Por Redaccion - Expand into new markets this year by participating in food fairs in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Dubai), engaging in direct commercial activities in Morocco, and establishing a presence in the Americas (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Miami)
- Castilla y León has approved an Action Framework for Boosting Internationalization, which includes nine lines of action to address US tariff measures
- In 2024, the region led the increase in exports in Spain, reaching a record value of 21.212 billion euros and a surplus of 5.021 billion euros
April 7, 2025
Castilla y León | Department of Economy and Finance
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Carlos Fernández Carriedo, has officially closed the XVII edition of the Master’s in Foreign Trade and Digital Business today. Organized by the Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León (ICECYL), the program has trained 36 new professionals in business internationalization and digital commerce. It is the only master’s program in the market that combines these two disciplines.
Some of the students will be assigned to the 19 ICECYL foreign offices, which will also carry out activities under the Action Framework for Boosting Internationalization, approved by the Regional Government last Thursday with an initial allocation of 16.5 million euros, in addition to the 97 million euros planned in the V Internationalization Plan 2022-2027.
This Action Framework aims to address the effects of increasing international protectionism, especially the tariff policies driven by the United States, and the current economic slowdown affecting European markets.
Specifically, the Strengthening the Foreign Network line will enhance the presence of companies from the region in alternative markets such as the EU, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, both through physical presence and participation in various forms of external promotion. Moreover, it will boost presence in Asia, North Africa, and the Americas through commercial activities at international fairs in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Dubai, with direct commercial activities in Morocco and a presence in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Miami.
These new strengthening actions will complement the existing 19 destinations: Paris, Lisbon, Brussels, Bern, Milan, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Warsaw, Casablanca, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Chicago, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Lima. The foreign network aims to boost exports in new markets of interest for companies in the region.
Master’s in Foreign Trade and Digital Business
The Master’s program, consisting of 507 teaching hours -443 in person- held from November to April by ESIC, Esic Business & Marketing School, aims to promote specialized training and encourage external promotion and competitive development of companies in Castilla y León, as established in the V Business Internationalization Plan 2022-2027.
This plan emphasizes high-level training, specialization in foreign trade, and the development of appropriate mechanisms for talent retention in the business fabric of the region. With a value of 15,000 euros per student, the Master’s program is free for registered participants.
Since its first edition in 2005, the Regional Government of Castilla y León has trained a total of 607 professionals specialized in foreign trade with high success rates in employment integration after completing the program; in the previous edition, over 90% of students secured employment.
Although 34% of students are graduates in Commerce and International Trade, this edition has seen a decrease of 17% and 5% in these degrees, respectively. Graduates in Business Administration and Management remain stable, and there is a slight increase of 1% in students with double degrees. In terms of language skills, participants, in addition to English, have a second language, mainly French, but also Italian, Portuguese, German, and Chinese. Lastly, there has been increased participation of women, accounting for 61% compared to 39% of men.
Excellence Award
Furthermore, the excellence award has been granted to Daniel Casado Pascual, the top student of the XVII promotion who entered the Master’s program with a double degree in Law and Business Administration. This award recognizes the high level of work done and includes an Online Specialized Course at ESIC valued at 2,000 euros, as well as the addition of the Excellence Academic Award to the student’s record.
This edition’s sponsor is Isabel López Resina, General Director and partner of Santa Teresa Gourmet, a family company with over 160 years of history focused on creating excellent quality products with a social and environmental commitment. The company was founded in 1860 with the production and commercialization of the authentic and original Yemas de Santa Teresa. The recipe for this iconic treat has been passed down identically from generation to generation and remains the main gastronomic reference in the city of Ávila. In 2012, they ventured into the international market, currently selling their products in more than 20 countries, with Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, the USA, and Japan as primary destinations.
Exports
By the end of 2024, the value of exports in Castilla y León reached 21.212 billion euros, the highest figure in the historical series, marking a 14.7% increase from the previous year and 48% over the past five years. Importations also saw an increase, reaching 16.191 billion euros in the last fiscal year. The coverage rate in 2024 was set at 131%, and the trade surplus exceeded 5.021 billion euros.
In Spain, however, the trade deficit persists, reaching 40.276 billion euros in 2024, with exports totaling 384.465 billion euros and imports 424.741 billion euros, resulting in a coverage rate of 90.5%. Castilla y León’s participation in national foreign trade closed 2024 with figures of 5.5% in exports and 3.8% in imports.