OVERVIEW

In 2017 Spain regained its pre-crisis GDP, nine years after plunging into a deep property- and banking-led recession. But this good news was tempered by a new calamity: the aggressive push by Catalan separatists to break away from Spain, and the grave constitutional and existential crisis provoked by their actions.

This is not the first time in recent memory that Spain has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. In 2015, as the country’s recovery took hold, the rise of the left-wing populist Podemos party frightened away investors; while in 2016 the inability of political parties to negotiate a coalition after the collapse of two-party rule left the country without a proper government for 10 months, again rattling the business world. Spain’s economy clearly has the potential to lead Europe in growth and innovation — but can its political system reach a consensus on issues of education, labour and entrepreneurship that will allow it to succeed?

At a moment of great confusion surrounding Catalonia, as well as the disruption of Britain’s departure from the EU, The Spain Summit: Recovery and Crisis will examine the major trends—internal and external—shaping Spain’s halting steps into the future.

WHY ATTEND

The Spain Summit will bring together the country’s policymakers, business leaders, investors, innovators, academics and analysts to plot Spain’s course not
only through the transformative trends of digitisation, distributed innovation, and non-stable work, but also through the labyrinthine new political landscape with its potential to enhance—or hamstring—the country’s economic progress.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Business leaders
• Political leaders
• Government organisations
• Chambers of commerce
• Professional organisations
• Business schools
• Public administrators
• Ambassadors and senior embassy staff
• Academics
• Economic, political and business analysts