The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Germany’s Traditional Advent Dinner Brings Together a Hundred Leaders of the Spanish-German Network and Honors Belén Garijo

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Germany held its traditional Advent Dinner at Villa Bonn in Frankfurt, an event that brought together around a hundred representatives from the Spanish-German business and institutional community. This year’s edition was particularly emotional, as it also served to honor Belén Garijo, CEO of Merck Group, whose professional career and contribution to economic dialogue between Spain and Germany were recognized with the Cámara Award 2025.

The Chamber had the honor of welcoming His Excellency, the Ambassador of Spain in Germany, Don Pascual Navarro, as well as Inmaculada Riera, Director General of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic and Commercial Office in Berlin of the Spanish Embassy, represented by Lucinio Muñoz, Chief Economic and Commercial Counselor, and Pilar Muñoz, Commercial Counselor. Additionally, Enrique Criado, Consul General of Spain in Frankfurt, opened the evening in his final year of mission in the city.

In his opening remarks, Criado highlighted the Chamber’s growth, “immersed in a virtuous cycle driven by the increase in activities and, consequently, the number of member companies.” Inmaculada Riera emphasized the Chamber’s essential role as a bridge between Spanish and German companies, as well as the importance of public-private collaboration in strengthening the business ecosystem in both countries.

After the first course, Ambassador Pascual Navarro provided a detailed overview of the strong state of bilateral economic relations. “Relations between Spain and Germany are characterized by the high intensity of trade and investment flows. Germany is one of our main trading partners and also one of the top clients for the Spanish tourism sector. It is also one of the main investors, both in direct and portfolio investments,” he noted. In this context, the Ambassador highlighted the increasingly important role the Chamber is called upon to play as an integrating actor between the two economies.

Belén Garijo, Cámara Award 2025

This year, the Chamber awarded Belén Garijo, CEO of Merck Group, the Cámara Award 2025, which she received from the Ambassador of Spain in Germany, Don Pascual Navarro, in recognition of her outstanding professional career and her contribution to economic dialogue between Spain and Germany.

In her speech, Garijo began by expressing her joy and gratitude for the honor, and gave a brief overview of her professional career in the pharmaceutical sector after starting her career as a physician at Hospital de La Paz in Madrid. “Throughout this time, from Madrid and Barcelona to Paris, Geneva, Chicago, New Jersey, and for the past 14 years in Darmstadt, my Spanish heart has proudly beat in some of the world’s most important companies,” she said. “People like to say I am the first female CEO of a German DAX company, but what makes me even prouder is being the first Spaniard to lead Merck,” added Belén Garijo, highlighting the increasing visibility of women in leadership roles in recent years. She also stressed the importance of reinforcing European competitiveness, noting that “both Spain and Germany have strong economies and a bright future together, and they must start thinking of Europe first.”

The awardee also took a moment to review Merck’s impact in Spain, where it has been operating for over 100 years. Around 1,300 professionals work there manufacturing medicines that serve over 3 million local patients, while products produced in Spain benefit millions of patients worldwide. In the last five years, Merck has invested more than €60 million in modernizing and expanding its facilities in Spain, including a recent €5 million investment in Tres Cantos to expand growth hormone production. These investments, Garijo noted, “reinforce Merck’s commitment to Spain as a strategic hub for talent and innovation.”

To close the event, Fernando Silva, President of the Chamber, took the opportunity to congratulate Belén Garijo for this well-deserved recognition and highlight her exemplary leadership. Addressing the Chamber’s members, Silva thanked them for their trust and continued support, which are fundamental for the Chamber to keep strengthening economic, commercial, and business ties between both countries. With a message of optimism, the Chamber President emphasized the ongoing phase of growth, modernization, and renewal the institution is experiencing, marked by increased activity, expansion of the community, and consequently, enhanced value offered to its members.

Attendees also had the opportunity to enjoy a valuable networking space, fostering new connections and strengthening relationships among companies and institutions in the community. The high level of participation in this edition confirms the Chamber’s positive growth trend, which will continue to drive new projects and activities in the coming year, consolidating its role as a reference platform for the Spanish-German business network.