Publication CEPYME500 2017

#MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY SECTOR
What do you think are the main problems which the companies within the
sector face?
Energy policy is a major challenge for the industry in our country, although
not the only one. Costs in Spain are exorbitant and currently constitute the
biggest handicap for the development of an industrial economy. Despite
some improvements, today’s gas and electricity prices are between 15-20%
higher than those of the main European economies. This is not sustainable. It
is necessary to reduce taxation on production and to transfer the social costs
of the system to the national budget.
But other factors such as infrastructure or regulatory costs are also key
aspects that determine whether you are competitive or not. The chemical
industry can reach its full potential if dynamic transport and logistic infrastructures
are projected, if a stable regulatory and fiscal framework is created,
which stimulates investment without leading to legal insecurities and duplicities
resulting in unnecessary costs, and, of course, if the percentage of GDP
destined for R&D&I is increased.
And the biggest opportunities?
The chemical industry sector has a significant and consolidated weight in the
Spanish economy, which according to our forecasts, will continue its upward
trend. Our challenge for the near future is clear: to be part of the forecast
growth in the global chemical industry. According to a report by the consulting
firm Prognos, the chemical industry will be the manufacturing industry
that achieves the greatest increase until 2030, with an annual productive
growth of 4.5%. To reach this goal, we must continue to focus our competitiveness
on specialisation by committing to innovation, as we are currently
doing.
“The chemical industry
generates 540,000 direct,
indirect and induced jobs”
060 | CEPYME500