Barcelona City Council

Dear Jordi,

You have been Mayor of Manresa and a minister in the Catalan Government; you are therefore well aware of everything involved in ensuring that Barcelona continues to be a prosperous, fair city.

The strength of its economy is one of the cornerstones of Barcelona’s strength. All public authorities have a duty to reinforce and support their productive networks, by means of rigorous, intelligent and innovative management. From the economic side of this management, you are faced with the challenge of combining a framework of regulatory and accounting stability with a strategic perspective.

We are facing the challenge of defending and consolidating sectors that are already leaders while also supporting and fostering emerging sectors. The more diverse our economy is, the more robust it will be. In your area, it will be especially important to generate a new balance between economic progress, social justice and the fight against climate change, as well as between our identity as a city open to the world and our interest in local issues. This management must be characterised by continual discussion and seeking major agreements and consensus.

As Fourth Deputy Mayor for the Area of Economy, Tax, Economic Promotion and Tourism, you will be responsible for the following priorities:

• Guaranteeing rigour and balanced budgets. Maintaining the City Council’s financial solvency and ensuring that gross savings are always between 15% and 20%, while the municipal debt falls between 30% and 40% of current income. Promoting innovation in the management of municipal budgets and treasury. Developing the evaluation of public policies and studying the possibility of incorporating ecological and social parameters in municipal budgets.
• Coordinating the drive towards the economic diversification of the city. This involves providing support to existing strategic sectors, but also the emerging ones, especially those linked to climate change. Pursuing the attraction and retention of talent. Analysing the current situation of tourism so that the city can intelligently manage tourist flows. Promoting the local economy.
• Being committed to science and research in order to create an innovation hub and attract talent. Reinforcing major scientific repositories and improving relations between the public and private sectors via mechanisms such as scientific scholarships. Working to improve the transfer of knowledge to the city’s business network, via Barcelona Innovation Coast, placing special emphasis on climate change. Making the Ciutadella Science Park a reality. Incorporating a metropolitan perspective to science.
• Reinvigorating the Barcelona brand and incorporating new values. Defending the current brand and balancing our economic strengths with our role as a city that defends diversity and is committed to the environment and the fight against climate change. Expanding relations between Barcelona and Latin America, in regard to culture, science and the publishing sector. Updating the city’s strategy of economic diplomacy and strengthening our presence in international city networks. Analysing formulas for improving instruments concerning international relations, with the clear intention of becoming an even greater benchmark on a European and global scale.
• Promoting the digital modernisation of the Administration. Advocating for a municipal organisation geared towards the intelligent use of data, reinforcing the transformations already under way. Fostering the attraction of digital talent for the City Council and improving our cyber-security systems. Making the Municipal Institute of Information Technology a technological benchmark in the city’s innovation and technology ecosystem.

You are faced with the crucial challenge of turning progress into shared progress. I am sure you will find the right way to achieve this. 

Kind regards,