The epidemiological reality that Spain is experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic added to the deterioration of the economic situation have had and still have an important impact on the image and reputation of Spain abroad. Damage that can be significant and have a major impact on the accounts.
That is why Spanish diplomacy has among its main priorities the economy, to look after Spanish interests. Economic diplomacy coordinated by the Secretary of State for Global Spain.
To try to minimize the reputational and economic damage as much as possible, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans trips by Spanish experts from various fields to key capitals of potential investors to meet with leading authorities from the economic and financial world.
These trips will be carried out in coordination with the embassies and as a complement to the official trips that the Spanish authorities may make.
The Secretary of State of Spain Global, Manuel MuÃiz, also considers it appropriate, when the pandemic subsides or allows it, to be able to host in Spain the visit of business delegations to sell the country brand.
The new Spanish ‘instrument’
One of the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the strengthening of economic relations and economic diplomacy, through bilateral and multilateral diplomatic activity.
The context generated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic outlook – the Bank of Spain foresees a drop in GDP of 12.6% and doubts the income, deficit and debt forecasts drawn by the Government In its Budget project, it obliges the Government to intensify this work, in view of the collateral damage that the country suffers for the balance of trade.
But what is economic diplomacy? This is how the Ministry defines it: “In the current international context, it is presented as one of the main instruments of Spanish foreign action and a political priority at the service of economic reactivation and improvement of the image of Spain “.
Although this economic diplomacy is of a general nature, MuÃiz did expressly refer to countries such as the United States -whose election of a new president involves redefining and redirecting the relationship-, Australia or the United Kingdom due to the volume of investment and allocation to Spanish companies that suppose.
The best ambassador, the King
This kind of special missions to meet with financial authorities from other countries represents another step in the economic diplomacy that this Secretariat of State is already entrusted with, such as the defense of Spain’s economic interests in abroad at a global level, as well as in multilateral economic and commercial forums, including the OECD; the contribution to the solution of economic, commercial and business disputes; or collaboration and coordination with other ministries and economic diplomacy initiatives.
In this work of public diplomacy, defense and promotion of the image and international reputation of the country, the Foreign Office has the Head of State. They consider that the figure of the King continues to be the best possible ambassador and that the controversies and alleged opaque businesses carried out by Don Juan Carlos are not having an impact on Spain’s reputation abroad.
“The role of the current Head of State in the projection of the country’s image and the construction of it is positive, in what is seen that Casa Real does and in what is not seen, which is a lot: they facilitate, help, They convene, “said Manuel MuÃiz, who appeared this Wednesday at the Foreign Affairs Committee of Congress.
“My perception is that abroad the possible actions of the previous occupant of the Headquarters of the State are clearly distinguished from the current one. I have no indication that this is not the case.”
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