The 2020 DHL Atlas Export Awards recognized the work and effort made by the Spanish SMEs in matters of internationalization, after the pandemic.
The Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Margarida Méndez, chaired the event attended by numerous experts and professionals from the Spanish business sector. This event was also attended by the most prominent exporting companies, which have witnessed the proclamation of the winners: AUSA, Wallbox, Sorbos and Original Gift.
In this edition, the DHL Atlas 2020 Awards wanted to recognize those SMEs that, despite the circumstances, took off with the wind in their head and decided to take risks and reach new international markets. A total of 118 applications have been submitted, out of a total of 63 companies, most of them from the Community of Madrid and Catalonia, although a large number of companies from the Basque Country, the Valencian Community and Andalusia have also been counted.
In the words of Miguel Borrás, general director of DHL Express in Spain, “The high quality of applications submitted never ceases to amaze”, despite the difficulty of this period in which «The results have not always accompanied» However, he added that “There is a lot of talent and excellent businesses spread over many corners of Spain”.
During the event, the Secretary of State for Commerce recognized the efforts of these companies that “They started from being very small and overcame, with enthusiasm and talent, the great difficulties of facing the challenges of internationalization”, in addition to following “Supporting the internationalization of SMEs that diversify their markets”. Likewise, Xiana Méndez underlined the relevance of technology, innovation and the commitment to sustainability as fundamental lines of action for the internationalization of Spanish companies.
For his part, Borrás influenced the e-commerce growth, the importance of digitization and the necessary commitment to sustainability. In the case of this last point, he confirmed that the DHL group is going to invest 7,000 million euros in green operations. In addition, he stressed that in the essence of the company there is another fundamental value, which is to support “Spanish SMEs on their way abroad” to have “More and more and better companies competing in international markets”.
The jury for the Awards was made up of Xiana Margarida Méndez, Secretary of State for Commerce, as Honorary President; Julián López-Arenas, Director of Competitiveness of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce; Íñigo Gil-Casares Armada, director of Institutional and Business Cooperation of ICEX; Pablo López, general director of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum; César Tello, CEO of Adigital; Alfredo Bonet, general secretary of the Círculo de Empresarios, and Nicolás Mouze, director of Marketing and Sales of DHL Express Spain and Portugal.
Growth, expansion and investment
To choose the winners, the experts have analyzed the growth, expansion, investment, innovation and sustainability of the companies that have submitted applications. Likewise, they have valued the implementation of inclusive policies and the promotion of diversity, which imply a commitment to equality regardless of gender, as well as CSR policies in the company.
The Secretary of State for Commerce is in charge of delivering the Grand Atlas Export Award to Ausa, dedicated to the manufacture of industrial vehicles to load and move materials. This company based in Manresa (Barcelona) will receive financing from DHL Express for a trade mission organized by a Chamber of Commerce. In choosing the winning company, with affiliates and subsidiaries in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and China, different characteristics have tipped the balance, such as the generation of added value to Spain, its significant presence in the United States market and its long Exporting and international trajectory with 60% of sales outside our market to more than 70 countries.
Xiana Méndez highlighted that “Despite the impact of the pandemic on trade flows, Spanish companies have managed to maintain their share in foreign markets, so that now they can face the recovery with optimism. To this end, the Action Plan for the Internationalization of the Spanish Economy 2021-2022 launched by the Secretary of State for Trade was approved to provide instruments and tools to support internationalization that help transform the foreign sector to be more resilient, competitive and adapt to new trends ».
