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The visit marks Mr Illa\u2019s third trip to Asia since taking office in 2024, following visits last year to Japan, South Korea and China.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He described Asia as central to Catalonia’s long-term economic strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Catalan and the Spanish economy are performing well. But to keep performing well, we need to strengthen ties with Asia, where the future is built,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before Singapore, Mr Illa visited Vietnam, where he met Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc and toured Catalan companies operating in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The trip also saw the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and its Vietnamese counterpart sign an agreement to boost bilateral trade and investment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Separately, Catalonia’s trade agency Accio signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s National Innovation Centre to strengthen cooperation in technology and innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n In Singapore, Mr Illa addressed business owners and senior executives at the Catalonia-Singapore Business Dialogue hosted by the Singapore Business Federation on Thursday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He described Catalonia as one of Europe’s leading economic and innovation hubs, highlighting its location as a strategic gateway to European and Mediterranean markets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Catalonia plans to attract 6 billion euros (S$8.8 billion) in foreign investment, secure 600 projects and create 45,000 new jobs by 2030.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He identified logistics, healthcare, agri-food and technology as sectors where Singapore companies could find investment opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n “We are not interested in quick wins,” he said. “We want lasting, sound relationships.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He cited Singapore Airlines’ <\/span>direct link between Barcelona and Singapore<\/span> as an example of the long-term partnerships Catalonia hopes to build.<\/span><\/p>\n The flag carrier announced in May that it would launch a five-times-weekly Singapore-Madrid service via Barcelona from Oct 26, increasing the number of weekly flights between Singapore and Barcelona from two to five.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mr Illa said Barcelona is already well connected to cities across Europe, but the next step is to strengthen its air links with Asian counterparts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe need more connectivity with Asian cities. Barcelona wants to be a hub for Asia,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond trade and investment, Mr Illa said Singapore offered broader lessons for Europe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He said Singapore demonstrated that countries do not need to be large to be influential, while praising the nation\u2019s multi-ethnic and multicultural society and calling its diversity a strength.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPITCHING CATALONIA TO SG BUSINESSES\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n