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Spanish companies face 2019 with the focus on internationalization. This is what Banco Sabadell has confirmed during the last days of December, it has maintained contacts with more than 300 companies. The Banc chaired by Josep Oliu has organized a series of individualized meetings in which the directors of the representative offices (DOR) that Banco Sabadell has distributed around the world have advised entrepreneurs and managers interested in promoting investments in certain international destinations to expand the business
Banco Sabadell was the first Spanish bank to land in Dubai to help Spanish companies to enter and expand in the United Arab Emirates and neighboring countries
For these meetings, the bank moved its DORs to the main Spanish cities to attend to inquiries and concerns of customers in situ. The Director of International Business of Banco Sabadell, Carlos Dalmau, points out that “this formula of individualized meetings is very well valued by companies because we approach our directors who live and work in strategic destinations such as the Arab Emirates, China, India, Brazil, the United States, Colombia or Poland. In this way, the client who is interested in the Middle East, for example, does not need to travel to that part of the world because we provide direct contact with our director in Dubai, who advises him to enter or consolidate in that region”.
Precisely, the DOR of the Middle East, Víctor Argüello, recalls that Banco Sabadell was the first Spanish bank to land in Dubai to help Spanish companies to enter and expand in the United Arab Emirates and neighboring countries. “It was in 2009 when we opened our representative office, which was a key moment for the Spanish company because, as a result of the crisis, it had to look for new horizons, and since then, we have become an important pillar for any interested company
Precisamente, el DOR de Oriente Medio, Víctor Argüello, recuerda que Banco Sabadell fue el primer banco español en aterrizar en Dubái para ayudar a las empresas españolas a introducirse y expandirse en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos y países colindantes. “It was in 2009 when we opened our representative office, which was a key moment for the Spanish company because, as a result of the crisis, it had to look for new horizons, and since then, we have become an important pillar for any interested company to consolidate relations with the Middle East, since we cover eight countries from Dubai: today is a very attractive destination to materialize projects”.
Argüello explains that “this area has virtually no industrial fabric, so they need to import almost all the goods.” Argüello, at the same time, advises, in order to establish business relations in this area, “patience and knowledge of this culture: the Arab market needs a lot of work to establish trusting relationships”. In this process, Banco Sabadell accompanies the Spanish companies that want to do business.
ARGELIA, A VERY INTERESTING MARKET
In these individualized meetings with companies, one of the DOR that has accumulated more meetings in its agenda has been Hassiba Bestandji, the head of the bank’s office in Algeria. Spanish companies follow with great relevance the evolution of the Maghrebi country, since it offers business opportunities in all sectors such as agriculture, construction, health or tourism, among others. “This year we have confirmed that it is the desirest destination”, concludes Carlos Dalmau. Another country that has also aroused the interest of the bank’s customers is Turkey. His DOR, Vicente Balbín, emphasizes that “Turkey is an open economy that has been very modernized in recent years and has a high level of business.” In his opinion, the main disadvantage of the Turks is communication, because “there is a big difference between what is and what happens in Turkey and what is made known about this country to the world”. In this regard, Balbín stresses that “from the office in Turkey, Banco Sabadell provides truthful, close and verifiable information about the country, to dismantle myths.” Balbín adds that “in Turkey, there are already fourth-generation industrial groups that are very powerful”. In addition, he emphasizes, “Turkish culture is Mediterranean and, therefore, very similar to ours, which facilitates the possibilities of understanding”
Banco Sabadell has a network of 13 representative offices that emerged with the aim of accompanying Spanish companies in their international expansion plans. Today it is the financial institution of reference for any company in the country. 65% of organizations choose to work with Banco Sabadell. Waiting to close the year 2018, has already attracted 8,000 customers in international business and has increased by 19% financing for financing and export projects.
