Record in the Spanish agri-food exports in 2015, with over 44,000M€
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Isabel García Tejerina, has emphasized the purely export character of the Spanish food sector, which in 2015 broke historical records with more than 44,000 million euros, almost 30% more than in 2011, and a positive balance of more than 10,000 million euros. The minister, who was speaking during the closing session of the General Assembly of the Spanish Federation of Industries Food and Beverage (FIAB), stressed the position of the processing industry sector, which ranks as the sixth of Europe, and represents a strategic activity “with a drag decisive effect on agriculture, livestock and fisheries.”
In the words of García Tejerina, “Spain has become a major agricultural power, due to its great variety of products and a proven quality food and gastronomy with a reputation consolidated among consumers worldwide.” In that vein, she emphasized the importance of the sector’s industries, representing 20.5% of net product sales, 18.3% of employed people, creating 20,000 net job between 2024 and 2015 and, 17.8% of net investments in tangible assets. In her view, their location throughout the national territory is essential for the maintenance of incomes and development in rural areas.
The minister recalled the support provided by the Ministry for the past four years, working to provide future prospects and growth prospects to the Spanish food industry, hand in hand with professional agricultural organizations, cooperatives, with distribution and, of course, with the food industry. As an example of this close collaboration, it has referred to the launch, along with FIAB, the Strategic Framework 2020, defined around four main areas: efficiency, value creation, promotion and internationalization, or the Program for Comprehensive Sustainability Agrifood Industry, made available to companies to assess their sustainability.
She also stressed the Spanish Bioeconomy strategy promoted by the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Research, Development and Innovation, in which the circular economy has an essential role; the National Program for Innovation and Research agrifood and forestry to promote the creation of value, or the creation of supra-regional groups within the framework of the European Innovation Partnership.
“While we can be proud of the work done -Garcia Tejerina has said-, we must keep on working to further progress in key areas such as innovation, quality and sustainability. That way we can reach more markets with more products and better conditions since we have the best ingredients to “feed the future.”
Source: MAGRAMA
