“We have put the sector at the centre of the recovery plan with a strategic project”

This is an emotional day. If after listening about your career paths, you say that you may not deserve an award, imagine my case, since I have only been in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism for three years. This recognition reminds me of my childhood. I am from a town in Valladolid and the automotive sector is in the DNA of the area. Today, cities such as Valladolid, Palencia, Vig and Barcelona do not make sense without that development lever that has been the automotive industry in our country. I am proud to be able to defend the Spanish automotive industry at a very difficult time that has lasted for three years in a transition stage that has suffered the impact of the pandemic, which has made us rethink how to be stronger, as has been commented on in the example of EPP Natur. In this period, we have had time to reflect and make visible that we wanted to be in an identity sector, which is Brand Spain. Without a doubt, these awards make up for everything we have experienced, everything I have experienced in these three years. I want to share it, of course, with my team, but also with the entire sector, with the entire value chain of the sector, who have helped me. This work cannot be done alone, you have to have convictions, you have to have leadership skills to understand that the automobile industry is strategic in our country. You have had a close minister, who has the automobile industry in their DNA with a very unique identity, very Spanish. An industry based on constant innovation, R&D&I, on which we have based our competitiveness, but also with ambition, as Grupo Antolin said, when choosing between being part of a global industry or staying in a small workshop. That ambition has taken you where you are, to being leaders in Spain, in Europe, in the world, based on talent, on people. I am convinced that after this crisis, better times will come. We have put the sector at the centre of the recovery plan with a strategic project with which we want to lead the change that is already here, to be leaders in sustainable connected mobility. We have the resources and the most important thing is that, in you, we have the actors to be part of the project. This recognition gives us more encouragement, if possible, to continue working from the Ministry of Industry, not only in the defence of the sector, but also in supporting what is going to be a recovery of activity and in it what it means for our country structure and job creation. Let’s dream big, because we have the resources, we have the people. We have to lead the transition with the times that the sector needs to adapt to what is already a revolution, because this is not an adaptation, it is not a change, it is a true revolution in which we have to give people the capacities to allow dreams to come true. In this regard, you will always have the Ministry and its minister by your side with the entire team, to strengthen publicprivate collaboration, which is our great strength in the face of European recovery plans. Together we are stronger, because if we unite your interests as companies with public administrations in all areas, we will be unstoppable and I encourage you to dream, to draw the industry of the future and do it from Spain.