Alicante’s Family Business Association (AEFA) and Cajamar have renewed their strategic alliance, reaffirming a shared mission: to safeguard the continuity and long-term vitality of family-owned enterprises across Alicante. The newly signed cooperation agreement is designed to foster growth, resilience, and sustainable development for these business models, which currently comprise a decisive portion of the province’s production structure.
The ceremony for the renewal featured AEFA president Maite Antón and Cajamar regional manager Manuel Nieto. This marks the eighth successive cooperation agreement between the organizations. The agreement sets in motion a training initiative for next year, specifically aimed at family entrepreneurs. The program will cover a range of topics, with emphasis on competitiveness and effective governance of family assets and enterprises.
Antón expressed gratitude for Cajamar’s continued support, noting that it empowers AEFA to carry on its mission and to enhance member education so that families can manage their affairs with greater readiness. In a climate characterized by slowed economic activity, Antón underscored the importance of robust financial instruments that enable entrepreneurs to sustain operations and advance their development plans.
Nieto highlighted the value of the partnership in offering Alicante’s business leaders practical training that informs strategic decisions. The collaboration focuses on driving innovation, accelerating digitization, and adapting business models. These efforts, paired with Cajamar’s financial products and services, aim to strengthen value chains and preserve the unique advantages that differentiate family businesses amid intergenerational transitions.
AEFA traces its origins to 1995 when a group of 32 Alicante-based family entrepreneurs united to create Spain’s first formal family business association. This initiative followed the creation of the National Family Business Institute two years earlier. The association’s core objectives are to defend the interests of family firms and to ensure their continuity for future generations. Today, AEFA counts more than a hundred partners, reflecting a broad and enduring commitment to the local business community.
Cajamar reports a 26.5% increase in profits to 78.9 million euros
Grupo Cajamar stands as a pillar of Spanish cooperative banking, serving more than 3.7 million customers and generating a turnover of 97,835 million euros. Through its network of branches, including Cajamar, Caixaltea, Caixapetrer, and Caixacalosa, the group actively supports the financial needs of Alicante’s firms, freelancers, professional associations, and families. The collaboration with AEFA ensures that local businesses have access to financial services and advisory support tailored to growth, resilience, and sustainable value creation in a competitive market context.
festive toast
Following the signing, a traditional toast was shared among Alicante’s family entrepreneurs, celebrating the renewed partnership between AEFA and Cajamar. The ceremony also marked the completion of a year in which AEFA hosted more than fifty events, including conferences, workshops, presentations, and discussions focused on the interests and challenges faced by family-owned enterprises in the province. The gathering underscored a collective commitment to education, practical guidance, and peer learning that strengthens the regional business fabric.