The delegate of Economics, Innovation, and Finance, Engracia Hidalgo, presided over the recognition ceremony held at the CentroCentro Auditorium in the Palacio de Cibeles, where ten companies and ten professionals were honored for their outstanding contribution to the economic development and international projection of the city of Madrid.

In her speech, Hidalgo thanked “the sustained trust of international investors and entrepreneurs in the city” and emphasized Madrid’s ability to offer stability and opportunities for both career and personal development to the world’s most innovative talents. She also highlighted that this talent attraction helps Madrid become more open, innovative, cosmopolitan, and competitive every day.

Currently, more than 12,000 foreign corporations from over 100 countries operate in the capital, positioning Madrid as the leader of foreign investment in Spain. This activity generates nearly 693,000 jobs in the Madrid Community, according to 2023 data.

Awarded Companies
The business recognition has been granted to companies that have chosen Madrid as the headquarters for their innovation centers and that generate thousands of quality jobs. These include:

• BASF, chemical multinational
• Bosch, engineering and technology
• CGI, technology consultancy
• ING, financial institution
• L’Oréal, cosmetics company
• Moderna, pharmaceutical and biotechnology company
• OneTrust, software company
• Siemens, technology company
• The Social Hub, innovation and collaboration platform
• UST, digital native consultancy

Recognized Professionals
The ceremony also distinguished personalities who, within their fields, have projected the city internationally:

• Antonio Azzato, promoter of Meninas Madrid Gallery
• Natalia Bayona, for her role at UNWTO
• Margaret Chen and Estela Li, for bridging business and innovation between China and Spain
• Iris Córdoba, director of the Global Sports Innovation Center
• Helen Cunningham, for strengthening the global presence of Amadeus from Madrid
• Omar González, Colombian investor
• Sébastien Guigues, for his contribution to sustainable mobility at Renault
• Juliana Naranjo Pereira, for attracting international investment and talent
• Tony Noel, for his contribution to positioning Madrid as an investor hub and his work on the British Investment Barometer in Spain

Musical Closure and Investment Data
The ceremony was accompanied by performances of classical pieces by the Camerata Musicalis Symphony Orchestra, which offered works such as Mozart’s Divertimento in D, Shostakovich’s Spanish Suite, Boccherini’s Night Music from the Streets of Madrid, and the first movement of Warlock’s Capriol Suite.

In 2024, foreign investment in Madrid amounted to €26.305 billion, the second-best historical figure since 1993, according to the Foreign Investment Registry. In Hidalgo’s words, “Madrid thus consolidates itself as one of the leading European capitals for investing, innovating, and growing. This dynamism reflects the sustained confidence of international investors and our region’s ability to offer stability, talent, and opportunities.”