Alicante state Family Business Association (AEFA) is closing the year 2022 with 11 more family businesses and the association has reached a total of 170 related companies. “Despite the uncertainty that has slowed the growth of the economy, I am proud to be able to say that AEFA has managed to grow in the number of partners for another year and despite all this. With your support, we are a little stronger today and we will continue to work to reach more companies in our region,” said Maite Antón, president of AEFA, at the traditional “Christmas Meeting” held at the Fideguet farm yesterday.
This action became an important annual event and brought together representatives of more than one hundred family businesses from four generations in the state of Alicante. Maite Antón reminded that AEFA has always been a pioneer since its establishment, as it is the only provincial family business association that exists in Spain. “Despite this factor that may have seemed limiting at the beginning, it has not, in our case, stood in the way of us becoming a strong and representative family business association with a clear and respected say in management. In fact, we are one of the most representative family business associations in our country.”
Commemorative plaques were awarded to welcome the new partner companies. In particular, family businesses that have joined AEFA as new members during this year have been Alumap, COES, Gaviota Group, Gestimed, Grupo Glem, Hersigrim, Indalva Química, Alamo 96, Multiacustica, Singular Glass and MPC Group.
Diversity of activities in 2022
At the meeting, the activities organized by this organization, which has held more than 50 conferences, presentations, working meetings and training sessions on different current and interesting issues affecting the management of family companies, were briefly reviewed. “Among these events, I would like to highlight the latest edition of the AEFA Awards, as it is undoubtedly one of the most emotional and special events we have ever held,” said the president of the association. Antón also spoke of the creation of the association’s first code of ethics, “a milestone where we want to go one step further in the way we act, by clearly setting out the values and principles that should guide our behavior as an ethics and ethical association.”
Likewise, in his speech, the board of directors evaluated the family businessmen and women of the province as “an example of devotion and sacrifice to the land” and reminded “what the economy of our province is” thanks to the activities of family companies. Is this it?” He also added, “It is you, through your daily work, through your family businesses, that add meaning to the activities of our association.”
On the other hand, Antón openly thanked the support of the organizations collaborating with the association for “helping us advance our interests in preserving the Alicante family business and increasing its continuity over time”. Collaborating organizations include Cuatrecasas, Deloitte, KPMG, Garrigues, Improven, PwC, Banco Santander, CaixaBank, Banco Sabadell, Cajamar, Ibercaja, Manuel Peláez Castillo Foundation and Juan Perán Pikolinos Foundation.
Along the same lines, the AEFA president also expressed a few words of thanks to the Alicante Provincial Assembly, the Ministry of Sustainability, the University of Alicante and Miguel Hernández Elche University, who accompanied us on our way and supported our steps.