Finance
Catalonia Aims to Balance Chinese Investments, Prioritising Local Jobs
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 20, 2026
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Catalonia embraces Chinese investment—€1.28 billion over five years—but insists large-scale worker imports, like the ~2,000 Chinese technicians at CATL’s Aragon battery gigafactory, must respect local labor laws and prioritize local employment.
Catalonia Seeks Balance: Chinese Investment Grows, Local Jobs Prioritized
Chinese Investment in Catalonia: Growth, Opportunities, and Labor Concerns
By Joan Faus
Welcoming Investment, Protecting Local Employment
BARCELONA, April 20 (Reuters) - Catalonia welcomes Chinese investments but opposes bringing in large numbers of workers from China in order to protect local jobs, the Spanish region's leader told Reuters.
The wealthy northeastern region has become a hub for Chinese investments into Spain, benefiting from the Barcelona port and government outreach to Chinese companies.
Regional Leadership Perspective
Regional leader Salvador Illa called Catalonia a "magnificent gateway into Europe" for Chinese companies, but expressed concerns about the potential arrival of foreign workers.
Case Study: CATL Battery Plant
Chinese battery maker CATL reportedly brought 2,000 Chinese workers for its plant construction in neighbouring Aragon. CATL declined to confirm the reports last year, saying the firm was still selecting its subcontractors and was open to hiring locals.
"We don't need workers from abroad to come. We already have (workers) here. The ones that want to come — we have an important Asian community — are welcomed, respecting the labour framework we have here," Illa told Reuters during a leftist gathering in Barcelona over the weekend.
Union and Political Responses
Spanish union leaders have sent a similar message, acknowledging the importance of Chinese know-how but stressing that local labour laws must be maintained.
Spain's warmer relations with China, bolstered by a meeting in Beijing last week between Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and President Xi Jinping, who pledged closer ties, have supported Chinese investments, said Illa, the Socialist Party leader in Catalonia who is a close ally of Sanchez.
Major Projects and Economic Impact
Automotive Investments
Automaker Chery plans to open its first European factory in Barcelona, although the project is behind schedule. Reuters reported last year China's No. 1 automaker BYD considers Spain as the top candidate to host its new car factory in Europe, with Catalonia being a potential location.
Investment Figures and Trends
Catalonia ranks as the Spanish region with the largest number of new investment projects from China, totalling 24 in 2020 to 2024, a quarter of Spain's total, according to Catalonia's trade promotion agency.
Chinese investment in Catalonia reached 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in 2020 to 2024, a more than fourfold rise from the previous five years.($1 = 0.8501 euros)
(Reporting by Joan Faus, editing by Andrei Khalip and Keith Weir)
Key Takeaways
- •Chinese FDI in Catalonia totaled €1.279 billion over the past five years, creating 2,300+ jobs, with a dedicated China Desk supporting investors. (catalonia.com)
- •Catalonia's regional leader emphasizes that while Chinese investment is welcome, importing foreign workers at scale—such as CATL's use of around 2,000 Chinese workers in Aragon—raises concerns and local laws must be upheld. (catalonia.com)
- •The CATL–Stellantis gigafactory in Figueruelas (Aragon) will create about 3,000 jobs by 2027 but initially relies heavily on skilled Chinese technicians due to local unfamiliarity with the technology. (ibed.lat)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Catalonia aims to balance Chinese investments, prioritising local jobs
1Why does Catalonia prioritize local jobs in the face of Chinese investment?
Catalonia aims to protect employment for residents by encouraging Chinese companies to hire locally, rather than importing large numbers of foreign workers.
2How significant is Chinese investment in Catalonia compared to other Spanish regions?
Catalonia hosts the largest number of new Chinese investment projects in Spain, totaling 24 projects between 2020 and 2024, representing a quarter of the national total.
3What concerns do Catalan leaders have about foreign workers?
Catalan leaders are concerned about foreign workers coming in large numbers and emphasize that local labor laws must be respected to protect local jobs.
4Which Chinese companies are investing in Catalonia?
Key investors include battery maker CATL and automaker Chery, with BYD also considering Catalonia for its European car factory.
5How much did Chinese investment in Catalonia increase from 2020 to 2024?
Chinese investment reached 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) from 2020 to 2024, over four times higher than the previous five years.