Last week, at the Palacio de Congresos in Palma de Mallorca, the fifth economic forum organized by Agenciacom “China: Challenges and Opportunities in the World’s Largest Market” took place. The keynote speaker of the event, Julio Ceballos, emphasized the vital role of China, both as a current economic powerhouse and a future global giant, capturing the attention and interest of economies worldwide.
Julio Ceballos painted a picture of China that businesses in the Balearic Islands should consider with keen interest. Beyond our excellence in the hospitality sector and our role as the birthplace of important international hotel chains, the Balearic Islands boast a cultural, historical, and artistic heritage that makes them a top-tier tourist destination globally. Additionally, as expressed in his interview with Última Hora, Chinese visitors, known for their affinity for luxury and sophistication, seek the same VIP experiences enjoyed by international influencers and celebrities who frequent the islands.
Ceballos posed a question to the audience: “What unique offerings do we have for the Chinese market?”
Taking advantage of the platform as President of the Euroafrica Foundation, I underscored the strategic importance of the Balearic Islands as a crucial location between two continents. Located just 40 minutes from North Africa and a short hour from the heart of Europe, the islands represent a geostrategic hub with the potential to attract global powers like the United States and China. Establishing a direct air route from China to Mallorca would position us as the central point between two continents, facilitating the fusion of cultures, trade, and ideas.
In concluding my speech, I highlighted that the presence of the Euroafrica Foundation in the Balearic Islands exemplifies the viability of this intercontinental triangulation. The accumulated experience here in the Balearic Islands, where organizations like ACHINIB and Euroafrica collaborate on commercial revitalization projects targeting African and Chinese populations, serves as a model of local success with global scalability.
In our most recent forum, the Chamber of Commerce of Spain has provided us with the opportunity to discuss not only strategies for invigorating local businesses through networking but also for charting the path that large corporations should follow. It’s a path that would enable them to leverage the unique advantages of our islands to sell beyond our shores and attract global trade.
After the forum, an idea emerged that could be proposed to the Balearic Football Federation: leveraging the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2030, shared between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, to propose Mallorca as one of the host cities for the tournament. This would resonate both regionally and internationally, further solidifying the global prominence of the Balearic Islands.
