Due Diligence for the Secretary of State's 2005

UNCLAS MADRID 003266 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR U/S SHINER FROM AMBASSADOR AGUIRRE E.O. 12950: N/A TAGS: BEXP EINV ELAB ETRD SENV SP SUBJECT: Due Diligence for the Secretary of State's 2005 Award for Corporate Excellence REF: STATE 165617 ¶1. (SBU) I see no downside or embarrassment if GE Spain is selected as one of this year's awardees for the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence. In fact, such recognition would highlight the contributions of a very responsible corporate citizen that contributes to both United States and Spanish economic growth. GE Spain imports tens of millions of dollars worth of products and services produced in the United States each year. While the firm has a major plastics production facility in Spain, it imports power generation, medical, and transport equipment. Significant portions of each of these are sourced from facilities in the United States. I can state with confidence that GE Spain thus contributes directly to job creation in the United States. GE Spain is also a model employer. It consistently ranks highly in Spanish "best place to work" surveys. Its environmental, health and safety records are exemplary. GE Spain's major facility in Cartegena is unionized. ¶2. (U) In sum, I am please to reaffirm our nomination of GE Spain for this award. MANZANARES