes provides support for business projects linked to sectors such as renewable and alternative energies, astrophysics and space sciences, instrumentation, optics information and communications technologies, micro-electronics, broad-band IT services, multi-media production, biomedicine, biotechnology, marine and natural resources. The Canary Islands is not only an excellent laboratory for technological experimentation and innovation, due to the availability of research and development resources and its natural conditions and rich and varied biodiversity, but also constitutes an excellent showcase for disseminating the technologies and increasing their competitivity. Technological and innovative sectors have therefore been at the heart of policies aimed at economic diversification in recent years. As a result companies that wish to develop innovative activities with a technological base can count on the collaboration and support they require to meet their goals in the Canary Islands.
6. Highly qualified and competitive human resources
The Canary Islands has a population with an average age below the national average. Human resources as a factor affecting productivity are enjoying a boom; generally highly qualified and with lower costs compared with the rest of Spain. The low turnover of personnel also means higher levels of company loyalty. The Canary Islands has two public universities, several private universities, renowned applied research centers and ambitious public training programs, which perfectly meet the specific requirements of its businesses. There are also bilingual schools because of the large populations of foreign residents in the islands.
CASE STUDIES
Atos Origin focuses on the Canary Islands.
The Canary Islands is a key area for the development of our business for a variety of reasons. First, because the islands have a large number of highly qualified and trained professionals. In addition, this area has great development possibilities. As a result, we are focusing on the region via our company Atos Origin Consulting Canarias. Another element which makes the Canary Islands highly valuable is their geographical location. The islands are very important strategically as a bridge to northern Africa, where significant consulting and systems integration projects are beginning to appear. The countries of the Maghreb are placing a great deal of confidence in Spanish ITC companies, and if we want to be there, it is essential that we go through the Canary Islands.
Additionally, the government of the Canary Islands has made a decided commitment to promoting the information society on the islands, and our experience allows us to position ourselves well to work with the regional government on promoting e-administration.
Diego Pavía
General Manager of Atos Origin for Spain and Portugal
General Electrics: “The Canary Islands is an interesting future market for us.”
“In February 2005, GENERAL ELECTRIC purchased Ionics Ibérica, a company located in the Canary Islands. After the takeover, the company name was changed to GE Water, and today it is our flagship in terms of desalinization activities throughout the world. It has great technology and personnel, and now we are strengthening it as an anchor for bringing GE into the world of water. It will be the operational headquarters for our water-related activities, and a platform for activities in the rest of the world.”
“The Canary Islands offer growth on various fronts. Firstly, growth in the health industry. [...] Then there is the issue of water, where the Canary Islands are a world leader. And thirdly, energy. The Canary Islands continue to require an electrical installation with greater capacity and we, among other things, manufacture aerogenerators.”
“This will be a place to be for companies wanting to expand into Northern Africa. I see the Canary Islands as a platform for activities in northern Africa for many multinationals.”
“The Canary Islands is an interesting future market for us.”
Statements by Mr. Mario Armero, President of GENERAL ELECTRIC for Spain and Portugal (from Canarias7, 11 June 2006).
