Good reasons to invest in Asturias

Why Asturias?

Asturias is one of the best destinations in Europe, not only for what it offers as a nature destination, but also because you can enjoy a very advantageous cost of living compared to big cities. This equates to significant savings in housing and transportation, but above all, more quality free time.

Asturias International Airport has the largest offer of international connections in its history. Asturias has an extensive railway network of some 670 kilometers, equivalent to 63 kilometers of track per thousand square kilometers of surface area, one of the highest ratios in the country.

Education in Asturias is one of the highest in Spain according to data obtained from the latest PISA report, where the data place Asturias in second position in levels of performance in global competence, 15 and 28 points above the Spanish average and OECD countries respectively.

Asturias is the autonomous community that invests the most in health spending per capita in comparison with other regional governments, the only region that exceeds 2,000 euros, outperforming the national average. And 15 cities in Asturias belong to the Spanish Network of Healthy Cities (WHO), including the main cities in the region, Gijón, Oviedo and Avilés.

Reasons to invest in Asturias

Asturias benefits from a shared innovative culture and a clear connection between the University of Oviedo, Technology Centers and business, funding sources and venture capital.

Competitive labor costs at national and European level, low employee turnover, high involvement in the company. Availability of industrial land in business parks located in the main centers of economic activity. Logistics and Industrial Activities Zone of Asturias, ZALIA, very close to the Port of Gijón and the main communication hubs. Asturias Technology Park, Gijón Science and Technology Park and Avilés Technology Park, Isla de la Innovación. Competitive rental costs for offices and industrial buildings. Public promotion spaces for advanced services companies.

Located less than a two-hour flight from Europe’s main economic and financial centers. With two ports, the Port of Gijón and the Port of Avilés, geographically located in the center of the European front, especially advantageous for international traffic between the American continent, Northern Europe and Africa. With respect to the land network, Asturias has 5,007 km of roads, of which 400 are highways and freeways, and two railroad networks that cover the main axes of the Asturian geography, connecting the region with the Meseta and the Cantabrian coast.

Its privileged climate, respect for the environment and cultural traditions, the high quality of services and the wellbeing of its cities make Asturias a true paradise to live and work in. The region offers countless leisure options combining sea and mountains, a rich cultural and artistic heritage and an internationally recognized gastronomy (8 Michelin stars 2022). The capital of Asturias, Oviedo, stands out at European level for its cleanliness and also for its public spaces. In the year 2022, Asturias broke an all-time visitor record.

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Together with the Agency for Science, Business Competitiveness and Innovation of the Principality of Asturias, SEKUENS, we offer personalized attention and technical-financial assistance for the generation of new projects in Asturias. Contact us!

Good reasons to invest in Spain

Now is the time to invest

The beginning of growth and at the same time the progressive increase in activity in recent years is a proven fact that adds to the possibility for foreign investors to acquire opportunities at better prices than when the consolidation process culminates. This is a reality that for several years has been forging ahead of the negative factors related mainly to the labor market. However, the growth and strengthening of the positive factors that we will review in this article is a reality that has led Spain to a situation of overall improvement in market confidence.

Quality of life

Spain is the first country in Europe in terms of quality of life for foreigners living in our country and the third worldwide. Modern and high quality healthcare system, stable and rigorous framework for business and citizenship, rich historical and cultural heritage and a unique gastronomy of international renown. Among the main attractions for property investors in Spain is undoubtedly the landscape with about 8,000 km of coastline and beautiful beaches and the excellent climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year that make Spain the best Mediterranean climate in Europe. It is not surprising that Spanish life expectancy is the fifth highest in Europe and 7th in the world.

Competitive salaries

Wage competitiveness is also a verifiable fact when, for example, we approach the reaffirmation of the automotive giants in betting on manufacturing in our country. This gives us the real measure of the increase in competitiveness which, among other factors, derives from real wage moderation. While in Europe, unit labor costs have risen by around 10% in recent years, in Spain they have fallen, which means that the labor force is between 25% and 30% cheaper than the Eurozone average.

Margin for Improvement

Internationally, Europe continues to be considered by the entire business community as a serious and safe long-term bet, and as an attractive destination for global investment in the coming years. Within this vision, Spain appears as one of the countries with the greatest margin for improvement in projection, which would be reflected in the possibility of accessing investments under better conditions and at better prices, which, all indications are that they are continuing their consolidation process over time.

Favorable environment for the creation of companies

Setting up a company in Spain is a simple process, which requires some time and knowledge, but is within the reach of anyone with sufficient means. The business models follow the line marked in the OECD countries as a whole, with the variable of being able to access differentiated possibilities that respond to different needs, that is, with a broad panorama of corporate options capable of assuming very different business models. To this we must add an area in which the liberalization of foreign investment and exchange control is very broad, following EU regulations.

Market confidence

Even during complex political processes such as periods of peace before the creation of a new government, market confidence is more than reasonably sustained in Spain. This is nothing new, movements made in recent years such as the purchase of debt in the secondary market by the ECB together with federal movements at the European level such as the defense of the euro, also had an impact on the Spanish economy which, far from the tremendously high risk premium of only four or five years ago, remains stable, with interest on debt payments reduced and, solid in terms of the confidence recovered in general by investors.

Favorable legislation on patents and trademarks

Spain has a modern and modern legislation regarding patents, trademarks and industrial designs. Spain is, for example, the second country in the world with the most renewable energy patents per capita, ahead even of economies such as the United States, and in some areas of that we are world leaders in terms of receiving technology patents, as is the case in innovation in the field of solar energy. This favoring of patents and trademarks makes Spain a more than attractive destination for technological investment, and in general for a faster and more efficient (and cheaper) processing of both processes.

An open market economy with a global presence

In less than 20 years, the foreign sector of the Spanish economy has doubled as a percentage of GDP. Whereas before the turn of the century, the foreign business activity of Spanish companies barely represented 35% of GDP, in recent years this percentage has risen to over 60%. The presence of Spanish companies in all areas of the international economy speaks of an open market economy, with a broad global presence that places the country as an attractive and solid economic power.

A real estate sector that has become a great opportunity

The reactivation of the Spanish real estate sector, after the period of crisis and the so-called real estate bubble, is a reality. However, housing prices are far from what they once represented, and still far from what they are expected to grow. This variable, which is very easy to interpret, makes real estate investment in Spain tremendously attractive for foreign investors wishing to acquire homes at very competitive prices, with a high growth potential in the coming years. The importance of the real estate sector in Spain has been capital, and continues to be fundamental, therefore, we are facing a sector full of opportunities in the right direction for foreign investors.

Excellent geographical location

In the world of the globalized economy, there is no doubt that location plays an important role in investment decisions. Spain, at this level, is one of the best destinations due to its privileged geographical location for international business, not only because it belongs to the EU, but also because it represents a fundamental point of contact with South America and at the same time a gateway to the African continent, in addition to direct connections with Europe. The ports of Algeciras, Malaga, Valencia and Barcelona are among Europe’s leading ports in terms of maritime traffic.

Excellent infrastructure and communications network

The extensive network of roads and railroads, as well as the number and location of ports and airports, provide Spain with an exceptional communication network that favors both trade and tourism. The high-speed rail network is the leader in Europe with some 3,000 kilometers of track, being a reference model worldwide. To this must be added the efficient and renewed transport network in the major cities.

Great tourist and cultural power

Nearly 80 million tourists visit Spain every year. This not only becomes an important economic engine, with tens of billions of euros in revenues, but also generates enormous prestige thanks to the cultural and touristic power that the country represents.