Juan-Miguel Villar Mir speaks at the conference entitled “Iberoamerica Invests. Global companies on re-launching the economy.”

Juan-Miguel Villar Mir, president of the OHL Group spoke at the conference organised by the Iberoamerican General Secretariat (SEGIB) Iberoamerica Invests. Global companies on re-launching the economy. The Iberoamerican Secretary General, Enrique V. Iglesias; and the Minister of Finance, Elena Salgado jointly opened the conference. The subject was Iberoamerica as a place for investment and it brought together politicians and top businesspeople.

In his speech Juan-Miguel Villar Mir said that Iberoamerica was a land of opportunities. He added that in spite of the global economic downturn, this year’s economic predictions for the region were positive. ”According to the latest report from the Economic Comission for Latin America and the Carribean, the economic recovery that began in the second half of 2009 will be consolidated in 2010. The Latin American and Carribean econocmies will grow 5.2% this year.”

Transport infrastructures are such a fundamental element for the progress of any country. Regarding this he pointed out that Iberoamerica is the leader both in the number of projects and in public-private investment schemes, and added that in spite of those favourable statistics, the public sector invests less than 1% of their GDP, three times less than is necessary.

The President of OHL praised the role Spain plays in the development of Iberoamerican infrastructures. ”Iberoamerica is a priority for Spain. The big Spanish business groups positioned in the region have contributed to the growth through large investment projects.”

In that context he refered to the position of the OHL Group in Iberoamerica, ”where we are the number one private investor in infrastructures”. Juan-Miguel Villar Mir described the Group’s role for countries in the scope of transport infrastructures in Brazil. ”In terms of concessioned kilometers, we are the largest operator of toll roads in the Brazilian market with a total of 22%”. He underlined the significant growth experienced by the sector of concessioned motorways in Mexico. He also mentioned the OHL Group’s work in Chile, Argentina and Peru.