Here are some of the frequently asked questions of investors and foreign businesses. If you need further information or the advice of a specialist, please do not hesitate to contact us. The Investment Promotion Agency-CIDEM wants to help you.

1. How easy is it to find an industrial location or office in Catalonia? With the support of the Business Location Service, you will find the most suitable location according to your requirements, not only in the Barcelona area, but also in the rest of Catalonia, where you can benefit from lower costs, good infrastructure and availability of local incentives.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
2. How flexible is labour legislation when hiring employees?Are any labour incentives available? Spanish employment legislation contemplates a wide variety of labour contracts (temporary, permanent or training contracts among others). Most of them can benefit from different kinds of incentives such as reductions on the employer's social security contribution.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
3. How does the Catalan Government promote innovation and R&D activities? Different incentives and programmes are offered to foreign investors and Catalan companies. In fact Catalonia has one of the best tax allowances regimes for technological innovation, research and development for companies worldwide. This tax framework is acknowledged by the Union of Industrial and Employer's Confederations of europe (UNICE) as the best in the OECD.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
4. Will we have any trouble recruiting a qualified workforce in Catalonia? No. Catalonia's network of 13 universities contributes to the fact that 53% of the people aged 25 to 34 have a university education. Furthermore, the Catalan Government helps companies when hiring employees by means of the free services provided by the Catalan Placement Service.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
5. Is it difficult to find multilingual workers in Catalonia? Not at all. You will have no problem recruiting multilingual workers considering that Catalonia has 31 international schools as well as more than 200,000 foreign residents, which gives the nation an outstanding cosmopolitan environment.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
6. How long does it take to incorporate a company and start up business in Catalonia? Only a short period of time is necessary to incorporate a company. If you need specific environmental licenses or permits, they can be issued in approximately 3 months, since all the procedures required have recently been unified under one sole governmental body.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
7. Which services does the Catalonia Investment Agency (ACI) offer to my investment project? The Catalonia Investment Agency offers specialized, tailor-made consulting services to companies with investment projects that are considering the possibility of beginning operations in Catalonia. Services range from project planning to development and implementation and follow-up solutions. You will find, for instance, access to legal and economic information, search and advice on the best location for your project as well as on incentives and financing, search for the most suitable industrial and service suppliers, promotion of new business opportunities or support in all contacts with the different levels of public administration.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
8. Where can I contact the Catalonia Investment Agency? The Catalonia Investment Agency central office is in Barcelona. With the aim of providing a personalized service to its clients it opened a number of offices abroad. This represents a pioneering initiative in Spain. Tokio office was opened in April 1988 and New York office, in December 1988. Also, there is an office in Madrid.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here.  
   
9. Which are the main reasons to invest in Catalonia? Catalonia heads one of the largest sustained economic growth areas in the Mediterranean and stands out due to a "cumulative effect": the coinciding of favourable factors for investment, among them: access to markets and clients; availability of qualified and motivated human resources; a modern and extensive transport and telecommunications network, the pro-business climate which governments create for businesses and an excellent quality of life.
   For detailed information on this issue, click here. 
   
10. Which are the most attractive sectors to invest in? Catalonia is a leader in the chemical, pharmaceutical, packaging, automotive and consumer-electronics industries, among others. It is also home to a number of emerging industries with a strong potential for growth, illustrated by the fact that many foreign companies have invested in the biotechnology, aeronautics, renewable energy and recycling industries. As well as being renowned for its production activities providing high added value, Catalonia has also made a name for itself internationally in activities such as R&D, design and engineering, logistics and shared service centres. 
    For detailed information on this issue, click here.