<strong>Issue</strong> 5Lessons from BarcelonaLessons from Barcelona<strong>Issue</strong> 5Lessons from BarcelonaAMEC Training Workshop in CataloniaIn October 2010 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> participated in a Barcelonabasedtraining course for business associations, from <strong>Trinidad</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong> <strong>and</strong> the Caribbean.<strong>The</strong> aim was to share experiences <strong>and</strong> knowledge on ways thatthese membership organizations can better serve their members<strong>and</strong> by extension become more relevant <strong>and</strong> efficient against aglobally altered economic backdrop.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> was represented by Priya Marajh,Senior Research Specialist (Trade). Her report follows below.Just before we arrived in Barcelona, on October 2, we saw newsreports <strong>of</strong> general strikes held across cities in Spain, ending inBarcelona, with some <strong>of</strong> the worst riots in recent memory. We didnot know what to expect when we got there. When we arrived,however, there was almost no sign <strong>of</strong> the previous activities withthe exception <strong>of</strong> a few broken store front windows. <strong>The</strong>re werealso no signs <strong>of</strong> the “issues” that were claimed to have causedthese riots <strong>and</strong> strikes.Barcelona is a port city <strong>and</strong> since the late nineteenth centuryhas been an architectural <strong>and</strong> artistic hub, playing a key rolein the development <strong>of</strong> the European modernist movement. Itis the centre <strong>of</strong> the Catalan region <strong>of</strong> Spain, with a reputationfor independence <strong>and</strong> the people display an obvious pride intheir region. Today it remains at the vanguard <strong>of</strong> Spanish cities,renowned for its prosperity, stability <strong>and</strong> cultural activity. As hostfor the 1992 Olympics the city went through a period <strong>of</strong> renewedgrowth, which has continued apace ever since.<strong>The</strong> resident’s pride in their city <strong>and</strong> region is expressed in aremarkable cultural energy, seen most obviously in the gloriousArt Nouveau architecture that dots the city’s streets <strong>and</strong> avenues.Antoni Gaudi is the most famous <strong>of</strong> those who have left their markon Barcelona in this way. His Sagrada Familia church is rightlyrevered, the design is so complex that it still isn’t finished, despitehaving been started in 1882.But just as fascinating are the fantastic houses <strong>and</strong> apartmentbuildings that he <strong>and</strong> his contemporaries designed. In art, too, thecity boasts an astounding legacy, from important Romanesque<strong>and</strong> Gothic works to major galleries containing the life’s work <strong>of</strong>the Catalan artists Joan Miro <strong>and</strong> Antoni Tapies, <strong>and</strong> - perhaps thegreatest draw <strong>of</strong> all - a representative collection <strong>of</strong> the work <strong>of</strong>Pablo Picasso.<strong>The</strong> art <strong>and</strong> culture <strong>of</strong> Barcelona are captivating <strong>and</strong> are visualhistory lessons. But we picked up other crucial lessons as wellwhich will enhance our capabilities <strong>and</strong> allow us to better serveour members.Lessons for <strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong><strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> was asked to participate as a directbeneficiary in the execution <strong>of</strong> the project “Strengthening <strong>of</strong> theAIRD (<strong>The</strong> Industrialists’ Association <strong>of</strong> the Dominican Republic)<strong>and</strong> the CAIC (Caribbean Association <strong>of</strong> Industry <strong>and</strong> Commerce)to facilitate networking amongst them”, promoted by AMEC <strong>and</strong>the AIRD in association with the Pro-Invest Programme from theEuropean Commission.<strong>The</strong> AIRD was formed in early 1962 to protect the interests<strong>of</strong> industrialists <strong>and</strong> promote industrial development. It wasconceived as a national organization. AMEC is a non-pr<strong>of</strong>it-makingbusiness association with over 35 years <strong>of</strong> experience in thepromotion <strong>of</strong> exports <strong>and</strong> the internationalization <strong>of</strong> companies<strong>and</strong> their various sectors.<strong>The</strong> services <strong>of</strong>fered by AMEC fall into four major categories:international promotion, innovation <strong>and</strong> competitiveness,business cooperation <strong>and</strong> international advice. <strong>The</strong>y do a greatdeal <strong>of</strong> what <strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> does but on a much larger scale<strong>and</strong> with greater assistance from governmental bodies. <strong>The</strong>y placea great deal <strong>of</strong> emphasis on putting their member organizations<strong>and</strong> companies on the international stage. This is something that<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> also actively promotes.Diversifying risks is a major advantage <strong>of</strong> exporting. Withcompany’s expansion to other countries, risks such as economicdownfall <strong>and</strong> market changes are more evenly distributed. Whiledomestic companies may be wholly affected when misfortunehits the domestic market, a company with foreign interests will notsuffer such great losses.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> firmly believes that broadening the scope<strong>and</strong> reach <strong>of</strong> <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong>’s energy services is one way toParticipants <strong>of</strong> the training courseat AMEC headquarters.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine30 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine 31
<strong>Issue</strong>5Lessons from BarcelonaLessons from Barcelona<strong>Issue</strong> 5View <strong>of</strong> the city from a tower <strong>of</strong> the famous La SagradaFamilia church that was started by Antoni Gaudi.<strong>The</strong> art <strong>and</strong> culture <strong>of</strong>Barcelona are captivating<strong>and</strong> are visual historylessons. But we picked upother crucial lessons as wellwhich will enhance ourcapabilities <strong>and</strong> allowus to better serve ourmembers.General Manager <strong>of</strong> the Port <strong>of</strong> Barcelona with trainingparticipants on a tour <strong>of</strong> the Barcelona Port.One <strong>of</strong> the main <strong>of</strong>fices at the Port <strong>of</strong> Barcelona.ensure the viability <strong>and</strong> sustainability <strong>of</strong> an energy driven economy.<strong>The</strong> development <strong>of</strong> the energy services sector will enable <strong>Trinidad</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong> to continue to be involved in the energy sector evenafter all our hydro-carbons have been depleted.One <strong>of</strong> the factors very apparent in the AMEC model is that for themto fulfill their m<strong>and</strong>ates <strong>and</strong> assist their members, public <strong>and</strong> privatepartnerships play a key role. During our last two missions to West<strong>and</strong> East Africa we received excellent support from the Government<strong>of</strong> <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong> <strong>and</strong> are good examples <strong>of</strong> how the public<strong>and</strong> private sectors can collaborate for the overall development <strong>of</strong><strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong>.Another way that public <strong>and</strong> private partnerships can work well isthrough efficient business support organizations. <strong>The</strong>re are severalbusiness facilitation/investment agencies currently operatingin <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong> with varied focus: from manufacturing,entertainment, tourism, to SME development.<strong>The</strong> ambit <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> these organizations is to facilitate economicdiversification away from the energy sector, but we must alsoconsider their role in further strengthening <strong>and</strong> diversifying ourmost competitive sector, namely the energy sector. <strong>The</strong>se variousstate agencies must work in partnership with <strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong><strong>and</strong> other business associations to strengthen the services they<strong>of</strong>fer, including research <strong>and</strong> development, seeking synergies withother local businesses (e.g. joint venturing among local firms), <strong>and</strong>cross reporting on activities so that activities <strong>of</strong> one may impact theother.With these bodies strengthened, <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong> can movetowards becoming a net exporter <strong>of</strong> energy services <strong>and</strong> otherservices expertise, borrowing a fierce spirit <strong>of</strong> independence fromour friends in Catalonia.AMEC staff <strong>and</strong> training participants atAMEC headquarters.Market in Barcelona, these little markets line many <strong>of</strong> the streets in Barcelona.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine32 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine<strong>The</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Blueprint</strong> Magazine 33
Change language