José Manuel García-Margallo presents a report on corporate social responsibility of Spanish companies in Ibero-America

The report, drafted with the collaboration of the Office of the High Commissioner of the Government for Marca España, is pioneering, since it is the first time that information on Good Corporate Governance and the Corporate Social Responsibility of Spanish companies operating in the region of Ibero-America - which set a global benchmark in certain fields - has been published. On the one hand, these projects contribute to improving Spain's prestige overseas and, on the other hand, to the economic and human development of countries where they are established.

The report gathers together a selection of the most significant CSR projects, covering a broad range of areas with a major impact. Worthy of mention are programmes to foster school attendance by infants (which more than 1.5 million children have already benefitted from); university training; programmes to facilitate the use of new technologies to gain access to education and to facilitate the labour integration of those with disabilities, and micro-loan programmes in vulnerable communities and those at risk of exclusion, which offer the possibility of a much improved future for close on 5 million beneficiary entrepreneurs and their families.

In his speech, Minister García-Margallo highlighted the originality and creative talent of our companies, which enhance the view of our country as a preferential target for investors and visitors. This circumstance not only benefits the prestige of our country but also our economic growth and the creation of jobs.

Furthermore, the minister pointed out that by undertaking CSR projects, our companies demonstrate their intention to remain in those countries and their commitment to the aims and aspirations for progress and well-being of those people that welcome them, thus linking their future to those companies. Their status as pioneers in innovation, respect for the environment and sustainable growth and their solidarity in providing a response to the basic needs of the most needy groups in the areas in which they operate is acknowledged by the societies in which they act and receives collaboration from the respective governments and local authorities.