At the roundtable closing the Assets presentation, speakers outlined new economic development opportunities in Extremadura and emphasized the need for continued growth across the economy. The optimistic note came from Carlos Rosado, president of the Spanish Film Commission. When the agency focusing on filming in Spain began in 2001, eighty percent of shoots were concentrated in Madrid and Barcelona, where much of the audiovisual industry thrives. They accounted for only forty-one percent, while shoots across the country have surged since. This year, direct investment in film is projected to reach €280 million, with Social Security contributions totaling €24 million. The event, held in Badajoz and sponsored by the Spanish Film Commission and JTI, saw Rosado attribute the growth to the training of local talent and skilled technicians, a development that strengthens the economy and creates jobs nationwide.
On behalf of Fernando Planelles, Ibercaja’s regional manager for Extremadura, Andalusia and the Canary Islands, the key takeaway was the growing scale of regional companies. Planelles noted that this expansion stands as one of the main challenges for the area in the coming years.
Ignacio Gragera, mayor of Badajoz, highlighted ongoing efforts to persuade young people to remain in the community. He stressed that the region possesses strong business references and capable people who are eager to contribute. The mayor spoke about broadening Extremadura’s business influence and the potential for prosperity this could bring. He expressed gratitude for young talent choosing to stay, framing Extremadura as a land of opportunity that needs better transportation links to attract investment from outsiders.
Gragera also called for a stronger focus on education, noting the difficulty of keeping young residents in the region. He urged leveraging regional strengths and ensuring a life project that entices people to return if they ever leave. The council leader emphasized preparing the ground so that anyone who wants to come back finds it easy to settle in Extremadura.
Macroeconomic status conditions
The macroeconomic and credit landscape in Spain shows a pattern of rapid inflation and rising ECB interest rates. Fernando Planelles Caraz described two intertwined trends. Large corporations are increasing investments, while self-employed individuals and micro SMEs exercise greater caution. Unlike the 2008 crisis, private debt has receded and household and corporate indebtedness has fallen.
In the real estate sector, Unicaja’s regional manager acknowledged a cooling market. Predictions point to a 15%–20% drop in sales and about a 30% fall in mortgage activity. This isn’t about fewer mortgages being issued; more transactions are settled in cash. Price trends remain stable or show a slight uptick, offering a cautious note of optimism for the medium term.
Going public is not an option for Spanish companies
Miguel Ángel Leal, head of the industrial division at CL Group, joined the discussion and admitted that an initial public offering is essentially off the table for the moment. The family-owned enterprise has found success in private ownership and intends to continue growing without diluting its core identity. The company has no immediate plans to pursue medium- and long-term public routes.
Born more than four decades ago, CL Group has kept a culture of reinvesting annual profits to fuel ongoing expansion. Projects in Extremadura are expected to broaden further. Leal pointed out that attracting talent costs the organization a significant amount of effort and resources, noting that this challenge is not confined to Extremadura alone. He urged administrations to ease mobility and transport infrastructure to support talent acquisition and retention.
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