The Andalusian Junta proposed objectives to be achieved in the remainder of the decade, until 2030, to “design and implement a cultural cooperation strategy” with Ibero-America “in the medium term”, as well as “appreciate the role” of the autonomous community “as an engine of dialogue, development and stability in the Maghreb and North Africa”, and “strengthen” its position as a “destination” for Asian and US tourists.
This appears in the Andalusian Government’s External Action to the European Union Strategy document for the period 2025-2030 approved by the PP-A Governing Council on 19 November and seen by Europa Press, which details a set of “priority action areas” for the autonomous community’s external action, starting with the EU, and which also includes “other regions and markets” such as Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, North America and Latin America. Sub-Saharan Africa.
Specifically, with regard to Ibero-America, the document is based on the premise that Andalusia and this region of the world “share a bond that transcends time and borders, a relationship shaped in history and nourished by a rich cultural heritage,” and for the five-year period between 2025 and 2030, the Council proposes a series of “concrete proposals and initiatives for action.”
Thus, the strategy proposes to “strengthen the presence of the Andalusian business sector in the Ibero-American region and the Caribbean through its own initiatives and active participation in relevant national, European and multilateral initiatives, positioning Andalusia as an investment and technological partner” of the region, in accordance with Article 157 of the Autonomous System.
Likewise, the Council sets the goal until 2030 of “designing and implementing a strategy for cultural cooperation with the region in the medium term, paying special attention to the valorization and dissemination of the common linguistic, historical and cultural heritage,” as well as “actively promoting the participation of the Houses of Andalusia in the social and cultural life of the Ibero-American countries, through institutional support, public diplomacy and financial resources.”
The Mediterranean and the Middle East
Regarding the Mediterranean and the Middle East, the External Action Strategy approved by the Council affirms that Andalusia and this region “share a bond forged over centuries of cultural, commercial and human exchange,” and is based on the premise that “the future of the relationship between Andalusia and the Mediterranean region involves the creation of a stronger alliance around the green economy, digitalization and sustainability.”
Looking to the period 2025-2030, the Council aims to “strengthen the role of the Andalusian private and public sectors as a scientific, technological or investment ‘partner’ in the green transition, adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the Mediterranean Basin, including the Maghreb and North Africa.”
We also “appreciate the role of Andalusia as a driver of dialogue, development and stability in the Maghreb and North Africa region, in cooperation with Spanish and European institutions and various relevant regional forums,” and “shed light on the shared Andalusian heritage between Andalusia and the Maghreb through designing and implementing projects and initiatives in order to restore and rehabilitate it.”
Another region of the world that this document focuses on is Asia and the Pacific, with which it is noted that Andalusia has had a “connection” since “the time of Andalusia, when Asian knowledge in astronomy, mathematics, and medicine arrived in the region via the Arab Caliphate and the Silk Road.”
Currently, “olive oil and agri-food products are exported from Andalusia to markets such as China, Japan and South Korea, while the port of Algeciras serves as a major node of the Maritime Silk Road,” adds the document, which confirms that “the relationship between Andalusia and Asia is expected to develop in the future with a commitment to economic, educational and cultural cooperation.”
Asia Pacific
As “concrete action proposals and initiatives for the period 2025-2030”, with regard to the Asia-Pacific region, the External and Pre-EU Action Strategy of the Government of Andalusia proposes to “strengthen the access of the Andalusian business fabric to key Asian markets through a medium-term plan, focusing on the value-added sectors and the consumer sector with high purchasing power”.
The Council also sets the goal for this five-year period to “strengthen Andalusia’s position as a destination for Asian tourists through the design and implementation of communication and awareness-raising actions”, paying “particular attention to Andalusia’s potential as a sustainable, cultural and educational destination”.
Another goal of the Andalusian government is to “highlight the role of Andalusia as a center for learning and disseminating Spanish and Spanish culture in Asia, in cooperation with the universities of the region.”
The strategy designed by the Council also refers to the existing relationship between Andalusia and North America, which “has historical roots dating back to the first contacts between Europe and the New World”, and in this region of the world the document proposes for the period 2025-2030 “the design and implementation of a risk assessment plan aimed at mitigating commercial risks and enhancing the access of the Andalusian business fabric to the American market, as well as identifying and seizing financing opportunities for companies and Andalusians”. Start-ups, especially in the energy, cleantech and technology sectors.
Strengthening the role of Andalusia as a “sustainable, cultural and educational destination” for tourists from the United States, “with particular attention to the common historical heritage,” is another of the Council’s proposals for the 2025-2030 Framework for Action, along with “promoting a plan to identify and activate a network of Andalusian experts in leading universities and research centers in the United States, with the aim of strengthening their cooperation with the Andalusian business sector and public fabric, as well as their visibility.” The contribution of Andalusian talents to solving global challenges.”
Africa
Finally, with regard to Sub-Saharan Africa, the document begins by emphasizing that “the connection between Andalusia and Africa has deep historical roots, dating back to the time of Andalusia, when cultural, scientific and commercial exchange between the two regions flourished thanks to geographical proximity and maritime routes.”
Based on the premise that “the relationship between Andalusia and Africa is presented as a strategic alliance with great potential for both regions”, the Council proposes for the period 2025-2030 the goal of “strengthening the role of Andalusia, its productive fabric and its infrastructure – the port of Algeciras and gas pipelines – as strategic actors in the field of energy and security of supply in Spain and the European Union”.
Another proposal from the Council for this five-year period is “to position Andalusia as an ally in the energy and green transition on the African continent, especially in the agri-food sector, as well as in water resources management, desertification, biodiversity protection and adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change.”
Finally, the Andalusian strategy includes positioning the region as a “resource donor and technical collaborator in development cooperation” in sub-Saharan Africa.