Presentations
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We should also highlight the fact that
Fira de Barcelona organised more than 60
shows and events, many of them creating
considerable international impact, in such
sectors as information and communication
technologies, food and drink and hotels, health,
chemicals, tourism, support for businesses
and entrepreneurship, fashion and urban
sustainability, to mention but a few. All these
sectors have an impact on such fields as
citizen activity, services, commerce, knowledge
and so on, and represent dynamic sectors
of our economy.
The celebration of the Mobile World
Congress, the leading international meeting in
the mobile communications industry, deserves
special mention. The MWC helps to place
Barcelona on the map of technological cities,
generating activity, talent and synergies. As
is well-known, we are keen to ensure that
Barcelona continues to be mobile world capital
beyond 2018, at least until 2023. We work
towards this goal with the consensus and
cooperation of all public authorities, as well
as political and social forces.
Fira de Barcelona’s activity
helps to boost the economic
climate, providing support
for the efforts of small
and medium-sized enterprises,
entrepreneurs and the
productive economy as a
whole. The institution aspires
provide ever greater service
to overcome the crisis
and generate quality jobs,
wealth and wellbeing
Beyond the celebration of the event itself,
we hope to use the opportunity provided by our
status as World Mobile Capital to distribute the
benefits generated throughout the city. Citizens
consider that such benefits should be shared
by the whole city, all year round, whilst we
should also open up forums for debate on social
responsibility and workers’ rights at companies
taking part in this and other congresses.
New sectors
I should also like to mention particularly the
strategy adopted by Fira to attract major
congresses and corporate events, especially in
the fields of the health sciences and technology,
two sectors in which Barcelona and Catalonia
occupy a leading position. These are some of
the strategic sectors that our city needs to focus
on in order to transform the production model
and create quality employment.
Barcelona has a long tradition in medicine,
health sciences and biotechnology, and
works to become a capital of knowledge and
technology at the service of companies and
society as a whole and as a way of improving
people's quality of life. Moreover, our city is also
committed to promoting new sectors linked
to energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy
rehabilitation and so on, which can represent
a great opportunity to boost the local economy
of our city and to improve standards of living.
In short, we want a Fira de Barcelona that
is at the service of the people of Barcelona and
that reinforces the position of the Catalan capital
with the leading group of cities most highly
regarded for their reputation and attractions,
as well as a benchmark as a city that defends
rights and promotes social progress. Barcelona
must support talent and knowledge and all
initiatives that can enable us to move forward
as a city that is productive, sustainable, fair,
inclusive and equitable.
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