Language, the mark of identity

These are three main areas of activity who share a common tool: the language; as well as a goal: turning Castile and Leon into the first international platform to teach Spanish.

In my opinion, there are three main reasons that justify the effort Castile and Leon should make for the Spanish language to become a reference in the new productive model of this region. After English, Spanish is the second most widespread language. It is the mark of identity that has been internationally recognized and is therefore an economic resource of great importance with an outstanding future ahead. As it is usually said - in a certain euphemistic sense- when the goal searched is found in the preambles.

From the strategic point of view, I share the idea that is is precisely in this very moment -of generalized distrust and intense destruction of the employment- when the bases for a new economic growth pattern are set in a certain territory. Therefore, I believe it is correct to raise the initiative of updating as soon as possible the Competitiveness Agreement accepted by the financial and social agents and the Administration of the Autonomous Region itself, which will be in force until the end of this year.

If the Competitiveness Agreement is understood as a general compromise for the regional productive resources to work in certain directions, there is no doubt that the language, the Spanish language learning and, in general, the promotion of what is generally called "Spanish", is actually an emerging sector expected to make a contribution of at least 10% to the regional gross domestic product.

In this sense, it is clear that the duty of the Administration is again to favour the most adequate environment in order to promote private initiatives. From my point of view, it is actually the society itself, the one that can and must benefit from the great potential represented in the language in the medium and long term. That is to say, the universities of the autonomous region, the private sector - in which the Spanish Language Foundation wants to carry out an outstanding role - and the service sector itself, specially the tourist sector. These are three main areas of activity who share a common tool: the language; as well as a goal: turning Castile and Leon into the first international platform to teach Spanish.