The organisers of FISITA 2004 are grateful to all our sponsors for their support.

Applus+ is Certification business unit of the Agbar group. This company originates from Agbar Automotive, a group with an international presence in the automotive sector, and with a natural evolution towards inspection and certification in other sectors. Applus+ has developed an important portfolio of services in the automotive world, which served as a platform to expand their activities into other sectors.

Today Applus+ is a multinational company present in more than 25 different sectors (automotive, construction, food and agriculture, aeronautical, naval, iron and steel, petrochemical, metallurgy, technological and environmental) and present in a large number of international markets (Argentina, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, South Korea, Ecuador, Germany, Spain, The United States, France, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Portugal and Taiwan).

Applus+ employs 3,274 people around the world and closed the 2003 fiscal year with an aggregate overall income €219,130 million.

In the area of automotive certification Applus+ is present in all stages of the vehicle cycle, offering a wide range of services to both the general public and the automotive industry.

Applus+ has the goal within this automotive sector to become a global reference point in automotive engineering through Applus+ IDIADA its engineering developer in the automotive sector. Applus+ IDIADA has a team of engineering experts and first class facilities located worldwide, ready to meet any of our clients’ needs; Excellence being our number one goal.

Applus+ IDIADA offers complete solutions for the automotive development. Being engineering, homologation and proving grounds its main services.

Other services within the automotive sector are:

• Applus+ Iteuve: Technical Inspection of vehicles. Presently, Applus+ is world-leader in this activity. Its presence stands out in China, Spain, Portugal and Argentina. Altogether, Applus+ carries out more than 3 million annual inspections. Applus+ Iteuve has a team of top level experts, the best technology, and customer-driven service.
• Applus+ Technologies: The company has a notable presence in the United States, where it carries out the control of pollutant gases of more than 9.5 million vehicles a year through Applus+ Technologies, with headquarters in Chicago. Currently, Applus+ offers its services in Georgia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington and Connecticut.
• Applus+ VO: Second Hand Vehicle Certificate. Recently created service that offers certification services for used vehicles.
• Applus+ Fleet: Fleet management.
• Applus+ Ecotechnology The company is also active in recycling, where is pioneer in the integral management out-of-use-tyres
• The most modern inspection center in the world for vehicle inspection and fleet management has been recently inaugurated in China for the province of Nanjing.

SEAT is a Spanish company owned by the Volkswagen Group and integrated in the Audi Brand Group, whose distinguishing feature is its more sports-oriented attitude. The company develops and produces models which combine unconventional design with a sports-orientated and innovative character - values reflected in the brand claim 'SEAT auto emoción'.

The arrival of the Altea in 2004 marked the beginning of a new generation of SEAT vehicles, thus broadening the range of models currently produced by the company - Alhambra, Arosa, Córdoba, Ibiza, León and Toledo. This Spanish company exports two thirds of its production. Its main markets are in Europe, although it has a foothold in 67 countries in five continents.

SEAT's production and sales to end-customers are in the region of 450,000 units per annum.

The origins of the present Nissan Motor Ibérica S.A. date back to 1920. Throughout more than 80 years and under different names, the company has played an important role in the development of the Spanish automotive industry.

Integrated in Nissan since 1980, the activity of NMISA is the development and manufacturing of passenger cars, off-road vehicles, commercial vans and diesel engines. It was the first investment in Europe of a Japanese automotive company.

Around 3.700 employees are working in the NMISA plants. All Nissan companies in Spain employ more than 6.000 people, including sales & marketing, parts distribution, vehicles distribution, manufacturing of industrial and commercial vehicles, and design and development of vehicles and engines.

NMISA has three industrial plants based in Spain:

• The Zona Franca plant, located in Barcelona, which assembles the 4×4 Terrano, the minivan Almera Tino and, since October 2002, the commercial van X-83, first cross-badged vehicle of the Alliance Renault-Nissan produced in Europe, sold under three brands: Nissan Primastar, Renault Trafic and Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro. The Barcelona plant is recognised as one of the most versatile factories in Europe.

• The Cuatro Vientos plant, located in Madrid, which produces diesel engines for the Spanish and British assembly factories; and

• The Montcada stamping plant.

The planned production volume of NMISA for the year 2003 is 107,000 vehicles.

Nissan employs around 125,000 people world-wide, who produced and sold 2,735,000 vehicles in 2002.

Barcelona is a city which is open to the world. Due to its history, culture and geographical situation, it has been a focal point through the centuries of exceptional international activity which in recent years has experienced a powerful impulse. Today, our city is a Mediterranean, European and world capital of obligatory reference.

In the face of the globalisation of the problems affecting our society, Barcelona defends the maximum involvement of the local authorities in the search for solutions and cultivates exchanges beyond its immediate environment.

The Government of Catalonia, through the Investment Promotion Agency-CIDEM, offers practical assistance to foreign investors at all stages, from initial investment planning and feasibility studies to full implementation of the project and follow-up. Therefore, if you consider investing in Catalonia, take we will be very pleased to give you our full support. Interested in seeing more?: www.catalonia.com

The Polytechnic Foundation of Catalonia (FPC), an institution created by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), is responsible with STA for the organization of the Student Congress and the Travelling Fellowship Programme of the FISITA World Automotive Congress, Barcelona 2004. These international events revolve around three main subjects: cultural diversity, sustainable development and conditions for peace.

Since its creation in 1994, the FPC has been working to offer continuing education commensurate with social needs and to act as a link between the university and the business world with regard to technology and management. The FPC organizes educational master programmes in the field of automotive technology, working with big automotive companies and its suppliers.

HP delivers vital technology for business and life. The company's solutions span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing for consumers, enterprises and small and medium business. Our $4 billion annual R&D investment fuels the invention of products, solutions and new technologies, so that we can better serve customers and enter new markets. We invent, engineer and deliver technology solutions that drive business value, create social value and improve the lives of our customers.

HP has a dynamic, powerful team of 142,000 employees with capabilities in 170 countries doing business in more than 40 currencies and more than 10 languages. Revenues were $73.1 billion for the fiscal year that ended October 31, 2003.

Siemens is a leading company in electrical engineering and electronics, with a presence in more than 190 countries around the world. Research is the driving force behind Siemens' technical advances and ensures that profits continue to grow. The company is one of the largest and most important employers in Spain and has been established in the country for more than a century. During this time it has played an important role in Spain's economic and technological development in areas like telecommunications, mobile devices and communication solutions and services, industrial automation and logistics services, automotive electronics components and systems, rail transport systems, medical solutions, energy and lighting.

Telefónica Empresas provides communication services and solutions to the corporate sector (large companies and public administrations). Its goal is to satisfy its customers' needs for communication in an integrated and personalized way, covering the entire value chain, from connectivity to consultancy, and development and implementation of communication solutions. It has a wide portfolio of services and solutions, and guarantees end-to-end quality, flexibility and comprehensive service.

At present, Telefónica Empresas manages a portfolio of more than 21,000 companies worldwide, of which two thousand are in Spain.

Vodafone Group Plc provides an extensive range of mobile telecommunications services, including voice and data communications, and is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company, with a significant presence in Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Far East through the CompanyÕs subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings and investments.

Vodafone Spain has more than nine millions clients.