The regional minister for economy and industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, stated that the contract sector presents opportunities for integrating wood into design, architecture, and innovative construction solutions. "It can serve as a bridge between forestry resources and the market," she said.
Lorenzana made these comments during the closing of the XVI International Contract Week in Galicia, alongside Alfredo Fernández Ríos, director of the Galician Agency for Forestry Industry (Xera). She reiterated the Xunta's commitment to promoting industrialised wood construction, which, according to her, "broadens the understanding of the contract sector."
The minister highlighted the international aspirations of this sector, which encompasses nearly 200 companies in Galicia, employs over 7,000 people, and generates a turnover of up to 700 million euros. "Our challenge is to better connect all our capabilities and position Galician companies not only as suppliers but as strategic partners in major international projects," she asserted.
In this context, she referred to the latest export data from the autonomous community, which showed a 1.5 per cent increase up to August this year, reaching 20,546.3 million euros. Galicia accounts for 7.8 per cent of Spain's total exports and ranks sixth among the autonomous communities, closely following the Basque Country.
The minister continued, stating that the current challenge is to "broaden this business base, strengthen our position in key European destinations, and access new commercial opportunities in other markets." To achieve this, she reminded attendees that the Xunta will soon present a new Internationalisation Strategy, which will complement the recently approved Business Innovation Strategy, involving an investment of over 400 million euros.
