Interview with Luis Blanco, Secretary General of the Biscayne Association of chemical enterprises

Although, precisely between the companies located around the port we have companies of considerable size, the profile of the companies that form the Basque Association of chemical companies (AVEQ-KIMIKA) is rather small and medium-sized enterprises, of very different subsectors and who rely on professionals and technicians highly qualified individuals.

These three characteristics are that give so much dynamism to the partnership: a considerable number of companies with the need for and interest in collaborating with other companies.

It is possible to say that the modern Spanish chemical industry was born in Bilbao in 1872 with the Foundation by Alfred Nobel in Galdacano dynamite factory. A. from there, and associated with major industrial sectors customers that were created in the territory, the chemical industry was emerging in more or less dispersed way, for example, chemical Assistant of the smelter in Vizcaya or auxiliary paper in Guipúzcoa sector.

This auxiliary function causes each subsector to evolve even to their client companies. All the chemistry associated with the construction marked record until this last year and now will have to be attentive to its evolution.

Manufacture of plastic raw materials and petrochemical sectors have suffered constant increases in the prices of its raw materials and the difficulties of impact such rises in their products in sectors such as automotive or household appliances of white line.

And there is a general risk due to the population pressure on facilities: plants installed in dates as far back as 1914 and 1946, on the left bank of the Nervion river for example, that with the historical evolution have been gradually surrounded by houses and facing strong pressure to abandon their locations.

However, figures for investment in general, still quite good, have not been as high as the set of Basque industry. The increase in the investment of all industry in the Basque country has been very high in the last 8 years, however, in the chemical sector, that evolution has been rather more flat.

And there is a particularly worrying factor: the investment in r & d between 2000 and 2005 the total number of Basque industry sectors has increased by almost 51 per cent, reaching in 2006 more than 721 million euros. However, in the same period the evolution in our sector has been an increase of the 21,18%, from being the second sector of the Basque industry in this area (after the sector of transport equipment) to keep up in fifth place.

In this regard, the constant evolution to the rise in the ratio of 'value added per employee', is significant because this specialization in products joined investment in automation of processes, including in basic sectors, allowing a positive evolution of the costs.

When in some Forum I can say emphatically that the increase in the hope and quality of life in the Western world is due to the chemistry, a large part of the audience looks at me with surprise, but once you explaintalk about treatment of the water, the increase of crops with fertilizers and pesticides, you speak of food conservation and refrigeration, when you explain all these little miracles throughout the world, at least, reflect on them.

That is the major social challenge of chemistry explained simply that without it our life would be immensely shorter and much more painful.

I think that the solution is not so much advertising, nor even in the information through informative articles (although they are never wrong) I believe that it is a matter of active transparency, i.e., explain in a simple and accessible way how our work is reflected in daily life and how we dowithout removing or adding a comma.

For this work, I believe that an essential tool is commitment to progress, because it gives a very positive communication system, and encourages continued progress.

From there the companies need tools and legal certainty. And progress is constant and obvious.

What I would say that it has been his "personal touch", his contribution since he assumed the leadership of the Association?

Perhaps provide legal insight to the problems of industry which, in many cases, derive from the constant need to adapt to the continuous changes in the rules.

What is the most important thing that brings its task in the direction of the Association?

On one occasion a small businessman, with 12 workers of staff, told me that I was thinking about quitting because the Systematics of the management of the regulations was too complex for a small company.

He pointed to Aveq-Kimika and today has more than 30 employees and has opened two offices in other autonomous communities.

Gratitude and confidence is a huge satisfaction for me.

Do you like most of your day to day head of the Association?

Help small businesses to continue creating wealth and employment in excellent conditions and security.

And which least?

The feeling of that society and some authorities do not want the industry. They do not appreciate the richness that brings, the quality of employment, the advantages to a community, and prefer a shopping centre, which also is much worse for the environment because you can only access to him by car...

Do you like to do in your leisure time?

The little time I have I try to devote to be with my family, for simple things such as going to the purchase.

Hobbies, who do not spend too long truth, such as reading, writing, especially stories, information technology, planning and programming applications on your computer in Windows... but less and less.

Tell me what is its main virtue

I think I have a large capacity empathetic, put me in the place of another.

And its main fault?

My family would say that too much time dedicated to work... and certainly they are right.

A desire to...

Sustainable development. That we are able to ensure our own needs and make compatible them with future generations to do the same, taking special care with the most disadvantaged.