MADRID – According to Ineco, Spain’s high-speed rail network is nine times more cost-efficient per constructed kilometre than the one being developed in the United Kingdom. This efficiency is largely attributed to Spain’s robust ecosystem of public-private collaboration.
Sergio Vázquez Torrón, the President of Ineco, Spain’s public engineering company, shared the results during his speech at the Global Mobility Call fair held this week in Ifema Madrid. He credits the efficiency to the “public talent” in Spain. This is represented by public companies in infrastructure like Adif and Ineco. These spearhead the system of public-private collaboration. According to Vázquez Torrón “this result-oriented approach, the capacity to engage with private partners on equal footing, and understanding the language of business are what make Spain successful in this regard.”
A balanced collaboration
According to Ineco’s findings, the public sector needs the right talent. Then it is capable of guiding and aligning the private sector in a partnership of “equals. ” The efficient distribution of responsibilities across both sectors also add to that. This is the “decisive factor” for lower costs. However, other contributing elements include input costs, territorial specifications, and Spain’s lower population density, among others.
Global footprint
Ineco has been a part of major international projects. Examples include metros in São Paulo, Mexico City, high-speed rails in Saudi Arabia, India, the Baltic countries, and even in the UK itself.
Symbiosis between public and private entities
María Luisa Domínguez, the president of Adif, is also enthusiastic about the public-private partnership. She pointed out that projects bid out to private companies also offer these companies invaluable experience. Consequently they enable them to compete better on the global stage. Raül Blanco, the President of Renfe, added that innovation and internationalisation are the two main collaboration points between public and private sectors in these enterprises.
Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, the President of Puertos del Estado, praised the efforts of public port authorities in bringing together the interests of all stakeholders involved, including the private sector, towards common goals.
Also read: High-speed trains from Spain to France
