The digital transformation of Spain, a matter of State for AMETIC

"Spain needs a Ministry of Digital Economy and Society", has assured José Manuel de Riva, president of this employers' association, during the 30th Meeting of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, in which he advocates a digital transformation "that engages all political forces, to the business sector and civil society".

Forceful in his speech during the opening session of this meeting in Santander, José Manuel de Riva, president of AMETIC has made it clear that "we have to bet firmly on digital transformation and this objective must be considered a matter of State", while claiming that "Spain needs a Ministry of Economy and Digital Society".

An initiative that has received the applause and unanimous support of all business associations. "It is increasingly difficult to distinguish between conventional economy and digital economy," says de Riva.. Traditional business models have been convulsed by digital disruption, in a world where the Internet has become the backbone of the digital ecosystem".

The president of the technological employers has also insisted on the need to simplify regulatory frameworks, that are becoming more complex, while recommending balancing the digital ecosystem so as not to jeopardize the necessary macro-investments in infrastructure and innovation.

On this first day of the 30th Meeting of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, inaugurated by the acting Secretary of State for Telecommunications and for the SI, Victor Calvo-Sotelo, José Manuel de Riva also alluded to the concern for cybersecurity, emphasizing that it is essential to bet on large projects driving digital transformation and a massive effort in digital training, For both students and workers, active or unemployed.

Defined as "new paradigm and the raw material of the Digital Economy", the president of AMETIC has provided the figures of the Spanish ICT market and digital content, which reached last year the 90.270 millions of euros. After suffering a cumulative fall of the 18% in the period 2008-2013, The sector had an increase of 2,0% in the following year; one 5% in 2015, and in the present the path of growth continues, Although this growth is not homogeneous between the different subsectors.

De Riva mentioned the worrying position that Spain currently occupies in the indices that measure the digital development of the countries; the 35, envelope 143 at NRI (Networked Readiness Index del WEF) 2016; and the 15, envelope 28 countries in DESI (Digital Economy & EU Society Index).

"To improve our position in the NRI - he stressed- We must continue to have infrastructure and the use of them by citizens, also with the use of ICT by AAs. PP. for access to basic services. But we must correct our weaknesses identified by the Global Information Technology Report. 2016, and that go through a limited digital transformation of the productive sectors, The inefficiency of our education system, The inadequacy of the Spanish regulatory framework, as well as the low importance of ICT in government plans; We must also increase public procurement of technology., increase ICT training for workers on the job, and correct excessive taxation on digital businesses".

For all this, The proposal of this technological employer to build a 'digital Spain' passes -as explained by its president- "for the effective development of the European Digital Single Market, ensuring a symmetrical and balanced framework between the different actors in the digital ecosystem that facilitates infrastructure development and investment in innovation; for strengthening the ICT industry in our country with tractor projects and increasing innovative public procurement; for accelerating digital transformation at both the public and private levels; to definitively promote R + D + i (overcome the 3% GDP) with investment incentive policies, and for generating digital talent by reinforcing curricula at all levels"

AMETIC's objective is to place Spain in the 'top 20' of the NRI index of the World Economic Forum and in the 'top 10' of the European DESI index. "Spain," he insisted again.- needs a Ministry of Digital Economy and Society".

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