Barcelona World Race 2007/2008 www.barcelonaworldrace.org

Model city in the Shanghai Expo has tradition of urban renewal

As home to some of the most breathtaking creations by Catalan architect Antoni Gaud - along with a temperate climate and cosmopolitan vibe - it is easy to see why Barcelona is such a draw for visitors.

For those that choose the city as a base for business, there are the added attractions of world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art business and technology parks.

With 75 percent of Spain's foreign investment into China coming from Barcelona, the Mediterranean city's mayor Jordi Hereu is keen to promote and strengthen links on both sides.

"China is an economic priority (for us)," he said. "The interest that Chinese and other Asian companies have in Europe will be reciprocated - both will continue to grow in the coming years."

"Barcelona is an ideal platform from which to do business, and we have the double advantage of links with European and Latin American markets," he added. "Since 2001, we have had a dedicated center, the Casa Asia, whose objective is to strengthen commercial, academic and cultural ties between Spain and the Asia Pacific region."

Like China, Barcelona has always been export-driven, a trend that dates back to the Middle Ages when its markets were scattered around the Mediterranean. A culture of buying and selling is something the two places share. It is also a gateway for other influential areas.

Fted for its excellent use of urban space, Barcelona will be highlighted in the Shanghai Expo as a model city.

The city council - or Ajuntament de Barcelona - has a remit to develop disused sites for new industries while keeping the city pleasant for its inhabitants, a task that has been challenging, but one they have pulled off thanks to inspirational, sustainable initiatives - and a lot of investment.

"We want the economic activity, but we also want people to live in the city," said Jordi William Carnes, the city's deputy mayor for the treasury and economic promotion. "People like living here because they can go to work, then go to find a restaurant or a museum, and then go home to a nice apartment. We are close to the Pyrenees and, of course, we have the beach."

Links with China

Carnes and past and present colleagues have been responsible for some excellent regeneration developments within the city - the old town, Ciutat Vella, which dates back some 2,000 years, and the old industrial base that housed the textile factories in the 19th century, which is now known as the 22@ district.

The ongoing 22@ regeneration is a true 21st century success story. Instead of knocking down all the old factories, the council adapted them to reflect the new demands of the city in cultural and university facilities, public libraries and sophisticated residences that are fully integrated with commercial space for technology and knowledge based industries.

"This model is much more sustainable because you can do all your activities within a certain vicinity," Carnes said.

"Energy will be a sector we can develop with Chinese collaboration, as well as the food and agro sectors, health, new media and entertainment, cultural programs, automobile technologies and the development of green solutions. China can help simplify these sectors."

Carnes is hoping to boost links with China in tourism and retail. "We are eager to develop daily flights between Barcelona and Shanghai to encourage business, tourism, and all economic areas."

Ramn Garca-Bragado i Acn, deputy mayor for urban planning, participated in the bid to have Barcelona as a model city for the Shanghai Expo, and believes it has a lot to offer China, and the world, in terms of innovation.

"We are expanding our rail infrastructure to combine underground, buses, metropolitan and regional trains with the high-speed rail network. A new inter-modal station will connect the 22@ district to the international airport within 11 minutes," he said.

"We are also expanding the port area from 760 hectares to 1,300 hectares to increase the logistics infrastructure and the airport city. All projects are being done on a public private partnership basis. We will launch concessions in the coming years, depending on the demand for investment."

Sports capital

It is not only the business and living aspects that define the Barcelona brand however.

Home to Barcelona FC, one of the most impressive football clubs in the world, the city is bursting with sporting talent, and the city council is keen to promote the Barcelona brand globally.

The Barcelona World Race, for example, is a non-stop, round the world regatta that will start in Barcelona on December 31 and finish there sometime in the spring of 2011.

"The event has the Barcelona name in front and we are working on creating more international world events that carry the Barcelona name," said Pere Alcober Solanas, the city's representative of sports. "We consider Barcelona one of the world's sports capitals. It goes way beyond the 1992 Olympic Games. Sports accounts for 3 percent of Spain's GDP and it is an important industry for us to develop."

Innovation plays a large role in the Barcelona World Race, which Alcober termed a technologically advanced sports event.

"We have implemented complete communication and contact with all boats so that we can track them at any moment. Some 60,000 people will follow the race via the Web in real time."

The transoceanic spectacular that takes place every four years will feature 25,000 sailors, 2,000 hours of competition, three oceans, two hemispheres and all types of wind.

"It's a maximum adventure and totally unique - a world reference for sailing fans," said Andor Serra, director general of the Foundation for Ocean Navigation of Barcelona. "We are promoting R&D projects that reinvest in sectors related to navigation, like the Barcelona World Race and its educational and cultural programs."