Industry leaders from the whole of Europe advocate in favor of the Mediterranean Corridor
The past October 3rd, the biggest Meeting for the Mediterranean Corridor (Corredor Mediterráneo), took place in Madrid (IFEMA). The Secretary General of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, María Catalán, attended this event which counted on the support of more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and civil society from the whole Spanish territory.
The meeting started with an exhibition displaying by means of information panels the present situation of the development of the related public works, segment by segment, as well as the foreseen benefits stemming from the Mediterranean Corridor (Corredor Mediterráneo);job creation and a higher level of employment, an infrastructure connecting over 20 million people, with an increase of the affluence of tourism, as well as the overall boosting of the Spanish economy and an improved mobility.
Thereupon, took place two panels in which leading members of industrial organizations & business groups, Chambers of Commerce as well as renown sportsmen explained why undertaking the necessary works for the development of such infrastructure is an urgent need. In the first panel, José Mª Albarracín, President of CROEM (Confederation of Business Organizations of the Region of Murcia), Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Javier González de Lara, President of the CEA (Confederation of Business Organizations of Andalousia), Salvador Navarro, President of the CEV (Confederation of Business Organizations of the Valencian Community) and Alejandro Valverde, Professional cyclist, highlighted the positive impact of the Mediterranean Corridor on tourism as well as on the improved mobility of both passengers and goods.
During the second panel, Federico Félix, President of the Pro-AVE (Spanish High Speed Train) Foundation, Joaquim Gay de Montellà, President of Fomento del Trabajo Nacional (Advancement of National Employment), J. Pablo Lázaro, President of the CEIM (Business Confederation of Madrid), Diego Martínez Cano, President of Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Almeria and Agnès Noguera, CEO of Libertas 7, explained their point of view on Transport infrastructures and their impact as the backbone of the National Territory and the competitiveness of the industry and the economy.
Following those speeches, Vicente Boluda, President of the Valencian Association of Business (Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios – AVE), the driving force promoting the communication channel www.elcorredormediterraneo.com, aiming to inform on the state of the works of the different segments conforming the Mediterranean Corridor, opened the closing ceremony of the event, which was conducted by Macarena Berlín (Ser radio station) and Diego Lorente (AVE – Valencian Association of Business). During his speech, Vicente Boluda presented the project and announced that during next November will take place in La Encina the 2nd sixmonthly monitoring meeting, in which will be studied from a technical point of view, the progress made in all the segments of the Corridor.
During the Closing Ceremony of the event, both Civil Society and the world of Business & Industry joined forces to advocate for the need of a key infrastructure for the whole of Spain. Susanne Czech, Director General of the European Retail Round Table, emphasized the European vision on the importance of infrastructures for the Economy. Javier Vega de Seoane, President of Círculo de Empresarios (Business & Industry Round Table), highlighted the role of the Corridor as a backbone of the territory.
Moreover the President of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Cámaras de Comercio de España), José Luis Bonet, stressed on the fact that exports represent 33% of the Spanish GDP, therefore, the Mediterranean Corridor would not only boost the export sector, but it would also have a positive impact on employment and job creation.
Juan Rosell, President of the CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations) also put forward his opinion, emphasizing the huge potential of the Corridor on one of Spain’s main sectors and a driving force of its economy – Tourism. A link connecting the whole of the Mediterranean region would improve and multiply the movement of people. The Leader of Círculo de Economía (Economy Circle), Juan José Brugera, added that the completion of this infrastructure should be an urgent priority, and a key factor as a backbone for the organization of the Territory to the profit of the whole of Spain.
The last speech of the event was that of the Minister of Development (Ministro de Fomento), Íñigo De la Serna, stating the commitment and the political will to complete this strategic infrastructure.
#QuieroCorredor (#IWantCorridor)
The campaign to collect signatures which started about a year ago to promote the awareness on the infrastructure among Civil Society, has already obtained 26.000 signatures of people supporting #QuieroCorredor (#IWantCorridor) .
