Ondarzabal: “The export of automotive and machinery to Russia will be the most affected sector”

The director of internationalization of the SPRI Group, Ainhoa ​​Ondarzabal, assures that the war in Ukraine will not favor economic recovery after the pandemic. As she explained in Euskadi Irratia’s “Faktoria”, beyond the evolution of the war, the fines and obstacles imposed by other countries on Russia will affect the competitiveness of Euskadi companies. The SPRI representative has pointed out that, among other things, production costs will increase and both energy and basic raw materials will become more expensive.

Ondarzabal warns of the importance of Russia in the case of exports from Basque companies. At this moment, 29 companies are in Russia, occupying the thirteenth position in exports, being the majority export of products and machinery for automobiles. However, he states that they are in contact with Basque companies with representation in both Russia and Ukraine.

“It is the economic sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States that are worrying companies,” he said. “If as a consequence of the fines the sales of clients of foreign companies drop, it will also affect Basque companies”, and as an example she has expressed concern about the possibility of eliminating the SWIFT system. The SPRI delegation has recalled that the current supply problems must be added to the fines that will be imposed for the Ukrainian wars.