The Secretary General of the Spain-India Council Foundation, María Victoria González Román (first on the right), attended the presentation in Barcelona
New Asia-Pacific Strategy 2026–2029 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
Minister José Manuel Albares highlighted the celebration of the Spain-India Dual Year and the creation of the new Consulate General in Bangalore
The new Asia-Pacific Strategy 2026–2029of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, recently presented by Minister José Manuel Albares, marks a strategic step forward in Spain’s foreign policy toward a region that accounts for more than 60% of the world’s population and around 45% of global GDP and industrial production.
The event, held at Casa Asia headquarters in Barcelona, brought together ambassadors from countries in the region and representatives of institutions engaged in Spain’s outreach to Asia-Pacific, including the Spain-India Council Foundation, demonstrating Spain’s ambition to expand its political, economic, and cultural ties with key partners in this new global axis.
As stated during the presentation, Spain recognizes India as a fundamental strategic partner within the framework of its Asia-Pacific policy. The Strategy emphasizes the need to deepen bilateral relations with New Delhi, given India’s demographic and economic weight as well as its growing prominence in multilateral and global forums. It also highlights the momentum of the Spain-India Dual Year 2026, which commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and strengthens cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, innovation, and technology.
In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the work of the Council Foundations, thanking them for “their daily dedication and their contribution to the reflection process that has culminated in this document for the next four years.” He added that the Council Foundations “also reflect the way Spain engages with and is present in the world.”
The Strategy further underlines Spain’s support for stable multilateral agreements, scientific and educational cooperation, and the creation of strategic dialogue mechanisms — including a Spain-India advisory council and an interministerial commission for Asian affairs — with the aim of consolidating a long-term, multidimensional relationship with India.
Institutional Presence of the Spain-India Council Foundation
The Spain-India Council Foundation was represented at this important event by its Secretary General, Ambassador María Victoria González Román, underscoring the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening Spanish-Indian relations in all their dimensions. Joan Rosas, Director of International Financial Institutions at CaixaBank and member of the FCEI Board of Trustees, also attended, highlighting the importance of dialogue between the public and private sectors in order to seize the economic opportunities offered by the relationship with India.
The presence of the Spain-India Council Foundation at this presentation coincides with a key moment for bilateral relations, reinforced both by the Strategy and by the growing cooperation between the European Union and India in areas such as trade, security, innovation, and sustainability.
The Spain-India Council Foundation thus renews its vocation as an institutional, cultural, and economic bridge between the two countries, contributing to the implementation of a strategic collaboration agenda in a region that is emerging as central to the future global geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape.
