1. BARCELONA, METROPOLIS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
1.1. Location, area and population
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the northeast of Spain, Barcelona is the economic, cultural and admi-nistrative capital of Catalonia and one of Europe’s main metro-polises. Two hours from France by road and well connected with Europe’s major cities, it boasts a strategic geographical location.
With almost 1.6 million inhabitants and an area of only 100 square kilometres, Barcelona has one of the highest densities in Europe, particularly bearing in mind that it attracts a large number of tourists and visitors throughout the year.
Barcelona heads an extensive metropolitan region with almost 200 municipalities that is home to 4.7 million inhabitants. It is also the centre of an economic euroregion with a population of over 17 million that comprises the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Aragon and south-west France.
1.2. Demography of Barcelona
Barcelona’s age structure is similar to that of other leading European cities, although its birth rate has risen slightly in recent years, as has the base of young inhabitants. Life expec-tancy in Barcelona continues to increase gradually and is among the highest in Europe.
Demographic indicators of Barcelona Age structure (2005)
- 0 to 14 years 11.7%
- 15 to 64 years 67.6%
- 65 and over 20.7%
Life expectancy (2003)
- Years for men 76.8
- Years for women 83.5
Birth rate (2004)
Births per 1,000 inhabitants 8.8
Death rate (2004)
Deaths per 1,000 inhabitants 9.4
Fertility rate (2004)
Births per 1.000 women between the ages of 15 and 49 37.4 Source: Barcelona City Council
1.3. Foreign population
The welcoming, hospitable nature of the city attracts foreig-ners and many decide to take up residence here drawn by its high quality of life and cosmopolitan environment. The foreign population (over 260,000 in January 2006) accounts for almost 16% of the total number of residents, with a particularly mar-ked increase over the past five years.
Population and surface area
Population Population Surface area Population
january 2006 weight of (km2) density
(inhabitants) Barcelona (%) (inhab./km2)
Barcelona 1,593,075 100.0% 101 15,773
Metropolitan region 4,770,180 33.4% 3,236 1,474
Catalonia 7,083,618 22.5% 31,895 222
Spain 44,395,286 3.6% 505,988 88
2.2. Product per capita
The GDP per capita can be used to compare the standard of living between different areas. To improve the accuracy of comparisons, the indicator can be adjusted to differences in price levels and purchasing power of each region or country. These adjustments provide the GDP per capita in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
According to estimates issued by the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat), Catalonia’s GDP per capita in PPP is 17.5% above the European average and some 20 per-centage points above the Spanish average.
however, many of these activities have progressively been transferred to the outskirts or other areas. The city has con-sequently focused on the services sector, which now employs 80% of its workers.
2.3. Specialised production
Barcelona boasts a strong, longstanding tradition in classic manufacturing activities, and for many years it was Spanish leader in a variety of production sectors, including the auto-motive, chemical and pharmaceutical, food, publishing and consumer electronics industries. Over the past few decades,
Barcelona’s specialisation in the services sector is considerably lower than that of other major cities including Paris, London and Frankfurt, where it represents over 95% of the total economy. In this respect, Barcelona’s production activities are relatively diversified with a very strong services sector and a sig-nificant industrial base.
The production structure can also be analysed by examining businesses. According to the Central Business Directory of the Spanish National Statistical Institute (INE), in January 2005, 73% of companies with salaried workers in the metropolitan area of Barcelona belonged to the services sector, 14.1% were devoted to industry and 12.9% to construction.
The arrival of new citizens adds to the increasingly diverse nature of the city, with over 150 nationalities. Due to the large number of Latin Americans, America is the main continent of origin, followed by Europe, Asia and Africa.
The majority of foreign residents in Barcelona are from Ecuador, followed by Peru, Morocco, Colombia, Pakistan, Argentina, China and Bolivia.
The average age of foreigners in Barcelona is 32, which has helped to rejuvenate the city’s age structure and increase its economically active population. 47% of foreign residents have completed primary education, 29% have higher education, and the remainder have completed secondary education.
2. ECONOMIC DRIVER WITH A DIVERSIFIED STRUCTURE
2.1. Economic activity and growth
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the value of economic activity in financial terms within a given area during a one-year period. According to the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat), the value of Catalonia’s economic produc-tion in 2005 was 181,000 million euros, equivalent to 20.02% of the Spanish total.
Source: Barcelona City Council
Percentage of foreign residents in the total population
Source: Barcelona City Council
Foreigners in Barcelona by continent of origin
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at market prices Base year 2000. In millions of euros
2004 2005
Spain 837,316 904,323
Catalonia 167,479 181,029
% (Catalonia / Spain) 20.00% 20.02%
Source: Idescat and INE
Economic growth
Annual rates of change in GDP at constant prices
2004 2005
Catalonia 3.1 3.3
Spain 3.1 3.4
European Union (EU25) 2.4 1.6
Source: Idescat, INE, Eurostat
GDP per capita
In Purchasing Power Parity. Year 2003
Catalonia € 25,541 117.5
Spain € 21,174 97.4
Unió Europea (UE-25) € 21,741 100
Source: Eurostat
The annual rate of change of GDP in real or constant terms (without taking into account the effects of inflation) provides a reliable indicator of the area’s global economic growth.
In recent years, growth rates in Spain and Catalonia have been considerably higher than the European Union average. The economy in Catalonia experienced a 3.3% growth in 2005. Estimates for the first quarter of 2006 suggest a year-on-year growth rate of 3.6%, a tenth higher than the national average, as a result of a substantial rise in exports, industry recovery, and optimal services and construction results.
Economic growth(real annual GDP variation rates)
Catalonia Spain UE-25
Production structure
Percentage of employees by economic sectors, 2005
Barcelona Catalonia Spain
Agriculture 0.2% 0.5% 0.5%
Industry 12.4% 21.8% 17.5%
Construction 5.6% 9.7% 12.8%
Services 81.9% 68.0% 69.2%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Note: Affiliated to the general social security scheme Source: Barcelona City Council and Idescat
Distribution of companies with salaried workers in Barcelona by sectors
More specifically, the leading areas of activity in Barcelona in early 2005 were trade and repairs, which, with 55,500 compa-nies, accounted for 27.3% of the total number of businesses.
The manufacturing industry was the second largest, with 13.9% of the business fabric, although there was a drop in the number of companies during the last period due to the indus-trial relocation that took place in Barcelona, as occurred in other developed cities.
The third area of activity with the highest relative weight in Barcelona was the business services sector (13.3%), which experienced significant growth.
Other important branches in Barcelona’s business fabric are construction, which accounts for 12.9% of the total number of companies, the hotel and catering trade (8.1%), real estate (6%) and transport and communications (5.2%).
2.4. Companies
According to the INE’s Central Business Directory, there were over 436,000 businesses in Barcelona at the beginning of 2005. This figure accounts for 14.2% of the total number of companies in Spain, and 77% of the Catalan total.
Catalonia, with 567,000 businesses (19% of the Spanish total), continues to be the Spanish autonomous community with the highest number of companies. For the first time, Spain as a whole exceeded the threshold of 3 million companies.
Between January 2004 and January 2005, the number of acti-ve companies rose 4.5% in Barcelona, a more dynamic incre-ase than that seen in Catalonia and Spain during the same period.
3. EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND TALENT
3.1. Activity, employment and unemployment rates
According to official labour market data, activity rates among people of working age in Barcelona and Catalonia exceed the European average and that of the rest of Spain. Meanwhile, unemployment rates are lower than average European values.
Labour market indicators Data from the first quarter of 2006
Activity Employment Registered rate rate unemployment rate
Barcelona 77.4 71.6 7.5
Catalonia 76.2 70.8 7.1
Spain 71.5 65.0 9.1
European Union (EU25) 70.4 63.8 8.7
Note: Specific labour rates according to population between the ages of 16 and 64. EU data from 2005
Source: INE and Eurostat
3.2. Key worker influx area
Barcelona is a net importer of workers with regard to its metro-politan region. According to the Working Day Mobility Survey conducted in 2005, for every Barcelona resident who leaves the city to work in the surrounding area, almost two (1.87) non-residents enter the city.
Barcelona has a relatively balanced labour market, but with a surplus of jobs. A net balance of 127,000 people who live outside Barcelona commute to work.
People who regularly travel between Barcelona and the rest of the Metropolitan Region for work
Enter Barcelona 274,326
Leave Barcelona 146,764
Net balance 127,562
Source: Barcelona Institute of Regional and Metropolitan Studies, 2005
A more detailed analysis of this flow of entries and exits sug-gests that there are a greater number of departures from Barcelona in the industrial sectors. Meanwhile, entries are hig-her in tertiary sectors with a certain level of sophistication, such as those relating to hotel and catering, financial consulting, real estate and business services.
In addition, over two thirds (77.7%) of jobs in Barcelona are filled by the city’s residents. Barcelona’s high level of labour self-containment is characteristic of major urban cores that serve as capitals.
3.3. Jobs in Barcelona
A good indicator of labour market dimensions in Barcelona is the number of people affiliated to the social security, which is compulsory for all workers.
Considering the number of employees or salaried staff affiliated to the “general social security scheme”, as well as self-employed or “freelance” workers, there are over one million jobs in Barcelona, which account for 6.1% of the Spanish total.
2.5. Trading companies
One of the basic ways of exercising a business activity is by establishing a trading company.
According to the Central Business Directory, Catalonia is home to 18.9% of new trading companies established in Spain in 2005, equivalent to 26,082 companies, a 4.6% increase over the previous year. Data shows that this dynamism is particularly focused on the creation of limited companies (SL). Meanwhile, 1,492 trading companies were dissolved in Catalonia, 34.2% less than the previous year.
Company headquarters January 2005
Data from January 2005 Number Percentage Variation of companies over total 2005-04
Barcelona 436,294 14% 4.5%
Catalonia 567,019 19% 4.3%
Spain 3,064,129 100% 4.1%
Source: INE
Trading companies
2004 2005 Percentage Variation over total 2005-04 Established in Catalonia 24,940 26,082 18.9% 4.6% Established in Spain 132,178 138,333 100% 4.7% Dissolved in Catalonia 2,266 1,492 12.0% -34.2% Dissolved in Spain 15,763 12,441 100% -21.1% Source: Central Business Directory
Barcelona companies according to number of salaried workers
Barcelona. Data from January 2005
Number Percentage Variation
of companies 2005-04
Without salaried staff 232,893 53.4% 6.1% With salaried staff 203,401 46.6% 2.8% - One to 199 employees 202,398 46.4% 2.8% - More than 199 employees 1,003 0.2% 2.9%
Total companies 436,294 100.0% 4.5%
Source: INE
A more detailed analysis of these figures shows that 53% of the total number of companies that were active at the begin-ning of 2005 had no salaried employees and therefore refer to self-employed individuals. This group experienced the highest increase over the previous period, registering a 6.1% growth on the 4.5% average.
47% of the remaining companies in Barcelona are businesses with salaried staff. Of these, the majority are considered small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with one or less than 200 employees. Only 0.2% are considered large compa-nies of 200 or more employees.
Social security-affiliated workers
Data from the first quarter of 2006. General scheme and freelance workers
Totals Percentage over Spain
Barcelona 1,035,316 6.1%
Metropolitan region 2,246,068 13.3%
Catalonia 3,177,035 18.8%
Spain 16,920,784 100.0%
Source: Department of Labour and Industry of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia
3.4. Salaries
Barcelona continues to be a highly competitive city in terms of labour costs if we compare it to other major cities worldwide, as stated in the annual Prices and Earnings Report drawn up by the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS).
Taking Zurich as base 100, Barcelona is at level 42.2 in gross wages and 45.6 in net wages, which is much lower than levels in cities like Dublin, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Miami.
Salary levels in cities worldwide, 2005
City Gross salary Net salary
(Zurich=100) (Zurich=100)
Copenhagen 105.7 79.9
Zurich 100.0 100.0
New York 76.0 70.6
Frankfurt 74.0 63.3
Dublin 70.7 73.6
Amsterdam 68.8 60.6
Tokyo 65.6 67.6
Paris 57.7 56.4
Miami 56.1 56.7
Barcelona 42.2 45.6
Furthermore, Barcelona aims to disseminate new information and communication technologies (ICT) that play a leading role in the current digital revolution. With this in mind, local authorities have launched a range of initiatives and projects to extend the knowledge, use and implementation of new technologies among the city’s inhabitants, businesses and organisations.
The city is also working towards becoming one of the main venues for establishing technology companies, with projects such as the new 22@ district for technology and innovation.
4.1. Penetration of ICT in Barcelona homes
According to data gathered for the General Media Study by the Spanish Media Research Association (AIMC) between April 2005 and March 2006, 36.8% of the total population in Spain, and 40.8% of residents in Catalonia are Internet users.
According to a survey run by Barcelona City Council in December 2005, 58.2% of homes in Barcelona were connec-ted to the Internet. This figure has shown a steady rise in recent years, which demonstrates the increasing penetration of ICT in the city’s homes.
Meanwhile, 74.4% of those polled had contracted flat-rate Internet access, and 72% used the Internet and e-mail on a daily basis.
4.2. ICT penetration in Catalan companies
Catalan companies have consolidated the first stage of the digital change by becoming computerised, connecting to the Internet and establishing a presence on the Internet. Today’s challenge is to take advantage of technological resources by changing business procedures and adopting integrated digital management to improve productivity.
Most Catalan companies with ten or more workers have com-puters, Internet access and email. A little over one third has some sort of Intranet and half have their own website. In terms of e-commerce, 15% of companies buy or sell over the Internet.
Adoption of ICT in Catalan companies with 10 or more workers. 2005
Percentage
Internet connection 94.2%
E-mail 90.6%
Some sort of Intranet 37.3%
Website 50.6%
Use e-commerce (2004) 15.3%
- Buy over the Internet 13.8%
- Sell over the Internet 2.6%
Source: IDESCAT 3.5. University and higher education training and
attraction
There are eight universities in Barcelona: five are public (Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and the distance learning Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) and three are private (Universitat Ramon Llull, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya and Universitat Abat Oliva CEU). The city also has headquarters and centres that are affiliated with other Catalan, Spanish and foreign universities.
According to the Department of Education and Universities of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, a total of 238,434 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and postgradua-te studies at a Catalan university during the 2004-2005 acade-mic year. This figure accounts for 15% of the Spanish total.
There were 198,852 university students in Barcelona alone, plus another 63,000 if we take into account the masters, postgra-duate and specialisation diploma students. These figures are a good reflection of the importance of the city’s university com-munity, which are offered a wide range of studies that encom-pass practically all areas of knowledge, with 375 undergraduate and graduate degrees and a total of 357 doctoral programmes.
Universities in Barcelona 2004-05 academic year
Total number of university students 198,852 - 1st, 1st-2nd and 2nd cycle students 187,789 - 3rd cycle students (doctorate) 11,063 Total number of graduate students 63,822
- Masters students 14,682
- Postgraduate students 14,180
- Specialisation courses 34,960
Degrees
- 1st, 1st-2nd and 2nd cycle studies 375
- Number of doctoral programmes 357
Note: contains data for the eight universities in Barcelona. Data regarding the Universitat Abat Oliva is missing from the ongoing training information Source: Department of Education and Universities of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia
Many students enrolled at Barcelona’s universities are from other parts of Spain or abroad. According to Barcelona Centre Universitari, over 21,000 foreign students were enrolled during the 2004-05 academic year.
Students who choose Barcelona as a first or second-cycle uni-versity destination are mostly from the European Union and related countries. Taking data from the Erasmus exchange pro-gramme as a significant sample, we see that a majority of the nearly 4,000 students from other countries who studied at Barcelona universities during the 2004-05 academic year were from Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Belgium, in that order.
Although most third-cycle and postgraduate students are from Latin American countries, particularly Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, the number of students from the European Union is continuing to rise.
Aside from the eight universities mentioned above, the city is home to such internationally renowned business schools as IESE, ESADE and EADA. Few cities in the world have as many top-tier business schools, turning Barcelona into a highly prestigious brand that attracts many foreign MBA students to the city.
3.6. International schools
The Barcelona area has a variety of international schools that teach foreign curricula. The following is a non-comprehensive list: Licée Français, the Swiss School, the Japanese school of Barcelona, the Italian Scuola Elementare Statale, American School of Barcelona, Benjamin Franklin International School, The British School of Barcelona, and many others. There are a total of 27 schools that teach in five languages: English, French, German, Italian and Japanese.
4. KNOWLEDGE CITY
Barcelona has a number of key assets for becoming a centre of reference in the knowledge economy.
The city has eight universities, one of the most important uni-versity communities in Europe, numerous R&D and technology centres and a scientific park network with companies working in the field of technology and engineering.
It also boasts good connections and telecommunications infrastructures that make it very accessible, and has an excep-tional trained and talented human capital that is attracted to the city and stays to enjoy the high quality of life it has to offer.
The streets and squares of this dense, compact Mediterranean city encourage informational exchanges among its inhabitants. This setting is particularly suitable for generating knowledge, creativity and innovation.
Computers with Internet connection in Barcelona homes
Source: Barcelona City Council
Internet connections in Barcelona increased an average of 4% in 2005. Particularly noteworthy were the rapid rise in broadband ADSL (up 13%) and the drop in conventional dial-up connections (down 14.7%), although 21% of users still access the Internet using a “slow” connection.
Internet connection in Barcelona homes
The average monthly rent on offices located in Barcelona’s business district during the same period was 20.25 euros per m2. However, this average conceals the different prices that exist according to the area and supply ratio available.
Office Market
Total office space 4,975,172 m2
Area taken up in 2005 411,000 m2
Available supply (December 2005) 260,700 m2
Vacancy rate 5,24%
Average rent (€/m2/month) 20,25
Source: Jones Lang Lasalle, 2006
Barcelona’s office supply can be classified in four major cate-gories: “prime zone”, the heart of the city and the most pres-tigious streets (with 15% of the total office space and a maxi-mum price of €24 m2/month, according to the availability
ratio that is lower than in the rest of the city), the so-called “central business district” in the Eixample neighbourhood (with 50% of the office space and prices similar to the city average), the new central areas such as the 22@ technology district and where Avinguda Diagonal meets the sea, among others (now 15% of the office space but growing in impor-tance and with highly competitive prices) and the outskirts of the city (accounting for 20% of the total, with very interes-ting prices that are below the market average).
This stock distribution undergoes constant variations due to new developments entering the market and the conversion of old office buildings. Thus, in recent years a significant number of office buildings in high-value residential areas or with privileged locations have been turned into hotels or hou-sing while the new central areas concentrate most of the new supply on the market. This process helps redirect the demand towards property available in the new development areas while renewing obsolete real estate supply.
One of the most important projects is Poblenou 22@, with a potential building area of 3.5 million square metres in a 200-hectare area in the centre of the city. The project will attract and retain high-value economic activity linked to innovation and knowledge. Nearly 30% of the area has already been con-verted and is currently available. The transformation of the dis-trict is expected to last ten years, with new developments adapted to knowledge-intensive, high-added-value uses gra-dually entering the market.
A total of 800,000 square metres of office space are expected to enter the market by the end of 2008. Their gradual entry into the market, mostly in the 22@ district, ensures stable prices and the ability to compete with the attractive supply in other areas of the city in coming years.
Provision of new office supply
Year 2006 161,000 m2
Year 2007 298,000 m2
Year 2008 350,000 m2
Source: Jones Lang Lasalle 2006
5.2. Land and industrial property
Barcelona’s range of real estate for industrial activities is one of the largest in the Mediterranean basin, with close to 13 million square metres.
Many industrial estates are located close to the city, in areas including the Zona Franca and Logistics Activities Zone (ZAL) to the south, and near the port and airport. A process is currently underway to relocate and concentrate industry initially located in the city towards more specialised areas further away from the city centre. Meanwhile, the real estate supply in the first ring of Barcelona is increasingly focused on logistics activities taking advantage of the proximity to the port and airport.
Demand determines the supply on the market and makes it adapt to varying needs. On the one hand, the logistics and distribution sector requires multipurpose premises for lease, with direct access to roadways, and high premises to enable automation, with sufficient loading bays. On the other, the industrial sector needs medium to small spaces and ownership of premises with continuous facades that can be “customised”.
According to a study by Cushman & Wakefield, the average price of leased industrial premises at the end of 2005 was 84 euros per square metre per year. Other market estimates are included in the following table:
Industrial real estate market
Vacancy rate (2005) 4.8%
Average price range of leased industrial premises (€/m2/year) 40 - 102
Average price range of industrial premises for sale (€/m2/year)150 - 800
Source: King Sturge 2006
5.3. Commercial property
Barcelona has one of the widest ranges of shopping options in Europe. Barcelona’s commercial model is characterised by a coexistence of all types of formats (small shops, supermar-kets, shopping centres, chains and department stores) that ADSL is the predominant form of connection. Most companies
use the Internet to search for information, use e-banking services and find suppliers.
4.3. The knowledge economy in Barcelona
A “Knowledge City” is a place in which a significant part of its productive and social structure specialises in the production, use and exchange of knowledge.
According to a study conducted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona has a high degree of specialisation in knowledge-intensive areas: 45% of the employment, 26.6% of businesses, 38.1% of production, 79.5% of manufacturing exports, 33.9% of professionals employed in science and technology sectors and 28.3% of the working age population with tertiary education.
Barcelona is characterised by a pre-eminence of the services sector, which employs 81.3% of the working population (38.8% are dedicated to knowledge-intensive services). Industry employs 12.5% of the working population, of which 6.2% are high and medium-high technology manufactures.
Barcelona’s knowledge-intensive indicators
Percentage over total Salaried workers in knowledge-intensive activities (2004) 45.0%
- High-technology manufacturing 0.4%
- Medium-high technology manufacturing 5.8%
- Knowledge-intensive services 38.8%
Companies working in knowledge-intensive activities (2004) 26.6% Knowledge-intensive production (gross value added) (2001) 38.1% Knowledge-intensive manufacturing exports 79.5% Human resources in professions related to science 33.9% and technology (2001)
Working age population (ages 16-64) 28.3% with university or higher education (2001)
Note: According to classifications by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Source: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona-Barcelona City Council, 2004
According to the Spanish National Statistical Institute, Catalonia’s total research and development (R&D) expenditure in 2004 represented 23.5% of the Spanish total. In relative terms, Catalonia’s gross domestic expenditure on R&D was 1.44%, above Spain’s 1.12% average but below that of other countries such as Finland and Germany.
4.4. Electronic administration in Barcelona
The municipal website (www.bcn.cat) receives almost 100,000 visits a day, 80% being from people who live in the city, and the number of citizens carrying out procedures with the local administration over the Internet is on the rise.
At present, 90% of municipal procedures are available on the Internet and 25% can be completed online. There are a total of 20 procedures, including ordering copies of urban street plans, paying bills by direct debit, paying taxes and fines by credit card, etc.
2006 is expected to be the first year that more procedures in Barcelona will be carried out online than face-to-face at public information offices.
5. REAL ESTATE FOR BUSINESSES
Barcelona’s town planning is based on combining residential, commercial and business uses in each district.
The real estate available in Barcelona for business activity inclu-des almost 5 million square metres of office space, 12.5 million square metres of industrial zones and a network of 19 com-mercial hubs that concentrate the city’s comcom-mercial and busi-ness activity. With numerous urban transformation projects currently underway, Barcelona will see an increase in property for business activities in the coming years.
5.1. Offices
Barcelona has 5 million square metres of office space. Newly approved projects will bring about an even greater increase in the city’s capacity to facilitate the growth of business activities, with an excellent quality-price ratio. Furthermore, the gradual availability of new supply helps to contain future supply prices within levels similar to those of today.
6. AN ECONOMY OPEN TO THE WORLD
6.1. Foreign investment in Catalonia
According to data contained in the Investment Registry of the Spanish Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism, in 2005, Catalonia received 2,567 million euros as direct foreign investment, which accounted for 18% of Spain’s total inward investment.
Weight of foreign investment in Catalonia with regard to the Spanish total
are distributed throughout the city. In fact, practically all neighbourhoods and districts have their own highly attractive and diversified commercial streets or areas.
Real-estate professionals refer to Barcelona’s most emblema-tic streets, with high-ranking premises and areas, as the “commercial front line”. The area includes Passeig de Gràcia, a highly exclusive showcase that competes with major commercial avenues around the world. Immediately following is the city’s “secondary commercial area”, formed by streets with high-quality shops, renowned restaurants and utilities offices. The next classification refers to “areas of heavy traffic” with a concentration of shops with high customer and product rotation spread over different districts. Lastly, the groups of commercial streets that are spread around the city are known as the “fourth line of commercial areas”.
Barcelona’s commercial activity is currently organised around 19 shopping hubs, although plans are underway to create new ones in the coming years. These commercial hubs are urban open-air areas with a high concentration of shops, a wide variety of products and good transport connections. The consolidation of the district lines attracts the area’s inhabi-tants, tourists and customers from other neighbourhoods.
5.4. International comparison of business real estate prices
As seen in recent years, most of the investment in Catalonia in 2005 came from EU countries (72% of the total foreign investment received). By order of importance, the main inves-tors in Catalonia were Germany, France and the Netherlands. The ten main investors represent 96% of the total, which demonstrates the high concentration of origins.
Source: Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism
Catalonia saw a 33.6% rise on inward investments on the previous year, clearly above Spain’s 23.6% average. 2005 was the second year in which foreign investment in Catalonia rose following the 2001-2003 period, characteri-sed by a significant drop in most advanced economies as a result of the slowing down of global economic activity and the arrival of emerging markets that proved more attractive to international investors
Direct foreign investment In millions of euros
2004 2005 Variation 2005/04
Catalonia 1.921,8 2.567,3 33,6%
Total Spain 11.679,8 14.432,7 23,6%
Note: Gross effective investment without investments from ETVE (Entitats de Tinència de Valors Estrangers, or holding companies)
Source: Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism
The chemical industry received 39% of all foreign invest-ments received in Catalonia in 2005. Other economic sectors that benefited from foreign investment were: non-metallic mineral production (11.9%), banking and other financial intermediaries (11.6%), trade (9.0%), real estate (5.6%), rub-ber and plastic production (3.3%), hotel and catering (2.9%), mining and oil refinery (2.7%), and transport and communi-cations (2.0%).
6.2. Catalan investment abroad
In 2005, Catalan investment abroad showed a significant drop on the previous year to a total of 1,799 million euros. Spain’s total investment of 22,975 million euros also fell, although not quite to the same extent.
Source: Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism Origin of foreign investment in Catalonia Percentages, 2005
Comparison of prices in major European cities
Lease price Offices Shops Industrial
property Maximum Maximum Min.- Max.
€/m2/year €/m2/year €/m2/year
Amsterdam 442 1,650 55 -85
Athens 452 2,400 58 -84
Barcelona 468 2,123 40 -102
Berlin 348 2,040 30 -60
Birmingham 728 n.d. 44 -104
Brussels 544 1,300 40 -60
Dublin 939 3,393 110 -123
London 1.428 5,923 115 -198
Madrid 581 2,520 42 -93
Manchester 816 2,369 75 -103
Milan 645 2,150 50 -65
Paris 645 6,628 40 -90
Roma 487 2,150 50 -70
Stockholm 562 1,127 32 -74
Vienna 361 1,920 34 -79
Zurich 731 3,217 23 -101
Sources: King Sturge “European Industrial Property Markets 2006” Cushman & Wakefield “Marketbeat Shops Europe 2006” CB Richard Ellis “Global Market Office Rents Europe 2006”
Investment abroad In millions of euros
2004 2005 Variation 05/04
Catalonia 5,585.4 1,799.3 -67.8%
Total Spain 38,622.5 22,974.8 -40.5%
Note: Gross investment without investment in ETVE (Entitats de Tinència de Valors Estrangers, or holding companies)
Source: Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism
Catalonia’s investment overseas focused on the European Union, with 65.6% of the total, followed by Latin America with 24.3%.
Ranked by order of importance, the main recipients of Catalan investments in 2005 were: the Netherlands (28%), United Kingdom (19.1%), Argentina (16.1%), France (5.8%), Mexico (5%), United States (4.8%), Portugal (3.9%), Germany (3%), Italy (2.2%), Denmark (2%), Brazil (1.9%), Turkey (1.3%) and China (1.2%).
The economic sectors that received Catalan investments were: trade (36.5%), transport and communications (19.4%), other manufacturing industries such as machinery, electronic mate-rial, vehicles and their components (13.5%), chemical industry and processed rubber and plastic (9.1%), business and real estate activities (5.4%) and hotels and restaurants (3.6%).
6.3. Catalan exports
In 2005, Catalan exports amounted to over 42,000 million euros. Catalan sales grew by 7.2% on the previous year and were 2.3% higher than the Spanish growth rate. The Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) estimates for 2006 indicate a 13.2% increase in Catalan exports during the first four months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, which reveals the major impact of Catalan sales abroad.
Catalonia clearly continues to be the most thriving autono-mous community in Spain in terms of exports, with 27.6% of the total.
Exports Millions of euros
2004 2005 Variation 2005 / 04
Spain 146,370.9 153,558.1 4.9%
Catalonia 39,523.6 42,364.0 7.2%
Barcelona (metropolitan area) 31,416.1 33,555.0 6.8% Catalonia over Spain (%) 27.0% 27.6%
Ranked by order of importance, the main sectors of Catalan exports are: cars and vehicles, machinery and electric material (television and radio receivers and transmitters, cables, swit-ches, etc.), mechanical appliances, plastic materials and pharmaceutical and chemical products.
In 2005, Catalonia exported 40,784 million euros worth of industrial products, 65% of which had a high or medium-high technology component. High-technology exports underwent the sharpest annual increase with a 19% variation rate, which was higher than the average rise of Catalonia’s total industrial exports (7.3%).
6.4. Port of Barcelona
With 45 million tons of freight traffic, 2 million containers and 2.2 million passengers in 2005, the Port of Barcelona is one of the busiest on the Mediterranean.
There has been a considerable increase in commercial activity in recent years. In 2005, Barcelona saw a 12% increase in freight traffic, well above that of other Spanish ports as well as major European ports including Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Port of Barcelona traffic indicators Millions
2004 2005 Variation 2005 / 04
Freight (tons) 39,32 43,84 11,5%
Containers (TEU) 1,92 2,07 8,1%
Passengers (including ferries 1,97 2,21 12,2% and cruises)
Source: Port of Barcelona - Barcelona Port Authority
The Port of Barcelona specialises in general cargo, particularly in container traffic, with high-added-value items, such as vehicles, electronic products and consumer goods, making it the top Spanish port in terms of turnover and value of goods.
The Port of Barcelona connects such distant markets as the Far East and Latin America, and its hinterland goes beyond national borders.
Most Catalan exports (73% of the total) are to EU countries, particularly those in the Euro-zone. The top ten customers account for practically 79% of all sales from Catalonia to other countries.
The Port is currently undertaking an ambitious expansion pro-cess—its biggest ever—that is set to double both its sea area (going from 374 to 786 hectares) and its land surface area (from 558 to 1,265 hectares).
In June 2006, management of the new container terminal, which will increase container traffic to 4.5 million a year by the end of 2008, was awarded. The Port of Barcelona expects freight traffic from Southeast Asia to rise significantly and could reach up to 50% of the total traffic.
Road and rail infrastructures are also being remodelled to improve connections between terminals and the airport and to accommodate the high-speed train. This will contribute to the port’s intermodality and increase its competitive advantage in the distribution of goods in a much shorter amount of time.
6.5. Barcelona Airport
Barcelona Airport, an essential link in the tourism, logistics and business chain, is located in the south-west of the city, only 3 km from the port and very close to Zona Franca, Spain's most important industrial estate, which includes dis-tribution, transport and handling areas (Logistics Activities Zone and Logistics Park). The airport’s area of influence has a population of over 17 million.
In 2005, a new record was achieved in passenger numbers, with a 10.6% variation rate on the previous year. Since the Olympic Games in 1992, the airport has seen an outstanding growth, going from 10 million users in 1992 to 27 million in 2005.
As for its airfreight volumes, 90,446 tons of commercial goods passed through Barcelona airport in 2005. Although the volume of transported goods is modest, a significant increase is expected on the medium term as a result of investments into the airfreight centre.
The airport handles a daily average of 900 flights, with 131 destinations and over 80 airline companies. Destinations include 32 national flights, 67 to the European Union and 32 international flights.
According to official data from Airports Council International (ACI), Barcelona Airport was leader in Europe in terms of average annual growth and ranked 35th in the world. In addition, Skytrax, an entity that conducts an annual study on airport facilities around the world, elected it the third best airport in southern Europe.
Technology level of products exported from Catalonia, 2005
Main export countries from Catalonia Percentages, 2005
Source: Autonomous Government of Catalonia’s Directorate General of Customs and Directorate General of Trade
Source: Idescat
Air traffic was boosted in 2005 with new international flights, thanks to efforts by the Air Routes Development Committee, which promotes Barcelona Airport and is for-med by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Aena.
Barcelona Airport traffic indicators
2004 2005 Variation 2005 / 04 Passengers 24,558,138 27,152,745 10.6% - International passengers 11,853,432 13,374,465 12.8% - Domestic passengers 12.510.651 13,588,146 8.6% - Transit passengers 194,055 190,134 -2.0%
Freight (tons) 84,985 90,446 6.4%
Source: Barcelona Airport - Aena
Airport facilities are currently undergoing a major upgrade and expansion process. In addition to a new runway that is already in use, the plan includes the building of a fourth ter-minal, an extensive services area and major improvement of approach roads. In 2006, plans to create a fifth terminal were made public. These transformations will enhance freight traf-fic capacity to 70 million passengers.
Other plans include the arrival by 2020 of two direct under-ground lines to the airport, which is currently accessible by train, bus and taxi services.
7. A MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION AND CITY FOR TRADE FAIRS AND CONGRESSES
7.1. Urban tourist destination
Barcelona became consolidated as an outstanding European tourist destination many years ago. According to European Cities Tourism, it tops the 2004 list of non-capital tourist cities and ranks sixth on the list of European tourist cities.
In 2005, the number of visitors exceeded five million for the first time ever, with some 11 million overnight stays. Despite being more balanced than the previous year, the rise was quite significant, with an 11% annual rate of change.
Barcelona tourism indicators
2004 2005 Variation 2005/04
Tourists 4,549,587 5,061,264 11%
Barcelona offers a high-quality range of hotels, with 268 esta-blishments, over 25,000 rooms and almost 50.000 beds, and an average occupancy rate of 76%. The number of four-star hotels has shown the greatest increase in recent years, while the rise in the number of hotels has contained prices.
Hotel indicators
2004 2005 Variation 2005/04
Hotels 255 268 5.1%
Rooms 23,739 25,355 6.8%
Beds 45,286 49,235 8.7%
Hotel occupancy rate(% of rooms) 75.5% 76.0% 0.7% Source: Barcelona Tourism
According to a survey conducted by Barcelona Tourism, visitors to Barcelona give the city a favourable overall grade of 8.1 on a scale of 0 to 10, and the most highly valued aspects are its architectural heritage, culture, shops, leisure activities, hotels and restaurants.
Without a doubt, Barcelona’s cuisine is another important attraction factor due to the good international position of Catalan food and the prestige of its chefs. Moreover, Barcelona is the Spanish city with most Michelin stars: eleven, according to the 2006 Guide.
7.2. Tourist cruises
Barcelona is the number one port in Europe, only surpassed as an international destination by the Caribbean and North America.
The city has seen a spectacular rise in the number of visitors arriving on cruise liners: going from 115,137 in 1990 to 1.2 million in 2005. There has been a 20% rise in passengers only in the last year.
Cruise ship indicators
2004 2005 Variation 2005/04 Cruise ship passengers 1,021,405 1,224,575 19.9% - Boarding passengers 280,294 293,386 4.7% - Disembarking passengers 278,914 297,671 6.7% - Transit passengers 462,197 633,518 37.1%
Number of stopovers 634 691 9.0%
Source: Port of Barcelona - Barcelona Port Authority
Prospects for the next few years are excellent: up to two million cruise passengers are expected to arrive by 2010. To accommodate this growth, the existing terminals are being
refurbished and new ones are being built. One of the most attractive factors of the port of Barcelona is that its cruise ter-minals are located in the centre of the city, which means that passengers can easily walk around the historic area of the city in a short amount of time.
Port authorities aim to reduce the seasonal nature of this activity, which is particularly prominent between the months of May and October, and increase the number of cruises that originate and terminate in the city, thus encouraging visitors to remain in Barcelona for two or three days rather than the twelve hours typical of transit passengers.
7.3. Congresses, conventions and incentive trips
2005 was a particularly good year for congressional activity in Barcelona, with an 18% rise in the number of meetings.
Conventions and incentive trips saw a 29% increase, with over one thousand meetings for the first time ever. The number of congresses, on the other hand, returned to normal following the exceptional figures achieved during the Universal Forum of Cultures 2004. This distorting effect also influenced the total number of delegates, which showed a slight decrease.
Congressional activity indicators
2004 2005 Variation 2005/04 Total number of congresses 1,146 1,353 18.1% and conventions
- Number of congresses 374 352 -5.9%
- Number of conventions 772 1001 29.7% and incentive trips
Total number of delegates 360,335 343,005 -4.8% Source: Barcelona Tourism
2005 saw the consolidation of the city’s international positio-ning with 74% of delegates visiting from abroad and 62% of meetings being of an international scope.
As seen in recent years, there has been a pre-eminence of medical and public health congresses and conventions dedicated to chemical and pharmaceutical issues, with a sharp rise in the number of meetings in the science and new technologies sectors.
According to Barcelona Tourism estimates, the direct economic impact of congresses and conventions in the city amounted to 717.5 million euros in 2005.
Lastly, Barcelona ranks third in the number of international con-ferences according to the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), and seventh in tourism meetings, accor-ding to the Union of International Associations (UIA).
Without taking into account the tourists from other parts of Spain, most visitors to the city are from Europe, with the United Kingdom, Italy and France as the main countries of origin. United States and Japan are other major countries of origin.
Origin of visitors to Barcelona, 2005
Spain 30.8%
United Kingdom 12.6%
Italy 8.4%
United States 7.6%
France 6.4%
Germany 5.2%
Holland 3.3%
Japan 2.2%
Others 23.5%
Total visitors 100.0%
Source: Barcelona Tourism
79% of visitors to Barcelona arrived by plane, a means of transport that has shown a considerable increase in recent years, partly due to the arrival of low-cost airlines. However, this has not brought about a drop in the average expenditu-re of visitors, which continues to show a clear upward texpenditu-rend (yearly rise of 23.6% in 2005).
Over 50% of tourists visit the city for professional reasons and this figure is expected to rise or remain stable in 2006 due to the considerable number of major congresses, trade fairs and conventions set to be held in the city.
Tourists’ reasons for visiting, 2005
Source: Barcelona Tourism
7.4. Fira de Barcelona
Fira de Barcelona is a leading European institution that was cre-ated over one hundred years ago for the World’s Fair of 1888. It organises in excess of 60 fairs every year and plays host to 28,600 exhibiting companies and 3.2 million visitors.
Moreover, it organises 75% of Spain’s major industrial and professional trade fairs and hosts 15 major European shows that are leaders in their specialist areas:
Fira de Barcelona trade fairs that are a point of reference in Europe
Name Rating Sector
3GSM No. 1 Mobile Telephony
Bread & Butter No. 1 Urban fashion
Expoquimia No. 1 Chemical
EIBTM No. 1 Business trips,
congresses
Hostelco No. 1 Hotel and catering
Piscina No. 1 Leisure and sports
activities
Alimentaria No. 2 Food and drink
Barcelona Meeting Point No. 2 Real estate
Construmat No. 2 Construction
SIL No. 2 Logistics
Sonimagfoto No. 2 Photography and
audio-visual technology
Saló de l’Automòbil No. 3 Vehicles
Caravaning No. 3 Leisure and tourism
Graphispag No. 3 Graphic arts and
publishing
Saló Nàutic No. 3 Nautical
Source: Fira de Barcelona
Since 2004, fifteen new shows have been created, including EIBTM, 3GSM and Bread & Butter, which are world leaders in their sectors. Fira is working to continue to grow on the basis of quality, while paying special attention to up-and-coming sectors, creating and attracting new trade fairs and promoting those that already exist.
The Fira de Barcelona Strategic Plan for 2006-2015 also focu-ses on expanding the new Gran Vía site and refurbishing the historic Montjuïc site in the city centre. Upon termination of the works in 2009, Barcelona will have the second largest trade fair facilities in Europe and the first in terms of design, techno-logical innovation and customer service. All in all, it will occupy an area of 355,000 m2(115,000 m2in Montjuïc and 240,000 m2
at the Gran Vía site).
facilities and easy access to public transport. People go to the beaches to swim, sail, sunbathe, go for a walk, play or enjoy the sea.
Many green areas, parks and gardens are spread around Barcelona and over 364,000 trees line its streets and avenues.
Green areas in Barcelona
Urban parks (green areas for public use) 5,498,000 m2
Urban green areas (green areas 10,399,700 m2
incorporated to the urban fabric)
Urban green spaces per capita 6.6 m2/inhabitant
Source: Barcelona City Council, 2004
On the edge of the city is Collserola, a park with 8,000 hecta-res of woodland (1,795 in the municipal area). It is one of the world’s largest natural areas located so close to a major city. Other protected natural areas are situated less than an hour away and are ideally suited for practising sports and taking part in outdoor activities.
8.2. Sustainable mobility
Barcelona’s city model is based on the territorial balance of its districts and an attempt is made to guarantee optimal stan-dards of urban quality throughout.
The city has sustainable mobility and promotes the use of public transport and pedestrian areas. According to the 2005 Mobility Survey on Working Days, over a third of all travel within the city is made on foot or by bicycle, and almost 40% is by public transport. Private transport is only used for 25% of trips.
8. QUALITY OF LIFE
Barcelona is a dynamic, modern and diverse city, where a pro-found entrepreneurial, commercial and competitive spirit has for centuries coexisted with the art of good living and the expressiveness of a rich culture and urban quality.
For the eighth consecutive year, European executives intervie-wed in 2006 have chosen Barcelona as the European city with the highest quality of life for its employees.
European cities with the best quality of life. 2006
Barcelona 1
Zurich 2
Madrid 3
Paris 4
Stockholm 5
Munich 6
London 7
Rome 8
Geneva 9
Lisbon 10
Source: Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker, 2006
According to a survey conducted by EOS-Gallup for the European Union on life in European cities, 9 out of 10 Barcelona residents are happy or very happy to be living in the city and only 1% declare they are completely dissatisfied. The 2005 Eurobarometer survey ranks Barcelona as the 7th best place to live from a list of 31 cities.
8.1. Climate and environment
Barcelona’s Mediterranean climate is characterised by pleasant, moderate temperatures throughout the year, few days of rain and many hours of sunshine. With its mild climate and long daylight hours—up to fifteen in the summer and no less than seven in the winter—daily life in Barcelona is associated with good weather and outdoor activities.
Climate indicators of Barcelona
Average annual temperature 18.2 ºC
Extreme maximum temperature 34.8 ºC
Extreme minimum temperature 2.3 ºC
Annual daylight hours 2,687
Source: Barcelona City Council, 2004
Barcelona’s urban beaches, over four kilometres in length, are the city’s most frequently used leisure areas, with some 8.5 million users a year who enjoy a high level of safety, hygiene,
Barcelona has 120 kilometres of bike lanes and some 43,000 daily bike users. The city also offers a comfortable, efficient public transport system (bus, underground, tram and subur-ban trains) that carried up to 887 million passengers in 2005. Compared to other European cities, the cost of the urban transport system is much cheaper in Barcelona.
8.3. Vibrant cultural programme of events
Barcelona’s streets feature 913 monuments, including sculptu-res, fountains and other art and ornamental works, and boasts a valuable architectural heritage (Roman ruins, Art Nouveau and examples of Romanesque, Gothic and contemporary art) that is a strong attraction for visitors. Moreover, Barcelona is the only city in the world to have nine UNESCO World Heritage buildings.
In 2005, 9.7 million people visited Barcelona’s 45 museums. Some of the most popular and best known are the Picasso Museum, the new CosmoCaixa science museum and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC). The Sagrada Familia Temple is the most popular cultural monument in Spain, with 2.4 million visitors every year.
The city’s music scene is particularly vibrant, featuring classical music and opera at the Auditori, Palau de la Música Catalana and Liceu, major concerts by pop and rock stars, as well as tra-ditional, contemporary and experimental music. The Barcelona Summer Festival also offers an extensive programme of cut-ting-edge stage performances and concerts.
Theatre has a deeply rooted tradition in Barcelona, where 2.1 million spectators attended performances in public, commer-cial and smaller alternative venues in 2005.
Barcelona is also highly active in terms of film production and screenings, and an increasing number of national and foreign producers chose it as the location for shooting films, reports and adverts. The city also hosts a variety of international festi-vals and has a total of 205 cinemas.
8.4. Competitive cost of living
According to a study on the cost of living conducted in 2006 by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Barcelona is among the most affordable cities in Europe.
On a worldwide scale, the city is not one the 50 most expensi-ve cities for transferring executiexpensi-ves: it ranks 56 in the world (21 in Europe). In short, Barcelona is cheaper than many cities including Moscow (the most expensive in Europe due to the high accommodation prices), London, Rome and Prague. Means of transport within the city
Source: Metropolitan Transport Authority and Barcelona City Council
Comparison on the cost of living in cities worldwide The most expensive The most expensive
in the world in Europe
Moscow 1 1
London 5 2
Zurich 9 5
Milan 13 8
Dublin 18 11
Rome 21 12
Stockholm 36 16
Prague 50 19
Madrid 53 20
Barcelona 56 21
Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting, 2006
8.5. Residential real estate market
As in other Spanish cities, the housing market in Barcelona revolves largely around ownership property.
Construction of new housing in Barcelona has been significant, with 6,180 homes initiated in 2005, 39.9% more than the previous year. Despite this dynamism, housing prices have con-tinued an upward trend.
Sale prices of new-build housing rose 21.2% in 2005, while the increase in second-hand property was 17.4%. Rental prices, meanwhile, grew more moderately by 12.6%.
The average price of new-build housing in Barcelona exceeded 5,000 euros per square metre, while resale market prices were less than 4,500 euros per square metre. The average monthly rental price for contracts signed in 2005 exceeded 12 euros per square metre.
Average housing prices in Barcelona, 2005
Rent (€/m2/month) 12.29
Sale price for new housing (€/m2) 5,082.00
Price for resale housing (€/m2) 4,476.00
Source: Municipal Housing Authority - Barcelona City Council
9. NEW PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE
Barcelona is a dynamic city that is constantly reinventing itself with a view to the future. The city is currently immer-sed in the largest urban and economic transformation pro-ject in its recent history.
22@ innovation district 200 hectares
3.2 million m2for productive activities
162 million euros for the Infrastructure Plan
Delta Plan 1,000 hectares
4,411 million euros of investment
Expansion of the airport, port and logistics activities zone
Sagrera- Sant Andreu 163 hectares
53.5 hectares of green areas and a 5-km linear park Construction of over 8,000 homes
b_tec, Besòs Interuniversity Campus
8 hectares
148,000 m2 developable
2,000 students and 180 faculty members (1st stage)
Plaça de les Glòries and the surrounding area 600 million euros
36 blocks in the Eixample district will be affected 19-hectare rectangular plaza
The new Marina neighbourhood 75 hectares, 12 hectares of green spaces, Almost 12,000 new homes, 30,000 inhabitants, 315,000 m2for economic activities
The new Verneda-Estadella neighbourhood 72 hectares
10.000 new homes 5.000 inhabitants
New projects for the future aim to consolidate and extend eco-nomic development in the new knowledge society framework, within the parameters regarding sustainability, internationali-sation, social cohesion and quality of life. Some of these pro-jects surpass the city proper to cover its metropolitan region, clearly supporting the idea of a metropolitan city.
The most emblematic projects are highlighted as follows:
1
1
2
2
3
4
5
6
7
4
5
6
7
3
Remodelling of a large area surrounding the new central sta-tion for the high-speed train in Sagrera. The stasta-tion will be intermodal, with short-distance trains, buses and metro. Covering of the tracks and urban remodelling of various neighbourhoods in the surrounding area. Construction of a museum dedicated to mobility.
Creation of an area for the generation and transmission of knowledge and innovation. Based on the “triple helix” model based on bringing together science, technology, Public Administration and the corporate world. Construction of the Edifici Campus, offices, Universitat Empresa, Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering, Energy Research Centre, a university residence hall and commercial areas.
Renovation works on Plaça de les Glòries and the surrounding area to convert it into one of the city’s largest green spaces and an important intermodal public transport hub. Removal of the current overpass and creation of an underpass for
Creation of a new neighbourhood with mixed-use areas for residential and economic activities in the traditionally industrial Zona Franca district of Barcelona. Use of the area: 30% roads, 35% residential and economic activities, 31% public areas and green spaces.
Creation of a new neighbourhood in a markedly industrial area located close to Ronda Litoral. Replacement of old factories, industrial premises and warehouses for office buil-dings and homes. Creation of schools, health centres and markets.
Transformation of the old Poblenou industrial estate into a new technology and innovation district, promoting the esta-blishment of advanced services and knowledge-intensive activities.
Fostering a mix of uses, the area will be turned into a place in which to live and work. Different motors are transforming the district, including the audiovisual, ICT and biomedical sectors, a university and research campus, and technology companies and centres.
A set of coordinated projects and investments in transporta-tion, logistics and environmental infrastructures that will turn Barcelona into a first-rate logistics centre, a European gateway and bridge between the Mediterranean and Latin America.
The plan includes the expansion of the airport, the port (doubling the surface area via land reclaimed from the sea) and the Logistics Activities Zone (ZAL), and the upgrading of road and railway connections, diversion of the river and envi-ronmental improvements.
10. INTERNATIONAL POSITION
Barcelona has received a very positive assessment in a number of studies, indicators and classifications of cities and regions drawn up by prestigious independent consultants and organi-sations. The following is a selection of ten indicators:
Barcelona brand, number one in Europe
“Branding Communication Strategies for Cities in Europe”. Porter & Novelli. May, 2006
The study by the North American PR consultancy states that Barcelona has a differentiated, prestigious brand, even more so than Paris and London. Its history, public-private collabora-tion, political leadership and deeply rooted collective identity and sentiment are among its key success factors. In the cate-gory of tourism brands, Barcelona shares the lead with Paris and Prague.
Barcelona, 5th strongest city brand in the World “The Anholt City Brands Index”.
Global Market Insite (GMI). December, 2005
Barcelona is in fifth position after London, Paris, Sydney and Rome, and is therefore the most highly valued city that is not a capital of state. Barcelona is ahead of Amsterdam, New York, Los Angeles, Madrid and Berlin, among many others.
Barcelona, 4th European city for businey “European Cities Monitor”.
Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker. September, 2006 Barcelona is the preferred city to set up a business, after London, Paris and Frankfurt. For the first time, Barcelona has overtaken Brussels and gone up one place in the ranking carried out by the consultancy firm through a survey based on interviews with 500 executives of Europe’s top companies.
Catalonia and Barcelona, 3rd destination for foreign investment in Europe
“Attractivité de l’Ile-de-France en 2004”.
Paris-Ile-de-France Capitale Économique and Ernst & Young. 2006
This study establishes a quantitative comparison between 15 major European cities during the 2000-2004 period for attracting new international investment. Barcelona and Catalonia are in third place, behind Greater London and Île de France/Paris.
First European city in terms of progress “European Cities Monitor”.
Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker. September, 2006 Barcelona heads the ranking of European cities that do most to improve and progress, followed by Madrid, Prague and Berlin.
Western European City of the Future and European City for Transport
“European Cities & Regions of the Future 2006-07”. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). 2006
Barcelona won the competition organised by the magazine belonging to the Financial Times group in the categories of Western European City of the Future, best city in the Iberian Peninsula and European City for Transport. The latter is a result of ambitious plans to improve different modes of trans-port: the arrival of the high-speed train, expansion of the port and airport, improvement of the metro network, etc.
Best quality of life for professionals “European Cities Monitor”.
Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker. September, 2006 For the eighth consecutive year, Barcelona has been deemed the best European city in terms of quality of life for professio-nals, followed by Zurich, Madrid and Paris.
Barcelona is no longer among the 50 most expensive cities in the world
“World-wide cost of living survey 2005”. Mercer Human Resource Consulting. June, 2006
This report analyses the cost of living in 144 cities worldwi-de from the viewpoint of multinational companies that send professionals to work in other countries. Barcelona ranks 56, behind many European cities, including Madrid.
5th European city with the best real estate prospects for 2006
“Emerging Trends”.
Urband Land Institute (ULI). June, 2006
According to the Urban Land Institute, formed by promoters, urban planners, lawyers and architects, Barcelona, together with Paris, London, Helsinki and Madrid, offer the most attractive real estate investment options.
3rd city in the world with the highest number of international conventions
"The International Association Meetings Market 2005". International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA). April, 2006
According to statistics collected by the association, Barcelona ranked third in the number of international conventions organised in 2005, only surpassed by Vienna and Singapore.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
•Barcelona Airport - AENA, Spanish Airport Authority:www.aena.es
•Barcelona City Council:
Local government: www.bcn.cat
•Catalonia Investment Agency (ACI): www.catalonia.com
•Barcelona Activa: Local economic
development agency: www.barcelonactiva.es
•Barcelona Centre Universitari (BCU, Barcelona University Centre): www.bcu.cesca.es
•Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Barcelona: www.cambrabcn.es
•Casa Asia: Public institution that promotes knowledge of and relationships with Asia: www.casaasia.org
•CIDEM, Centre for Innovation and Business Development: www.cidem.com
•Foreign Trade Statistics of the Spanish Tax Agency: www.aeat.es/aduanas/estadist/
•Investment statistics of the Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism:www.mcx.es
•Fira de Barcelona: www.firabcn.es
•INE: Spanish National Statistical Institute:
www.ine.es
•IDESCAT: Catalan Statistical Institute:
www.idescat.net
•IERMB: Barcelona Institute of Regional and Metropolitan Studies:www.uab.es/iemb/
•EUROSTAT: Statistical Office of the European Communities:www.europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/
•Generalitat de Catalunya:
Autonomous Government of Catalonia:www.gencat.cat
•Port of Barcelona - Barcelona Port Authority: www.apb.es
•Societat municipal 22@: www.bcn.cat/22@bcn
