Pere Navarro in the Llobregat Business Forum: “The Consorci de la Zona Franca is a brave explorer in the new economy.”

• The president of AEBALL, Santiago Ballesté, thanked the Special Delegate of the State in the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona for its support to industry
• The public institution led by Navarro is investing in 3D printing technology with an incubator for 21 companies
• The new building under construction, D-FACTORY, intends to become the most significant example of ‘Industry 4.0’ in Europe
• “If we can explain ourselves to the world, the world will want to work with us,” says Navarro.

L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 17 July 2019 –The Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) is exploring new economic formulas in search of opportunities. Pere Navarro, Special State Delegate in the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona believes that the public sector must pursue innovation. He pursues this goal with the CZFB, an institution whose “vocation is not only collect rent but also to courageously explore new areas of the economy”.

As evidence of this vocation, it held seven simultaneous summits related to international trade in June. The World FZO Annual International Conference & Exhibition, the Logistics & Transport MedaForum , the ALACAT Congress, the International Congress of Authorized Economic Operators (OEA), the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL), the eDelivery Barcelona Expo & Congress and the International Trade Summit BCN, organised by the Consorci de la Zona Franca, transformed Barcelona into the world capital of international trade. “This is the first time in history that one city has hosted all of these events in the same place”, says Navarro.

The Special State Delegate of the Consorci talked to 50 entrepreneurs and managers about the institution’s Strategic Plan, which has three areas: long-term economic sustainability, economic and social development of the territory and urban integration within the framework of environmental sustainability.

“We take the role of explorers, exploring new things and we must be brave,” he explained at the breakfast organised by the Business Forum in Llobregat that drives AEBALL, held at the Porta Fira Hotel. Within the frame of its plan, the Consortium pursues United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They are 17 points, among which are many regarding alliances.

“If we can explain ourselves to the world, the world will want to work with us,” says Navarro. For this to be possible, he firmly believes that it is necessary that the public and private sector understand each other, and “speak the same language”. The Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona is hosting the first 3D printing incubator in Europe, where there are currently 21 companies in the process of ‘incubation’, which will grow to 100 in the next few years. In keeping with this commitment to 3D technology, Navarro has also reported a building D-FACTORY building is under construction, a digital innovation factory for hosting companies in the 4.0 industry that will have a tremendous economic impact on the territory.

“It is evident that the technology will destroy some jobs, but these companies will create new employment job opportunities outside the mainstream“, explained the special delegate of the Consorci. The president of AEBALL, Santiago Ballesté wanted to thank Navarro publicly for his support for the industry, calling him an “industrialist born in Terrassa and industrialist who grew up next to a textile company”.

Affordable housing and dialogue with ADIF

One of the Consorci’s projects is to develop ‘co-living’ spaces and provide young people with access to affordable housing. The project will start in the Marina neighbourhood in September.

Navarro is also working on the possible use of space on the beach where ADIF has a strip of land with rails between the Free Trade Zone and the town of L’Hospitalet. “We are talking to the president of ADIF and to the mayor of L’Hospitalet to see if we can make use of a part of this ‘beach’ of unused railings for logistics purposes, for example.