CZFB and Pimec sign a strategic agreement to boost the competitiveness of SMEs and the industry of the future

• With this agreement, the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona and Pimec reaffirm their shared commitment to the growth of SMEs, job creation, innovation and sustainable economic development.

Barcelona, April 17, 2026. This morning, the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) and Pimec signed a strategic collaboration agreement with the aim of strengthening the Catalan business ecosystem, boosting the competitiveness of SMEs, and promoting a more innovative, sustainable industry with international reach. The agreement was signed by the Director General of the CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, and the President of Pimec’s Industry and New Economy Area, Josep Soto, at a meeting also attended by the Executive President of the CZFB, Pere Navarro, and the President of Pimec, Antoni Cañete.

 This alliance establishes a framework for cooperation that includes joint actions in key areas such as economic promotion, industrial innovation, activity in industrial estates, knowledge generation and institutional visibility. Under this agreement, the CZFB will join Pimec as an institutional partner and will enjoy prominent visibility across its internal and external communication channels, as well as at various high-value business events organized by the employers’ association.

Likewise, both entities will explore synergies in the organization of events and the preparation of reports and strategic content of interest to companies. One of the most significant milestones of the agreement is the sponsorship by the CZFB of the 39th edition of the Premis Pimec awards, which will be held on September 30, 2026, at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona—an event of reference on Catalonia’s economic, business and social agenda. The CZFB will also be the main sponsor of the 4th edition of the Vallès Occidental Business Awards, to be held on June 18.

The Director General of the CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, gave a very positive assessment of this agreement with Pimec, stating that it “reinforces our commitment to the business community and, especially, to SMEs, which are a key driver of growth and employment. At the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona, we aim to support them in their transition towards a more innovative, sustainable and competitive industry. Collaborations like this allow us to generate real synergies and offer new opportunities to the Catalan business ecosystem”.

For his part, the President of Pimec’s Industry and New Economy Area, Josep Soto, also expressed his satisfaction with this alliance and reaffirmed Pimec’s commitment to “supporting the industrial sector, largely made up of SMEs, at a time of profound economic, technological and productive transformation.” In this regard, he added that the agreement will help address the sector’s global challenges and enable companies to scale up. Soto also took the opportunity to reiterate his call for the National Pact for Industry to be “a useful, operational and results-oriented instrument.”

The collaboration between both entities also includes the promotion of DFactory Barcelona and CZFB facilities as a business meeting hub, fostering their use for institutional meetings and sector-specific activities, and strengthening their role as a driving force for Industry 4.0 and the transformation of the productive model. With this agreement, the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona and Pimec reaffirm their shared commitment to the growth of SMEs, job creation, innovation and sustainable economic development, consolidating an alliance that strengthens the connection between Catalonia’s industrial and business ecosystem.