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Spain

General Information & Brief Economic Summary

Standards

US Government in Spain

Spanish Government Contacts

Trade Associations and Other Key Contacts

Trade Event Schedule


General Information & Brief Economic Summary

Spain is a member of the European Union (EU) and remains the fastest growing of the EU's larger economies. Spain's GDP grew 2.8 percent in 2001. Growth was spurred by construction, International institutions. IMF, OECD, and EU project growth to be 2.0 percent for 2002 while private analysts anticipate only a 1.7 percent growth. Government sources project there will be a improvement in Industry for 2003. Manufacturing has also shown growth. Spain is the third largest car producer in the EU.

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Standards

At present, there are no requirements for either ISO 9000 certification or its E.U. equivalent. Nonetheless, demand for products that meet these standards is growing. Spain has established specific certification for certain products. This certification procedure is referred to as "homologation" and involves cumbersome product testing by approved laboratories. Although most of the local homologation requirements and testing standards are gradually disappearing as Spanish legislation conforms to E.U. directives, certain homologation and other special requirements remain for some products. Generally a product that meets the standards and certification requirements of any other E.U. country can be imported and sold in Spain without further testing. The Spanish Standards Certification Association (AENOR-Asociacion Espa+ ola de Normalizacion y Certificacion) is responsible for developing voluntary standards and certification programs. It represents Spain in international standards institutions.

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US Government in Spain

United States Embassy in Spain
Address: Serrano 75
28006 Madrid
tel: ((34/91) 587-2200
fax: (34/91) 587-2303
Mailing Address: American Embassy
(from the U.S.) PSC#61
APO AE 09642

The Commercial Service--Madrid:
Address: Paseo de la Castellana 52, 2nd floor
tel: (34-91) 564-8976
fax: (34-91) 563-0859
Mailing Address from the United States:
American Embassy
FCS Madrid
PSC#61, Box 21
APO AE 09642

Customs Contact Information
Agencia Estatal de Administracion Tributaria:
Departamento de Aduanas e Impuestos Especiales
Avda. Llano Castellano, 17
28034 Madrid
Phone: (34/91) 728-9450
Fax: (34/91) 729-2065
Web site: http://www.aeat.es

Mailing Address from outside the United States:
American Embassy Madrid
Commercial Service
Serrano 75
28006 Madrid, Spain

Barcelona Address:
Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada 23
tel: (34-93) 280-2227
fax: (34-93) 205-7705

Mailing Address from the United States:
American Consulate General
Commercial Section
PSC#61, Box 0005
APO, AE 09642
Mailing address from outside of the United States:
American Consulate General Barcelona
Commercial Service
Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada 23
08034 Barcelona, Spain
Principle Commercial Officer: Alan Long

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Spanish Government Contacts

Direccion General de Salud Publica y Consumo
Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs
Paseo del Prado, 18-20
28014 Madrid
Phone: (34/91) 596-1000
Fax: (34/91) 596-4409

Secretaria de Estado de Asuntos Europeos
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores
(Secretary of State for European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Padilla, 46
28071 Madrid
tel: (34/91) 379 83 00
fax: (34/91) 575 5629/8601

Instituto de Comercio Exterior (ICEX)
Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade
Paseo de la Castellana, 14-16
28046 Madrid, Spain
Phone: (34/91) 349-6100
Fax: (34/91) 431-6128
www.icex.es

Direccion General de Comercio e Inversiones
(General Directorate of Commerce and Investments)
Paseo de la Castellana, 162
28046 Madrid, Spain
tel: (34/91) 349-36 56

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Trade Associations and Other Key Contacts

Consejo Superior de Camaras de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion
(Higher Council of Chambers of Commerce)
Jose Manuel Fernandez Norniella
President
C/Velazquez, 157, 1º
28002 Madrid
Tel: (34-91) 590-6900
Fax: (34-91) 590-6908
www.camara.org

Camara Oficial de Comercio e Industria de Madrid
(Madrid Champber of Commerce and Industry)
Mr. Juan Luis Mato Rodriguez
President
Huertas 13
28012 Madrid
Tel: (34-91) 538-3500
Fax: (34-91) 538-3677/4
www.camaramadrid.es

Camara Oficial de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion de Barcelona
(Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation)
Mr. Antoni Negre
President
Avda. Diagonal, 452
08006 Barcelona
tel: (34/902) 448-448
fax: (34/934) 169-301
www.cambrabcn.es

Camara Oficial de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion de Bilbao
(Bilbao Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation)
Mr. Ignacio Encheberria Monteberria
President
Avda. de Recalde 50
48008 Bilbao
tel: (34/94) 470-6500
Fax: (34/94) 443-6171
www.camaracombilbao.es

American Chamber of Commerce in Spain
Mr. Jose A. Manrique
Executive Director
Tuset, 8
Entresuelo-3
08006 Barcelona
tel: (34/93) 415-9963
fax: (34/93) 415-1198
http://personal1.iddeo/amchamspain

American Business Council
Mr. Juan Soto Serrand - President
American Business Council
28006 Madrid
tel: (34/91) 631-1604
fax: (34/91) 631-1290

Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Miguel Sebastia
Executive Director
Empire State Building
350 5th Avenue, Suite 3514
New York, NY 10118
tel: (212) 967 2170
fax: (212) 564 1415

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Trade Event Schedule

SIL 2009
June 3-6, 2009
Barcelona, Spain
www.silbcn.com/sil/

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Source: US Department of Commerce.

*This guide is not a complete list of trade associations or publications. We welcome any additions to this document. The Material Handling Industry does not assume a legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information contained herein. The listing of information here does not reflect an endorsement of any of the particular information by the Material Handling Industry.