Felipe VI vindicates the work of the family business as the “fundamental pillar” of the Spanish economy

This Monday, King Felipe VI inaugurated the XXVIII National Congress of Family Business, held in Burgos under the motto Origin Destinationwith a message of gratitude to the more than 600 family businesses present in this new edition: “For more than 30 years of work, of commitment to your communities, to your closest environments and, ultimately, to Spain. For being a fundamental pillar of our economy. For being origin and destination. But, above all, for being a permanent present of our country.”

During his speech, Felipe VI placed special emphasis on the motto championed by the congress which, in his opinion, “perfectly summarizes what family businesses experience every day: the certainty that past and future are closely connected in a history that each generation shapes. The origin represents the roots, the basis of everything (…) destiny is what drives you to move forward“he highlighted.

The king of Spain wanted to go back two decades to remember his first appearance at this event. “On this day, 22 years ago, I presided over the inauguration of the 6th National Congress of Family Business. That was the first time I accompanied you. The 28th edition brings us together now. In all this time, companies have changed profoundly – the technologies, the production models, the ways of leading -, but there is something that has remained the same: of course the desire to provide products or services, to compete and to generate wealth; but what I am really going for is that also there remains a genuine desire to share, to build together“he has brandished.

Likewise, it has relied on data to highlight the importance that family businesses play in Castilla y León, and the autonomy that the congress covers. “Here you represent more than 92% of the total, you generate more than 86% of private employment and you contribute almost 82% of the regional GDP,” he highlighted before emphasizing that his contribution is not only measured in data, but in “the structural impact that you exert on the territory”. “You create opportunities where you were born, through your activity you promote local development and contribute to keeping the economic and social fabric of each region alive,” he applauded.

Alluding to this cocktail of roots and projection towards the outside, Felipe VI wanted to emphasize the importance of “continuing to advance in professionalization, in the incorporation of good governance practices and in the training of new generations to successfully take on the challenges of business management.” From another angle, his agenda will continue to be set in Burgos, where will visit the Antolín group facilities this afternoon on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

Rivera thanks him for his closeness

From the other side of the lectern, the president of the Family Business Institute Ignacio Rivera wanted to thank the king for “the affection he always shows us” because, he assured, “he never fails.” “We deeply appreciate all family businessmen, We appreciate the closeness that you always show to our country. and that has also recently demonstrated with all the fire tragedy that we have had this summer that it has been there at the foot of the canyon. And I also personally appreciate it as a Galician, which is a land that has suffered a lot,” he said.