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More than 2000 new jobs will come to Barcelona in 2018 thanks to three major announcements from international companies.

US retail giant Amazon is to create 1600 new positions in Spain this year, to add to its existing 1600 employees. Spread between Barcelona and Madrid, the company has two new fulfilment centres in the Catalan capital, both launched late in 2017, together with an ‘Amazon Pantry’ centre in Castellbisbal, close to Barcelona.

“Spain is home to world-class innovation and fantastic talent so we are delighted to be creating over 1600 jobs in Spain this year and continue our investments in the country,” said Mariangela Marseglia, Country Manager for Amazon.es. “Small and medium-sized companies that sell on Amazon continue to generate economic growth in the country and support more that 10,000 jobs across Spain.

Amazon opened a Seller Support Hub to assist small businesses from France, Italy and Spain in Barcelona in April 2018, and plans to launch a Tech Hub in the city later this summer, focusing on machine learning and research. The company will hire more than 100 scientists and software engineers for this centre. “Our European logistic network keeps growing and we are proud to be creating great jobs across Spain,” said Fred Pattje, Operations Director for Spain and Italy.

Two large international logistics and distribution companies have announced important plans to set up in Barcelona. American company UPS will invest €7.5 million in a 60,000 sq m site in the city, employing up to 400 people. Germany’s DHL will spend a similar amount developing a new facility at Castellbisbal (where Amazon has its Pantry), close to the city, employing further hundreds of staff.

Altogether, the volume of contracts signed for logistics facilities in Catalonia was 74.4 per cent higher in the first quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017.