Asturias, in the heart of Green Spain, cultivates an innovative and dynamic ecosystem, ideal for the development of successful companies. With a coastline of 354 kilometers of extraordinary natural beauty with beautiful beaches and extensive forests, where a third of the territory is declared a protected natural area, it is an ideal destination to visit and live. All these conditions make Asturias a “Natural Paradise” with an excellent quality of life, intense cultural activity, a rich artistic heritage and optimal conditions for practicing numerous sports throughout the year. There is a long list of reasons to invest in Asturias that we offer below:
Availability of industrial floor and ceiling. Asturias has a strategic location in the northwest of Spain. Capital goods companies for high-demand sectors such as steel, chemical, petrochemical, energy, defense and Oil & Gas, among others, stand out in the region. In Asturias there are 1.1 million meters of industrial plots available, a figure that rises to 1.8 million square meters if the area of logistics and industrial activities (Zalia) in Gijón is added.
During 2021, 53 plots with a combined area of 197,615 square meters have been marketed in developed polygons in which 27 companies will be installed with an expected investment of more than 86.5 million euros and associated employment of more than 900 workers. In addition, the Government of the Principality of Asturias, through IDEPA (Institute for Economic Development of the Principality of Asturias), has launched the LINEA Industrial Space Locator, with information on 37 million square meters of industrial floor and ceiling in Asturias, a tool that offers up-to-date information, including prices and associated services. A unique web application at a national level where maps are incorporated with the contours of the business areas, plots and warehouses that include all the relevant Asturian industrial spaces completed or under construction.
Culture and industrial tradition. The industrial sector has an important weight in the Asturian economy, with a marked presence of multinationals from the metal, agri-food, chemical and advanced services sectors. Asturias is the fourth region in foreign investment position in Spain (Data from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, 2020). The industrial roots of Asturias have resulted in the generation of interesting collaboration initiatives between the companies of the Cluster Network in the region, three of them qualified as excellent by the Ministry of Industry: Cluster Agrifood sector-ASINCAR, Polo del Acero and MetaIndustry4 (information at https://www.clusterasturias.es/).
Extraordinary quality of life. A privileged climate, respect for the environment and cultural traditions, the high quality of services and well-being in its cities make Asturias a true paradise to live and work. The region offers countless leisure options that combine sea and mountains, a rich cultural and artistic heritage and internationally recognized gastronomy (eleven Michelin stars in 2023). The capital of Asturias, Oviedo, stands out at a European level for its cleanliness and also for its public spaces. In 2017 Asturias broke a historical record of visitors and the trend continues.
Trained personnel and University of Oviedo. Asturias has a highly qualified workforce with a deep-rooted industrial tradition. The University of Oviedo, which has three campuses in the region, and the network of Vocational Training Centers offer companies wide possibilities of collaboration for the design and development of projects. The program for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial Culture and the Network of Technology Centers of Asturias promote the transformation of ideas into companies, promoting talent, innovation and creativity.
Strategic logistics location and good communications. Located less than a two-hour flight from the main economic and financial centers of Europe. With two ports, the Port of Gijón and the Port of Avilés, favored by its excellent geographical location in the center of the European façade, especially advantageous for international traffic between the American continent, northern Europe and Africa. Regarding the land network, Asturias has 5,007 kilometers of roads, of which 400 are dual carriageways and motorways, and two railway networks that cover the main axes of the Asturian geography connecting the region with the Meseta and the Cantabrian coast.
Agile and responsive administration to business needs. The determined support of the institutions is reflected in the numerous economic promotion programs developed in the region aimed at the industrial sector and industrial support services. In addition to direct aid for productive investment, Asturias has support programs in the fields of R+D+i, training, and internationalization. In addition, Asturias has access to European aid programs for the so-called competitiveness regions.
Political and social stability. In Asturias, political and social stability is guaranteed through the social and economic coordination agreement that facilitates the development of a social framework based on robust public services and a more competitive and diverse productive structure, with more quality, green and digital, resilient employment and egalitarian.
The Concertación 2022-2023 is the result of dialogue and consensus already incorporated into the regional heritage, taking advantage of the new opportunities offered by European and national funds to face the transformation.
Presence of leading companies worldwide. Leading companies in their sectors have settled in Asturias for decades, such as the steel industry with ArcelorMittal; Fertiberia, in the field of fertilizers; Asturiana de Zinc, Central Lechera Asturiana-Corporación Alimentaria Peñasanta or ENCE-Navia. Alongside these giants, numerous technological companies have emerged that take advantage of the synergies offered by the region to develop innovative products in fields such as health or renewable energy, without forgetting the importance of tourism in rural areas, which is on the rise. .