The International Business Council Spain (IBC) was founded in 2009 by a group of specialists in foreign trade, international relations and marketing. Since then it has built a substantial track record supporting public and private organisations in their expansion into Africa, Latin America and the United States.
The IBC team works closely with our clients as an external international department, in order to develop their projects in an efficient and cost-effective way without the need to create their own structures.
The IBC team also works with the public sector on planning and driving internationalisation through analysis, studies, training and support for specific projects.
IBC helps the public sector to plan and implement actions to foster international relations in order to attract investment, talent and know-how to develop the private sector, especially in Africa where IBC has been encouraging Spanish companies to invest and export and public institutions to invest and cooperate. IBC draws on a solid network of collaborators, clients and knowledge across the continent.
IBC offers a cost-effective way to set up an operational base for creating an international department within your company.
Navin Khemlani has built his professional career around helping small and medium-sized companies grow beyond their home market. He has headed the consultancy IBC Spain since 2006, working hand in hand with private companies and public institutions. Over that time he has produced strategic plans, market intelligence, feasibility studies and international sales and marketing strategies aimed at reducing the risks that come with expanding abroad. He is an accredited consultant of the International Chamber of Commerce for Incoterms 2020, and has written reports for international bodies such as the World Tourism Organization and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Alejandro Rueda is a specialist in foreign trade and international relations, with a long track record in Spanish and international business associations. Following his time at the Chambers of Commerce of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, he has served since 2010 as programmes director at the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain, combining that role with international consultancy projects in countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Haiti and Ecuador, among others.
- IBC works to build and strengthen its clients’ international relations, with the aim of creating lasting commercial partnerships.
- We represent the interests of companies and institutions in developing their activity in Spain, the EU and Africa. We also drive international investment projects, producing market knowledge and connecting private companies with public organisations so that projects actually get built.
- IBC acts as a platform for exchanging information and opportunities, in order to create more and better business relations between Europe, the Americas and Africa.
- To encourage international investment and trade relations on a sound footing.
- To contribute to the body of knowledge about international markets.
- To build international business networks.
Africa is set to become an engine of global growth due to three main factors.
First, because of increased competition in developed markets, Africa presents an opportunity for a new beginning. The challenge of moving from poverty to prosperity sets clear growth assumptions.
Second, competition for access to natural resources increases Africa’s bargaining power. In less than a decade, emerging economies have become major consumers of oil, gas and other minerals. Consequently, prices are rising, as is Africa’s strategic role.
Third, technological and economic changes open up new avenues in Africa. Competition is intensifying to manage scarce resources, meet the needs of the global
middle class and attract the underprivileged classes into mass consumption. Moreover, rising labour costs in Asia will create opportunities for low-cost manufacturing in Africa.
IBC programmes are designed to identify and match the best business partners in West Africa, the United States and Europe, by developing contacts and business relationships, providing a platform for project development and information exchange.
