Juan-Miguel Villar Mir Takes Part in the Seminar The Challenge of Civil Engineering during the Downturn

Juan-Miguel Villar Mir has taken part in the seminar, The Challenge of Civil Engineering during the Downturn, organised by the Cortes Generales’ Association of Ex-Members of Parliament and Ex-Senators that took place in Parliament. The subject he spoke on was The International Activity of Spanish Engineering.

The meeting was opened by the Minister of Public Works Jose Blanco, and our country’s largest construction companies took part.

During his talk the President of the OHL Group spoke about the massive downturn which our country is passing through. He pointed out that in order to face it, it is necessary to “improve productivity and competitiveness for which, besides carrying out the obligatory readjustment to the housing sector, several structural reforms will have to be imposed, in line with the objectives set out in the Lisbon Strategy”.

He also explained that one of the main engines for the growth of the Spanish economy is the internationalisation of its businesses, as a means of reducing the country’s excessive foreign debt. He stated that “the sustainability of the internationalisation process of Spanish companies and through which, the economy, comes through our companies increasing their presence in new markets to export more, with greater technology, and more internationally”.

Juan-Miguel Villar Mir reminded the audience that bearing in mind other downturns, in the current economic climate Spain possesses a strength that comes from its international dimension, financial capability, and the leadership within sectors of several large business groups such as those of the banking, infrastructures and construction sectors.