Foreign investment trends in Spain in 2018 were clearly led by those in the real estate and logistics sectors. In 2019, the number of foreign direct investment projects grew by 55%, led by construction, information, communication and media, and food sectors.
Besides the attractiveness of the different sectors and markets, Spain stands out as a platform to Latin America and as a specialized investment hub to Africa and the Middle East. Direct investment from Spain in the Caribbean and Latin America has been increasing consistently since 2005.
Spanish ETVEs and holding companies in general benefit from the enormous network of double taxation treaties and/or exchange of information that Spain has, particularly with Europe and Latin America, totalling 94, as well as enjoying advantages such as a tax-neutral regime for corporate restructuring operations that enables greater flexibility when reorganizing investment groups through Spain.
Like other EU countries, Spain has implemented a series of incentives that complement local development plans. The international investor also considers the feasibility of qualification for this type of public aid. This is the case of: (i) The European Investment Bank, which supports development projects in less favoured regions and those of common interest to several Member States or that benefit the EU. The EIB offers loans to customers of all kinds to support growth and employment, and this support often helps to attract other investors, as well as technical assistance. The EIB offers credits of over EUR 25 million directly. (ii) European Investment Fund, which aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe by helping them access finance. It does this by designing innovative financial products for our partners (banks, guarantee, leasing and microfinance institutions, private equity, and venture capital funds, among others).
With our team specialized in foreign investment, we provide our clients with quality legal advice that allows them to select, structure and execute their foreign investment projects, using the advantages that Spain offers as a recipient and channelling country for investments around the world.