Josep Santacreu (Guissona, 1958) this week achieved the support of the plenary session of the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona to implement a shock plan in the institution. After six months at the helm, the former CEO of DKV takes stock and establishes the guidelines for the first stages of the mandate. His priority is to recover the financial health of the institution and reestablish the bridges blown up by the previous leadership with administrations, institutions and large companies.
What measures does your shock plan contain?
The chambers’ objective is economic promotion and protection of the interests of businessmen. To do this, we must have strong cameras, and the first step is to make them sustainable. We have found a Chamber that has had four years of deficit. It is a solvent institution, but its finances need to be rebalanced.
When he won the elections, he stated that he would make an institution for everyone. Have you achieved it?
We are on the road. The chambers in Catalonia represent 700,000 companies and that means that all of them must feel like their home. For whatever reasons, large companies have distanced themselves from the institution and our goal is to get them back. In addition, we also work on reestablishing bridges with some public administrations and institutions.
Have you recovered good relations with all parties?
There are companies of all colors here. The Chamber must have a demanding, legal and neutral relationship with politics. With an opinion on economic and business policy, but without entering into partisan debate. The institution must reach an agreement with all administrations, regardless of their political color. That also means having a strong and powerful voice. We want to regain our authority.
Big companies have not yet occupied the silver chairs. How is the process?
The process is advancing and we hope to have news. We will have two in this term and, in the next elections, we will study an expansion. But our commitment to large companies goes beyond that. We want them to approach the Chamber and become institutional partners. We are working on specific projects. We have already spoken to a dozen and see a good response.
Are you considering advice from large companies?
It is likely that we will end up creating a space, but it is not an immediate issue. Large companies want to play a role and return to support the Chamber. The current economic problems, with a deficit this year of 2.5 million, are to a certain extent explained by this. A net contribution of one million euros has disappeared.
Does the economic situation tie your hands in this mandate?
We will do the key topics the same. We have a very talented executive committee to move our project forward. La Cambra will now go into debt but we know that we will recover it. In any case, we appreciate the dedication of Eines de País. We have different ways of doing things, but they have done things that we are continuing, such as promoting the territorial model of the chambers.
What is the status of the new 22@ headquarters project?
It is under study. It is a project that comes from the time of Miquel Valls and that Eines de País recovered. The scenario has changed: the office market is different, the party in charge of the City Council is different, construction costs have risen, as have interest rates… How will this end? Don’t know.
In your efforts to reestablish relations, have you spoken with the Spanish Chamber to regain the vice presidency?
It is difficult for the current executive to change the composition mid-term. We are in the plenary session, and we have a very fluid and close relationship with the president, José Luis Bonet, and the general management. For example, in June we will organize a joint tribute to Miquel Valls within the framework of the Spanish chamber assembly.
The Catalan GDP accelerates. What forecast does the Chamber have?
This year’s growth will be a little lower than last, but it is true that expectations are improving. We will see the impact of the lower interest rates. However, we should not trust ourselves and do our homework. The great challenge is productivity. Our economy is increasingly internationalized, so either you are competitive or they overtake you.
The Catalan economy has been advanced by that of Madrid. What must be done to regain first position?
I don’t like Barcelona versus Madrid comparisons. The growth of the Spanish capital is exceptional and must be framed in the decrease of the territories that surround it. In Catalonia we have many things to do. The issue of financing, for example, which must stop being a party debate and become an issue of the country, of citizens. We must also address this lack of investment execution, with the Mediterranean Corridor as the greatest exponent. Another folder is training: it cannot be that our companies are willing to hire but we do not have qualified personnel.
In this comparison that he does not like, the tax debate stands out. Do you think there is a fiscal hell in Catalonia?
There are no businessmen who do not want to pay taxes. We know the importance of guaranteeing the welfare state. Now, when we were talking about competition between cities or territories, it is obvious that there are grievances that give advantages to one over the others. I don’t know if there is a hell here or there. What I’m saying is that maybe we should all be in purgatory. Everyone the same.
What do you think of Pedro Sánchez’s decision to abandon his public agenda to reflect?
This must stop. The best people in the country will not want to go into politics if they can be attacked for no reason. We have seen many cases of resignations and then there was nothing. It cannot be that complaints that seem like fabrications are admitted for processing. Justice must be reformed so that this does not happen.
How does the business world take the call for early elections in Catalonia?
The business world wants stability and for legislatures to last as long as they have to. It is also true that, if the majorities in parliaments are not sufficient, there is little we can do.
Does so much early call hinder political stability for the return of the venues?
In my opinion, the scenario is normalized, but probably for certain entrepreneurs, not yet. However, I am sure that we are getting closer.
