A few days ago, I attended the annual assembly of FemCAT, a foundation that brings together some 150 Catalan business leaders. This was the year of the presidential transition (the appointment is for two years). I enjoyed the speeches of the outgoing president, Oriol Guixà, and the incoming president, Tatxo Benet, elected at the same assembly. Aware that FemCAT celebrated its 21st anniversary this January, I dedicate this article to explaining what it is and what it does. I should point out that the foundation does not measure its success by the number of members. Even so, its economic impact is significant: the companies led by its members have a combined global revenue equivalent to 10% of Catalonia's GDP.
FemCAT belongs to the category of organizations that shape public opinion and promote projects. Its focus is Catalonia. From the perspective of historical Catalanism, they aim to contribute—with passion, dedication, and intelligence—to making Catalonia a benchmark of quality worldwide. On the economic front, they want a competitive, prosperous, and globally open Catalonia. They see businesses, especially those that cultivate talent, as the engine of the economy. But they also know that we live in mixed economies where progress requires collaboration and mutual trust between the public and private sectors. On the social front, their ideal is an inclusive Catalonia where, for example, the Catalan language is a factor in social integration.
FemCAT knows that the Catalonia it aspires to must be built, and that to build it, one must learn from the world, or rather, from the best in the world. This mindset has led them to one of their most characteristic activities: study trips to places that have distinguished themselves as leaders in some important aspect and are, therefore, potential role models for Catalonia. From Europe, they have visited Finland, Bavaria, Denmark, Estonia, and Switzerland. For the future, I would like to offer a suggestion: Flanders, a highly successful model of industrial development based on leveraging the knowledge of its universities. From the rest of the world, they have traveled to Hong Kong (and Shanghai), Tel Aviv, Boston, Silicon Valley, and, last year, to South Korea with a delegation that, in addition to some thirty businesspeople, included four university rectors. They have learned from all of them, and what they have learned they have not kept at home. They have shared it in members' meetings, by organizing public forums, in opinion pieces, in reports, and in interviews with relevant authorities.
A pillar of FemCAT's activity stems from its conviction—proven by international experiences—that a bright future for Catalonia requires an excellent education system at all levels. As an example, I mention an extensive activity—the School and Business program, which for 15 years has organized hundreds of sessions in schools taught by volunteer businesspeople—and an intensive one—participation in the board of trustees of BEST (Barcelona Education in Science and Technology), an institution that promotes high-quality university education in various fields.
But there's much more. To give you an idea of the breadth of FemCAT's advocacy work, I'll list some of the institutions in whose governance it participates. From experience, I can tell you that when FemCAT is involved, it's serious. It goes the extra mile. In research and innovation, there's BIST (cutting-edge research) and BETA (a technology center linked to the University of Vic-Central Catalonia). In education, there's BEST and BSE (Barcelona School of Economics). In social cohesion, there's Respon.cat (corporate social responsibility). In culture and business, there's Accent Obert (manager of the .cat domain) and Vincle (promoting the use of Catalan). In international outreach, there's Catalunya Internacional (public diplomacy) and Catesco (international presence of the Catalan language and culture). Finally, it's worth noting that FemCAT, in its twenty-one years, has become a key player in shaping the Catalan Economic Development Group (GIC-8), which, in addition to FemCAT, includes Pimec, the Chamber of Commerce, the Trade Fair, the RACC (Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia), and the College of Economists. This week, the GIC-8, along with Foment and other entities, issued a constructive statement regarding the proposed new regional financing. This is what one would expect from FemCAT. Long live FemCAT.
