Santi Parra Valero

Young Researcher Award

Premios Armada 2022 · Spanish Navy

Awarded for historical research on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage that I carried out in Almería. The recognition included a voyage aboard the Spanish Navy training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano — my first publicly recognised research work and the starting point of this journey.

BSc in Economics and International Business

Universidad de Alcalá

The economic, quantitative and international-business foundation of my profile: economic theory, econometrics and international business. Economic analysis is a visible part of my professional identity, not an afterthought.

Primaflor · Commercial Department

Summer internship · 2025

My first contact with the day-to-day commercial operations of a company — and my first practical use of generative AI for productivity in a real work setting.

• Followed up on customers and operations.
• Analysed commercial information.
• Designed AI-assisted workflows to organise and process logistics information.

Fudan University

Full academic year · Average grade 9.5/10

A full academic year in Shanghai that became the central international and geographic specialisation of my profile: meaningful academic immersion in China, not a generic exchange semester. Fudan is ranked #26 in the QS World University Rankings.

• Key coursework: Chinese Economy, International Finance, Doing Business in China and Strategic Management.
• Rounded it out with China and globalisation, money and banking, entrepreneurship, Asia-Pacific political economy, EU external relations, international organisations and intercultural communication.

SIAL Shanghai

International food trade fair · 2026

I supported the China-focused promotional activities of Almería-based food exporters under the Sabores Almería brand, working alongside Spanish business and institutional representatives, including Spain's Economic and Commercial Office.

• It connects three pieces of my profile: Spanish exporters, the Chinese market and Spain's trade-promotion ecosystem.

Wuxi Pacific · International business development

Independent project with a Chinese company · 2026

A cross-border business-development project that I carried out directly with a Chinese company. Not a conventional corporate role — which is exactly why it shows initiative, B2B opportunity identification and direct interaction with management.

• Maintained direct contact with company management and visited its facilities in Wuxi.
• Identified and screened prospective clients and commercial opportunities linked to its international expansion.
• Introduced Wuxi Pacific to a multinational logistics provider and coordinated the initial discussions to explore a potential commercial relationship.
• Acted as a practical bridge between a Chinese company and potential European commercial counterparts.

Bachelor's thesis · 9.5/10

The China Gap: Spain's Export Performance in the Chinese Market

My China specialisation turned into quantitative economic research: a structural gravity model estimated with PPML on CEPII and UN Comtrade data (2001–2024), benchmarking Spain's exports to China against Germany, France and Italy. Details below.

ICEX Internationalization Scholarship · 51st cohort

MBA in International Management · ICEX / Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP) · 2026–2027

I am part of the 51st cohort of the ICEX Scholarships, the programme through which ICEX — Spain's public agency for trade and investment promotion — has trained the professionals behind Spanish business internationalisation since 1975. More than a master's degree, it is a gateway into Spain's international economic and commercial ecosystem, structured in three phases:

• MBA in International Management (ICEX / UIMP, Madrid, 2026–2027): training in international business management, foreign trade and investment.
• Spain's network of Economic and Commercial Offices abroad (Ofecomes): a year of hands-on training in a Spanish government commercial office, supporting companies with local market access, trade and investment operations and public-procurement projects.
• Companies and institutions: a year in companies, public or private entities or international organisations, in Spain or abroad.
• Entry through national competitive selection: accredited English, a capacities test and an interview, with a final ranking of beneficiaries.