The foreign companies operating in Spain are now much more optimistic than in 2012. A survey carried out by the IESE Business School ensures that nine out of ten of these companies expect to increase or at least maintain their profits both this and next year. In 2012, half of these surveyed companies thought their revenues were going to fall compared to the previous year.
The weather of business in spainAccording to the same survey that has been carried out on more than 230 foreign companies based in the country, it has a score of 2.7 out of 5, stopping a downward trend that had been installed in the country in recent years. Figures that give the reason to all foreign investors who have been talking about the good economic prospects of Spain, which fundamentally impact its infrastructures, its quality of life, human capital and the size of its market.
Among the infrastructures that these investors praise is, curiously, the network of railways and airports. The quality of the Spanish business schools, leisure and cultural offer of the country. Despite everything, both investors and foreign companies believe that Spain still has to improve its level of English and other languages, reduce the cost of living, as well as the availability of qualified labor.
The most negative aspects for Spain, as always these foreign companies, are the high cost of electricity and financing difficulties by banks and other institutions. Exactly this last chapter is the one that receives the most criticism and a lower score in the survey barometer, even when a slight improvement is observed compared to 2012, the year in which the figures were much more negative.
Foreign investors seek that in Spain there is a greater political and economic stability and less bureaucracy. As for the world of work, the main problems have to do with legislation. The 70% of foreign companies considers that recent labor reforms have made the market more flexible and the 60% has given them its approval and results.
It must be borne in mind that foreign investment continues to be a fundamental point for Spain. In 2013 it amounted to 15,800 million euros, 9% more than in 2012. Figures that today place Spain in 13th place in the world in terms of foreign investment flows, ahead of countries such as Germany, France and Italy.
