FC Barcelona will open shop in Beijing

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/04/14/catalunya/1302808882.html (in Spanish)

FC Barcelona is expanding beyond Europe and is currently in conversations with Nike in order to open a shop in Beijing and another one in New York City in a time frame of 2 or 3 years. Apart from China and United States, future marketing actions will be addressed to Mexico, South Korea and Turkey.

Spain admits mistake on communication on China's debt acquisition

From http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/63862548-668d-11e0-ac4d-00144feab49a.html (in English)

Spanish government mistakingly announced that it had secured the acquisition of up to €9 billion euros in debt by China Investment Corporation, but almost immediately it had to make an embarrassing correction. The news came after a China Investment Corporation official informed Reuters that the claims by the Spanish government were false. This is a serious blow to the Spanish regional savings banks, that are desperately seeking for new finantial resources to meet a €15 billion debt created by the loans during the recent property bubble period.

China backs Spain by acquiring more debt

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/04/12/economia/1302595011.html (in Spanish)

Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao has announced today to Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero that China will keep on acquiring more debt, as done in the recent months, and will also invest in Spanish saving banks. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has thanked Wen Jiabao for the Chinese support during the toughest moments in which international finantial markets showed little trust in Spanish economy. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s words are explained by the fact that Spanish debt in Chinese hands has grown from 4% in 2009 to the present 12%. In turn, Wen Jiabao has declared Spain as China’s best friend in Europe, whereas Li Keqiang has congratulated Spanish government by the measures undertaken in order to improve the situation of the economy. He has also declared his impression that Spain is back to the path of sustained growth and shown interest in the import of Spanish agricultural products. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and minister Miguel Sebastián have invited Chinese officials to invest in Spanish ports and in the privatization process of airports, and to consider Spain as a prominent destination for Chinese tourists.

Mango aims at Chinese and Russian markets

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/04/12/catalunya/1302609388.html (in Spanish)

After a total 81% sales abroad in 2010, Catalan group Mango has decided to increase its presence in Chinese and Russian markets. Total sales in 2010 increased by 11% as compared to 2009 and they reached 1.27 billion euros. Online sales grew by 80% and although they represented only 1.6% of total sales, they are expected to double in 2011. Top model Kate Moss is currently working in Paris in Mango’s new promotional campaign.

Spanish president Zapatero visits China and Singapore

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/04/11/economia/politica/1302493662.html (in Spanish)

Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is currently visiting China and Singapore in order to support Spanish companies and to attract new investments. He will travel together with Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos and is scheduled to meet Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao and vice-prime minister Li Keqiang. President Zapatero will explain to Chinese authorities the measures undertaken to recover Spanish economy, since one third of the Spanish debt is now in Chinese hands. He will also attend the signature of business agreements of Spanish companies such as Banco Santander, Indra, Grupo Antolín, Ringo and Gamesa. Later, he will travel to Singapore, where he will meet prime minister Lee Hsieng Loong and his father, Lee Kuan Yew, founder of the country. Finally, he will travel again to China, to the tiny island of Hainan, where he will attend the Boao Forum for Asia, equivalent to the European Davos forum.

Barcelona design company Lagranja opens office in Hong Kong

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/04/07/catalunya/1302160530.html (in Spanish)

Seeking for new challenges that would keep their creativity at a high level, the Barcelona-based design company Lagranja has recently opened an office in Hong-Kong. Founding partners Gabriele Schiavon and Gerard Sanmartí have chosen the former British colony as a new market for the company, after a failed experience in Brazil. In Hong-Kong, Lagranja will soon start to do the interior design of ten suites for the Madera Hotel, commissioned by the Hip Shing Hong Group. Company's sales rose from 230,000 euros in 2009 to near 500,000 euros in 2010, with customers such as Médicos sin Fronteras, Pans & Company and Banc de Sabadell, among others.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="412" caption="Lagranja new offices at Poble Nou, Barcelona (image from http://www.lagranjadesign.com)"][/caption]

Catalan president Artur Mas aims at internationalizing economy

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/04/07/catalunya/1302192612.html (in Spanish)

Catalan president Artur Mas has stated that Catalan economy should aim at having a greater internationalization through the increase in exports. He has also declared that, similarly to what happens with the largest Spanish companies that make up the IBEX-35, Catalan economy shall seek to have larger revenues from international exports rather than from the internal Spanish market.