The Baix Llobregat region has recently been recognized as the third economic power in Catalonia, contributing 11% of the Catalan GDP. With 842,000 inhabitants and 21,091 companies, its economy is characterized by diversification and a low unemployment rate of 7.8%, making it more resilient to adverse cycles than other specialized industrial areas.
Despite this strength, economic analysis points to a “great hole” in industrial activity: the armament or Defense sector. This need is amplified by new geopolitical circumstances, especially the demand from NATO, reiterated by figures like Donald Trump, that allied countries invest 5% of GDP in Defense, a mandate the Spanish Government seems unwilling to meet.
EU countries will spend 381,000 million euros on armament, a figure representing 2.1% of the EU GDP, with countries like Germany, France, and Italy already having powerful Defense industrial groups.
In Spain, companies like Indra, which has a significant headquarters in Sant Joan Despí with 1,500 employees, are emerging as key players. Its merger with Mecanizados Escribano is expected to strengthen the sector. The region already has assets, such as the aerospace facilities at the Aeronautical Engineering faculty in Castelldefels and the historical presence of industries like GAMO in Sant Boi and the former cartridge factory Pruño in Sant Esteve Sesrovires.
The article recalls the example of Josep Tarradellas, who during the Civil War was able to reorganize the Catalan armament industry, demonstrating that with determination, a rapid change in industrial activity can be achieved. This new opportunity, given the scarcity of non-earmarked EU funds, could be a vital stimulus for the network of Baix Llobregat SMEs.
