The Lehendakari (president) of the Basque Government, Imanol Pradales, has presented the ‘Euskadi Globala’ (Global Euskadi) strategy to prepare the country for the international challenges of the future: ‘We must go from being a country that goes abroad to a country that plays abroad. We must go from being a country that goes out into the world to a country that plays the game in the world’.
With this message, the Basque President shared the concerns of his government with a representation of the institutional, associative and economic fabric. ‘The Basque Country must continue to look proudly at the world. Being aware of our size, of our limitations, but also of our strengths. This role is essential in the defence of social, economic, cultural and political interests…’ he said.
The facilities of ‘Albaola Itsas-Kultur Faktoria’, in the Basque town of Pasaia have hosted this presentation; an innovative space where artisanal maritime technology is recovered and put in value and, probably, the best place to embark on new dreams that lead us to new destinations as a Community.
The Lehendakari recalled the international vocation that the Basque Country has had throughout its history, with its maritime and fishing tradition being one of its exponents. ‘We must take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead of us, just as we have done on countless occasions throughout our history. It is time to reposition ourselves. It is time to reclaim the space that, in terms of our own capabilities, is rightfully ours. No one will do it for us. It is something that it is up to us to do in the first person’.
The Lehendakari has committed himself to ‘weaving new networks to connect us with international nodes that provide value. Economic, political, cultural or scientific-technological value for the Basque Country’ and thus establish new strategic alliances “with those who share common interests in order to grow together”. In the opinion of Imanol Pradales, it is essential ‘to have our own voice at the tables where relevant decisions are taken in Europe, decisions that affect us directly; to generate attractive poles and spaces to attract talent to the Basque Country; to promote a globally connected business ecosystem to encourage the creation of new businesses and employment in the international market, as well as to strengthen the roots in the Basque Country’.
‘Everything seems to indicate that we are witnessing the birth of a new, more complex and uncertain era. In the current international scenario, several crises and transformations are taking place at the same time, affecting all areas of reality and our daily lives’, he stressed.
However, he also pointed out that uncertainty is not exclusive to our times and that the Basque Country must find its place in this current context. ‘Our success depends to a large extent on our being able to grow as a country in the international context from our European base’.
‘We have to open up paths and routes towards worlds and ways of doing things that are unknown today. We have to get up from the comfort of the sofa, take courage and dream. We must look beyond our homes to unknown horizons that will allow us to care for, improve and revitalise the Basque Country with humility but with total ambition’, he concluded.
