SUR in English launches Top International Business Guide with awards ceremony

More than 100 representatives of businesses in Malaga province attended the launch this Wednesday evening at the Casamaïa Apartments at Holiday World, Benalmádena, of the first Top International Business Guide, which can found inside this Friday's edition of SUR in English.

Photograph gallery

SUR in English celebrates international business

The guide was conceived as a celebration of business success stories among the international community on the Costa del Sol and in the south of Spain in general.

It covers most sectors that make up the local economy, from construction and property to legal and financial advice, education, health, renewable energy and culture and leisure.

>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 88-PAGE TOP INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS GUIDE 2023 (PDF)

The contribution of the international community to the local economy was discussed during the launch event by SUR in English’s editor-in-chief, Manolo Castillo, who pointed out that this was the first of what is set to become an annual publication and event.

Representing the event's sponsor, commercial manager for eastern Andalucía at CaixaBank, Gerardo Cuartero, spoke of the services his bank offers to the international community in the south of Spain.

The Top International Business Guide has the support of about 90 businesses of all sizes and sectors, offering goods and services to residents of all nationalities in the south of Spain.

The publication is also backed by institutions such as the Junta de Andalucía, the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, the British Embassy in Madrid and the consular corps in the province of Malaga, whose representatives offer the opening articles.

Wednesday’s launch of the guide was all about recognising the strengths of the international business community and their achievements.

Encouragement came from speaker Ali Meehan, founder of the social and business community for woman across Spain and business growth coach.

She congratulated business owners who had managed to set up a business in Spain.

“If having a business was easy, everyone would be doing it. It’s not easy running a business in any country which is not your own, and Spain is no exception,” she said before stressing the importance of forming part of a community.

The evening was not just about the launch of the new guide, but also the first SUR in English Top International Business Awards. For the first year of the celebration two awards were handed out: the first to Anytech365, a young, fast-moving IT security and support firm; and the second to The Experience Group, an enterprise that has been reaping success on the Costa del Sol for more than 50 years.

Collecting the award on behalf Anytech365 was its Danish founder and CEO Janus Nielsen, who stressed how the Costa del Sol, being the ideal place to live, is also the ideal place to make a business work.

Experience Group founder, Alan James, who was presented with the award by Gerardo Cuartero of CaixaBank, spoke of the success of his business, which branched out to meet the demands and needs of expats on the Costa del Sol, from building homes to chartering flights and installing satellite television.

After the launch and awards, guests enjoyed drinks and canapés around the pool at the Holiday World venue.