The Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, and Amazon organized the event “From Spain, to the World,” which gathered Amparo López Senovilla, Secretary of State for Trade of the Government of Spain, among other institutional representatives. The gathering aimed to train Spanish SMEs to address the challenges and opportunities of their global expansion, at a moment when digitalization and internationalization have solidified as key drivers of growth and resilience for the Spanish business landscape.
“Spain is committed to multilateralism, building bridges and opening markets with new opportunities so that our SMEs can export to more markets and destinations. We have always defended the value generated for our companies by the European-level free-trade network, to which new agreements such as Mercosur, India, or Indonesia will soon be added. In addition, another pillar to support SMEs are the financial and promotional instruments available through the Secretariat of State for Trade, which provide support as our companies venture into international markets,” stated Amparo López Senovilla, Secretary of State for Trade.
The program combined high-level strategic dialogues — with participation from the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, ICEX Spain Trade & Investment, the Elcano Royal Institute (Elcano Royal Institute), Adigital, and the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organizations (CEOE) — focused on the new globalization and on digitalization as an export driver.
José Luis Bonet, president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, noted: “Internationalization is vital for the growth, competitiveness, and future of Spanish SMEs. In fact, Spain has progressed thanks to outward openness, but many SMEs still need to take that step. SMEs, which are largely family-owned, tend to pull back when problems arise. However, opportunities persist, even in adverse environments like the current one. Despite geopolitical or tariff tensions, opportunities have not disappeared, and companies must keep moving forward with prudence, but with courage, supported, accompanied, and advised by the Chambers of Commerce. Global trade is entering a new phase, more fragmented and competitive, where opportunities exist for those who can adapt quickly.”
For his part, Ángel Asensio, president of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, added: “Internationalization has become a strategic lever for the growth and competitiveness of our SMEs. Going abroad not only allows diversification of markets and increased sales, but also enhances innovation, management, and competitiveness. The Madrid Chamber of Commerce is working to accompany businesses in that process, helping them identify opportunities, reduce risks, and connect with new markets. Spanish business talent is enormous; the important thing is to take the step and seize the opportunities offered by an increasingly open and competitive global marketplace.”
Five Pillars to Unlock the Export Potential of SMEs
Participants in the event highlighted the need to advance along five strategic axes to unlock the export potential of SMEs: digitization, access to financing, administrative simplification, SME-friendly regulation, and training. In this framework, Amazon has set the goal of doubling the annual exports of the SMEs selling on its platform to reach €2 billion by 2030, and it collaborates with ICEX on the Impulsa program to accelerate the international expansion of SMEs already established in the domestic market through online sales.
Ruth Díaz, CEO for Spain and Portugal at Amazon, emphasized that “when SMEs have access to digital tools, to an efficient logistics infrastructure, and to channels to connect with customers inside and outside our borders, they improve their competitiveness and, with it, the competitiveness of all of Spain.” Díaz also highlighted the need to move toward a simplified regulatory framework and a more integrated European Single Market, which would allow Spanish companies to scale more easily and compete on equal footing with global players.
The event gave voice to Spanish SMEs that have successfully internationalized, such as Creators Co., Pisamonas, and Create, who underscored the importance of digitization and Amazon’s store in their expansion strategy. Enrique Bretos, CEO and cofounder of Pisamonas, stated: “Amazon has been a very important partner in our expansion across Europe. Its ability to connect with millions of customers has enabled Pisamonas to reach new families and continue growing beyond Spain.”
