- Expand into new markets this year by participating in food fairs in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Dubai), engaging in direct commercial activities in Morocco, and establishing a presence in the Americas (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Miami)
- Castilla y León has approved a Framework of Actions for Internationalization, which includes nine lines of action to address the tariff measures imposed by the USA
- In 2024, the Community led the increase in exports in Spain, reaching a value of 21.212 billion euros, the highest on record, with a surplus of 5.021 billion euros
April 7, 2025
Castilla y León |
Department of Economy and Finance
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Carlos Fernández Carriedo, has closed the XVII edition of the Master in Foreign Trade and Digital Business today, organized by the Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León, ICECYL, training 36 new professionals in business internationalization and digital business. It is the only master’s program in the market that covers both disciplines.
Some of the students will be assigned to the 19 enclaves of the ICECYL’s foreign network, which will also promote actions within the Framework of Actions for Internationalization, approved last Thursday by the Regional Government, with an initial allocation of 16.5 million euros, in addition to the 97 million euros planned in the V Plan for Internationalization 2022-2027.
This Framework of Actions aims to address the effects of increasing international protectionism, especially the tariff policies promoted by the United States and the current economic slowdown affecting European markets.
Specifically, the Strengthening of the Foreign Network will enhance the presence of companies in the Community in alternative markets such as the EU, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, both through physical presence and through participation in various forms of external promotion. It will also boost presence in Asia, North Africa, and the Americas through commercial activities at international fairs in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Dubai, with direct commercial activities in Morocco and presence in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Miami.
These new strengthening actions will complement the existing 19 destinations: Paris, Lisbon, Brussels, Bern, Milan, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Warsaw, Casablanca, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Chicago, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Lima. The foreign network aims to promote exports in new markets of interest to companies in the Community.
Master in Foreign Trade and Digital Business
The Master program, consisting of 507 teaching hours –443 in-person– held between November and April by ESIC, Esic Business & Marketing School, aims to promote specialized training and encourage external promotion and competitive development of companies in Castilla y León, as established in the V Plan for Business Internationalization 2022-2027.
This plan emphasizes high-level, specialized training in foreign trade and the development of appropriate mechanisms for retaining talent in the business fabric of the Community. With a value of 15,000 euros per student, the Master program is free for registered participants.
Since its first edition in 2005, the Regional Government of Castilla y León has trained a total of 607 professionals specialized in foreign trade, with high employment opportunities after completing the Master program; in the previous edition, over 90% of students secured employment.
Although 34% of the enrolled students have degrees in Commerce and International Business, there has been a 17% and 5% decrease, respectively, in these degrees in this edition. Graduates in Business Administration and Management remain stable, and there is a slight increase of 1% in students with double degrees. Regarding language skills, in addition to English, participants have a second language, mostly French, but also Italian, Portuguese, German, and Chinese. Finally, there has been increased female participation at 61% compared to 39% male participation.
Excellence Award
Furthermore, the Excellence Award has been granted to Daniel Casado Pascual, the top student of the XVII promotion who entered the Master program with a double degree in Law and Business Administration. This award recognizes the high level of work performed and includes an Online Specialized Course at ESIC valued at 2,000 euros, as well as the inclusion in the academic record of the Excellence Award.
This edition’s sponsor is Isabel López Resina, General Director and Partner of Santa Teresa Gourmet, a family company with over 160 years of history focused on creating top-quality products with a strong social and environmental commitment. The company was founded in 1860 with the production and marketing of the authentic and original Yemas de Santa Teresa. The recipe for this iconic sweet has been passed down unchanged from generation to generation and remains the main gastronomic reference in the city of Ávila. In 2012, they began their international journey, and currently, they sell their products in over 20 countries, with Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the USA, and Japan as their main destinations.
Exports
At the end of 2024, the value of exports in Castilla y León reached 21.212 billion euros, the highest on record, representing a 14.7% increase from the previous year and a 48% increase over the last five years. Meanwhile, imports also increased, reaching 16.191 billion euros in the last fiscal year. The coverage rate in 2024 was set at 131%, and the trade surplus exceeded 5.021 billion euros.
In Spain, however, the trade deficit continues, amounting to 40.276 billion euros in 2024, with exports reaching 384.465 billion euros and imports 424.741 billion euros, resulting in a coverage rate of 90.5%. Castilla y León’s participation in national foreign trade in 2024 stood at 5.5% in exports and 3.8% in imports.