O presidente da Deputación, Manuel Baltar, amósase moi ilusionado cunha iniciativa que considera "histórica", a misión comercial avalada polo Goberno dos Estados Unidos na que participarán hoxe e mañá en Ourense
20 empresas norteamericanas e 50 da provincia participan nunha misión comercial co obxectivo de entablar novas vías de negocio e que para Baltar supón dar un paso máis no posicionamento da "marca Ourense".
Cando comeza a fraguarse esta misión comercial?
En setembro de 2015 celebramos un cumio de empresarios en Manzaneda, onde levamos ás empresas máis importantes da provincia para darlles conta do plan de mandato 15-19. Nesa reunión estivo Juan Verde -presidente da Fundación Advanced Leadership, que xestionou a iniciativa- e despois me dixo que podía explorar a posibilidade, que naquel momento parecía lonxana, que unha misión avalada polo goberno norteamericano aterrizase en Ourense, unha cuestión histórica. Semanas máis tarde, díxome que podía ser real e tiven unha nova reunión cos os empresarios e a receptividade foi total.
En febreiro visitaba Washington para pechar a iniciativa. Que lle transmitiron no encontro?
Alí manifestei persoalmente o interese do goberno provincial para que se fixese realidade, foi moi importante para que dende o Goberno norteamericano tivesen confirmación de que a Deputación avalaba a misión, unha perspectiva de negocio que xeraría riqueza e emprego. Os altos cargos estadounidenses certificaron así esta misión comercial, foi moi importante obter tamén o visto bo da Cámara de Comercio dos Estados Unidos, que lle fixo chegar ás empresas dos sectores estratéxicos que nós dixemos que formasen parte desa expedición.
Como foi o traballo dende febreiro ata hoxe?
En primeiro lugar, enviei unha carta ós empresarios da provincia, para que mandasen as súas propostas, artellasen un plan de negocio e houbo moitas reunións entre a fundación co empresariado para concretar o máximo posible as posibilidades de negocio. O resultado é esta misión, que é unha realidade, que ten toda a seriedade e rigor e está avalada por unha congresista, un exembaixador dos Estados Unidos en España e, por suposto, esas 20 empresas que veñen a coñecer in situ o traballo dos sectores estratéxicos de Ourense. Todo isto fai desta cuestión un fito histórico, sempre pensado só para as empresas de Ourense.
Supón unha garantía a presenza dunha congresista dos Estados Unidos e un exembaixador?
Sen dúbida, e ademais destaco o traballo da fundación, que fixo posible ter unha entrevista ó máis alto nivel nos Estados Unidos que sería ciencia ficción noutro escenario. Estes
dous días levarán a "marca Ourense" a outra dimensión.
É un dos proxectos máis ambiciosos do seu mandato?
Sen dúbida. Aínda que non figuraba no plan Ourense 15-19, demostra que facemos máis cousas das xa moitas, cualitativa e cuantitativamente, que plantexamos como goberno provincial pero é un proxecto estrela, unha cuestión que podemos facer porque houbo unha boa xestión económica previa. É unha cuestión da que me sinto especialmente satisfeito.
É un paso máis para colocar Ourense no mapa?
Indudablemente, creo que é unha aposta que ten que ver con iso que eu chamo "marca Ourense", que veña xente con responsabilidades empresariais grandes en sectores que nos interesan e entran dentro dese puzle de pezas que compoñen a nosa provincia e que a Deputación trata de ensamblar con apostas como a Vuelta a España, o plan termal provincial ou a feira Termatalia.
Que obxectivos concretos buscan con esta misión?
Sentar nunha mesa a empresas da nosa provincia con norteamericanas que van falar de cousas que xa coñecen porque entre elas xa se intercambiaron información sobre propostas, plans de negocio. Son moitas as posibilidades e van estar aquí, sen saír da casa. O noso obxectivo está cumprido, xerar ese espacio de colaboración e de diálogo entre empresas, que só teñen unha meta, ter mellores números económicos.
Están representados todos os sectores da economía ourensá?
Absolutamente, a capacidade de convicción dunha actuación destas características foi notable. Ademais, nunha misión comercial normal están 12 ou 15 empresas, aquí van estar 20 norteamericanas e 50 de Ourense que van ter reunións entre as do mesmo sector. Estes dous días van ser cruciais, todos teñen moitas ganas de chegar a acordos.
A oposición critica esta misión comercial. Que opina?
Autodefínense. É unha cuestión de provincia, importante e quen critica esto, critica todo. Esta é a oposición que temos, tiveron unha oportunidade para pórse do lado do positivismo e se dedicaron a falar mal, foron os únicos que o fixeron.
Recibiu chamadas doutras deputacións ou administracións para interesarse sobre a misión?
Absolutamente, están expectantes e mirando con certa envexa esta iniciativa como faríamos nós se se lle ocurrira a Lleida, Albacete ou Castellón. É unha forma moi importante de posicionar a "marca Ourense".
(Versión en inglés)
The president of the Regional Governmente of Ourense, Manuel Baltar, is very hopeful with an initiative that he considers "historical", the commercial mission supported by the Government of the United States that will take part today and tomorrow in Ourense. At the event, 20 American companies and 50 of the province will seek for an opportunity to establish new business opportunities. For Baltar, this event means one more step in the positioning of the brand "Ourense".
When was this trade mission originated?
In september of 2015, we celebrated a summit at Manzaneda with tmany of he most important companies of Ourense inform them about the plan of this government for the period 15-19. Juan Verde -president of the Advanced Leadership Foundation and coordinator of the initiative- was in this meeting and told me that he could explore the possibility, remote at that moment, to invite a mission supported by the American government to Ourense, a historical issue. A few weeks later, he told me that it could be real so I had a new meeting with the entrepreneurs and their support was total.
You visited Washington in february to close the mission. What did they tell you?
In Washington I exposed the interest of our provincial government in holding this event. This was very important to let the Government of the United States know of our support to this initiative, which could create business opportunities andgenerate wealth and employment. American Government officials were finally convinced and certified this commercial mission. It was also very important to obtain the approval of the US Commercial Service, who invited american companies selected from the strategic sectors of our choice.
How was the work since february?
In the first place, I sent a letter to the entrepeneurs of the province so they could think about their proposals and build their business plans. These companies and members of the foundation held lots of meetings to identify business opportunities and the ressult is this mission, now a reality. This very serious and is supported by a congresswoman, a former ambassador of the United States in Spain and, of course, the 20 american companies that will know how entrepeneurs of our local strategic sectors work. All these facts put together turn this commercial mission in something historical, always thought for the companies of Ourense.
Does the presence of a congresswoman of the United States and a former ambassador mean a guarantee ?
I have no doubt. I also remark the foundations's job since it made it possible to have an interwiew with high level officials of the United States government. These meetings would have been science fiction in any other scenary. These two days will carry the mark Ourense to another dimension.
Is this one of the most ambitious projects of this term?
Of course. Although it wasn't included in our program Ourense 15-19, it proves that we do more things in addition to the planned projects as provincial government. But this is a star initiative, something we can execute because there was an excellent economic management done before. It's something I feel very proud of.
Is it a new movement to set Ourense in the map?
Unquestionably. I think it is a bet that has to see with what I call "Ourense Brand". Having people with big entrepreneurial responsibilities in sectors of our interest fits inside this puzzle composed by our province where we develop initiatives to promote our province, such as the Vuelta a España, the thermal plan or the event Termatalia.
Which are the main aims of this commercial mission?
We want companies from our province and american companies at the same table. They are going to speak about things that they already know, because they have exchanged proposals and business plans. There are a lot of the possibilities and they are going to be happening right here, without leaving our home. Our objective has been accomplished: to generate a space for coworking and dialogue between companies with only one goal: to improve our economic numbers.
Are all strategic sectors of the economy of Ourense representated in the mission?
Absolutely, the power of conviction of an event of these characteristics was remarkable. Besides, in a normal commercial mission there are 12 or 15 companies, here they will be 20 Americans and 50 of Ourense who will hold meetings among companies of each sector. These two days are going to be crucial since all of them want to reach agreements.
Opposition groups in the Regional Government criticize the trade mission. What's your opinion about this?
They define themselves. This initiative belongs to all the province and is very important. These people criticize everything. This is the kind of opposition we have at the Regional Government, they had a chance to colaborate, to be positive but they prefer to talk bad about this. They were the only ones to do so.
Did any other regional government phone you about this mission, to know about it?
Absolutely, they are expectant and look at us with certain envy. We would do the same if it happened in Lleida, Albacete or Castellón. This is a very important event for Ourense.
