Vitoria-Gasteiz. According to the note that was published by the executive, Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu chaired the first meeting yesterday of Foreign Action’s Advisory Board, which was thus formally established. The organism was created as an open form for the participation of civil society, with the aim of promoting discussion and advice in regards to the internationalization of Euskadi-Basque Country, according to the note.
The advisory board is comprised mainly by Basque individuals with different profiles with extensive knowledge in the international arena including social, academic, culture, technology and business aspects.
In addition to the Basque Government, among the institutions represented are figures from Basque universities, technological corporations, Chambers of commerce, the Guggenheim Museum, the Basque Culinary Center, Mondragon International, or the World Rural Forum, among others. The Secretary General of Foreign Action proposed and invited five other personalities who are relevant due to their international projection: Eneko Landaburu, former Director General of Foreign Actions in the European Union, Ana Maria Correa, Sub-Secretary of Economics during the first Government of Michelle Bachelet, Kirmen Uribe, Basque writer with works published in several languages and countries, Ana Maria Arriola, President and Coordinator of the ONG Euskadi Development, and Arantxa Anitua, President of the Laurak Bat Basque Club in Buenos Aires, the oldest club in the world.
During his speech, the Lehendakari noted that the establishment of this new board gives continuity “to the path of Euskadi’s internationalization,” whose first reference was the presentation in 2013 in the legislature of the Basque Country Strategy, and lager with the approval of the Brand of Internationalization Strategy 2020 (April 2014); the celebration of the World Congress of Basque Collectivities (2015) and; the presentation of the Basque Consortium (2015).
“Our goal is to progress together, with the help of these representatives on this board. To take advantage of the knowledge, experience and the hours of international flight gathered around this table to make this Forum a space for shared reflection, a meeting point for public-private collaboration and for networking,” Iñigo Urkullu told those present.
Euskadi in the World: Stats
At yesterday’s meeting the major lines of the Follow-up Report 2014-2015 Basque version, Spanish version were presented from the Basque Country Strategy 2020. In addition the "X-Ray" (Basque, Spanish) of the internationalization of Euskadi was analyzed. That is to say, the system of indicators to recognize and track the global presence of Euskadi.
The accumulated analysis of the 2014-2015 biennium shows how all the areas of activity of the Basque Government have held a total of 827 proceedings in these two years, 324 in 2014, and 503 in 2015.
So, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country has a institutional presence (Basque Government) in 74 countries through its six delegations located in Belgium, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and the US; and 10 offices representing economic and commercial interests through the SPRI network.
Euskadi also maintains a consulate present (consulates of other countries in Euskadi) in 41 countries whose economics provide 30.8% of the word GDP.
Basque businesses, through more than 1,680 operations abroad, are present in 94 countries.
In 2015, every citizen of the Autonomous Community contributed an average of 14.28 Euros destined for International Projects of Cooperation and Development.
On the Internet, only 5% of the world’s language are used and one of these is Euskera. Euskera is number 44 among navigation languages online.
Euskadi’s exports medium and high-tech products account for 51.9% of the total exports in 2015.
Here are the members of the Advisory Board.
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