Chancellor,
It gives me great satisfaction to be here at the leading communication technology Trade Fair, held in Hannover, in Germany, and to which Spain has been invited to participate as partner country this year.
This Trade Fair provides a support framework for the exchange of technological advancements, advancements in innovation and opportunities to translate talent into prosperity, which is unquestionably the best path to economic development.
Spain has made considerable efforts in recent years to position itself on the cutting edge of the communication technologies sector and currently shares a high level of development alongside Germany. However, this is expected in the case in Germany - the whole world knows that Germany is always among global leaders in terms of developing the most advanced technology, such as Communication Technologies. What is not so widely expected is for Spain to have such a high level of development. We want to share our progress, our innovative capabilities and our ambition for the future with you all, with the rest of Europe.
The future of the European Union is a digital future. The future of an economically strong and integrated European Union, one that frees up all its potential for creativity, talent and innovation, needs an Information and Communication Technology sector that leads the world, that has the support of the European Union and European Governments, that enhances the development of industry, that favours progress for the new networks and that also has a user base for that shared development.
To the companies in this sector, I offer my congratulations on their progress and the commitment of the Spanish Government. To the State of Lower Saxony, to the city of Hannover and to the Federal Government, I offer my congratulations and thanks for inviting Spain. And to all of you and all those people who follow the Communication Technology sector, I convey my conviction that this is the strongest and safest bet for prosperity, for a society of informed citizens and for a more democratic society in which we all hold a position of responsibility.
Thank you.