In an impressive achievement for Barcelona’s economy, the City Council announced that foreign investment worth an exceptional 811 million euros was attracted during 2023.
This milestone represents not only a significant increase over the previous year, but also marks a remarkable economic resurgence compared to pre-pandemic indicators.
Over the course of the past year, foreign investment in the city not only reached record numbers, but also resulted in the creation of 1,235 new jobs.
These impressive numbers, double the 2022 figures, reflect an economic momentum that goes beyond mere post-pandemic recovery.
Compared to the 2019 pre-pandemic statistics, the difference is even more remarkable, with jobs created in 2023 nearly triple the number recorded four years ago.
Likewise, the amount earmarked for business start-ups is six times higher, demonstrating renewed confidence in Barcelona’s economic potential.
Investment of more than 811 million euros promoted by the International Economic Promotion Directorate.
The outstanding work of attracting and accompanying these investments is carried out through the Directorate of International Economic Promotion and the Business Landing Service of Barcelona Activa.
These municipal teams have successfully managed a total of 109 projects, materializing 23 significant investments.
It is important to note that an impressive 78% of these investments correspond to new establishments, while the remaining 22% consist of reinvestments by companies already established in the city, which choose to expand from Barcelona.
Geographic and sectoral diversity
The geographic diversification of these investments is another important aspect. The United States, China and France topped the list of countries with the most projects implemented in 2023.
In addition, 65% of the companies that participated in these investments are from outside the European Union, underscoring the global attraction of Barcelona as a business destination.
In terms of sector of activity, 74% of the projects originated in three main areas: technology (39.13%), business services (21.74%) and health and life sciences (13.04%). The latter sector, in particular, contributed significantly to 98.6% of total investment.
Projections for the future
By the end of 2023, a portfolio of 57 projects was being worked on, seven of which are already in the process of landing in the city. The predominant sectors in this portfolio are Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), transportation, logistics and distribution, as well as industry and manufacturing.
The main countries contributing to the portfolio of projects under management are China, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, together accounting for more than 45% of the total. These foreign investment projections suggest a promising economic outlook for Barcelona in the coming years.
