The president of the Valladolid Chamber of Commerce, Víctor A. Caramanzana, is participating in the 16th Ibero-American Business Meeting, a key economic forum leading up to the 30th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, taking place in Madrid. The Valladolid Declaration, signed by representatives from 23 countries of the Ibero-American Association of Chambers of Commerce (AICO) on 6 October at the Fuensaldaña Castle, outlines the perspectives of Ibero-American chambers in light of current geopolitical, economic, and technological challenges.
This significant event is being held at the Plaza de las Ventas in Madrid on 3 and 4 November, organised by the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Ibero-American Business Council (CEIB), and the CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organisations). The inclusion of AICO in this meeting marks a historic moment, as it is the first time that Ibero-American Chambers of Commerce have been represented at the main business forum prior to an Ibero-American Summit.
The aim is to convey the proposals agreed upon by chamber organisations from both sides of the Atlantic, as outlined in the Valladolid Declaration. This declaration reflects the vision of the Ibero-American business community regarding major geopolitical, economic, and technological challenges.
Caramanzana is attending as the president of the AICO-India Relations Commission and as the president of the Valladolid Chamber of Commerce, alongside José de Jesús Rodríguez, president of AICO, and José Luis Bonet, president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. The AICO delegation also includes notable figures such as Francisco Herrero León, honorary president of AICO and president of the Chamber of Commerce of Seville; Natalio Mario Grinman, honorary president of AICO and president of the Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services; and María Teresa Vial Álamos, vice president of the Southern Cone region of AICO and president of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce in Chile.
José Luis Bonet, president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, represented the Ibero-American Chambers of Commerce in a panel discussion titled “How Ibero-America positions itself in the world.” He engaged in dialogue with José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Juan Cerruti, chief economist at Grupo Santander, and Amparo López Senovilla, president of ICEX and Secretary of State for Trade in the Spanish Government. The panel was moderated by Trinidad Jiménez, president of the Brazil-Spain Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Ibero-American Business Foundation (FIE).
The Valladolid declaration
The Valladolid Declaration, agreed upon by the 23 AICO member countries, aims to present the vision and proposals of the Ibero-American business community in response to significant economic, technological, and social challenges facing the region. Key agreements in the declaration include a commitment to fostering trade, investment, business cooperation, and the internationalisation of companies.
Additionally, the document emphasises the importance of promoting digital transformation, training, talent development, and entrepreneurship as essential tools for enhancing productivity, improving competitiveness, and creating new opportunities. It also acknowledges the need to advance towards more sustainable production models, advocating for a balanced transition that combines environmental responsibility, competitiveness, investment, and job creation. Furthermore, the Ibero-American Chambers of Commerce advocate for arbitration and mediation as essential tools to strengthen legal security, business confidence, and economic relations.
LIV AICO General Assembly and LXII CIAC Board Meeting in Valladolid
From 3 to 7 October, Valladolid became the centre of international economic and business debate by hosting the LIV General Assembly of the Ibero-American Association of Chambers of Commerce (AICO) and the LXII Board Meeting of the Inter-American Commercial Arbitration Commission (CIAC). The event brought together 250 business, institutional, and professional representatives from four continents: Europe, America, Africa, and Asia.
In addition to the presence of Ibero-American Chambers of Commerce, the event featured participation from the Ibero-African Association of Chambers of Commerce (AFRICO) and India, in the context of the Spain-India Dual Year. The programme included a series of relevant presentations and round tables addressing current business challenges, such as the implementation of AI in companies, business humanism, changes in global geopolitics, and the economic rise of the so-called Global South. The agenda also included two major business networking events and tours highlighting local gastronomy and wine tourism.
The working session of the LIV AICO General Assembly took place at the historic Fuensaldaña Castle, where participating delegations signed the Valladolid Declaration. The event was organised by the Valladolid Chamber of Commerce, AICO, and CIAC, with support from ICECYL (Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León), the Valladolid City Council, the Provincial Council of Valladolid, and Banco Santander.
