Alicante Business Gala Highlights Local Economic Recovery and Strong Regional Collaboration

Leaders from top national and regional companies, along with employers’ associations and union centers across the Valencian community of Alicante, gathered again for the Highlights premiere. The round of conversations focused on the notable rebound in the local economy, a trend impressive in light of lingering uncertainty and inflation pressures affecting international markets.

Representing the Valencian Community Business Confederation (CEV), the event was led by its president, Salvador Navarro, who was accompanied by Esther Guilabert, the general secretary of the employers’ union. The Alicante delegation also included the CEV president for the region, Joaquin Perez. The group was chaired by Carlos Bath, president of the Alicante Plaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with Eva Minano as vice president and a broad executive committee that included Michael Quintanilla and the general manager Rafael Fernandez. Javier Cotillo, head of the presidential cabinet, and the director of Alicante Gastronomica, along with the former head of the chamber, were present, as well as the president of the Alcohol Chamber, Grace Paul. [citation]

The recently elected president of the Alicante State Labor Union (Uepal) joined the gathering, Cesar Quintanilla, together with the incumbent predecessor, Juan Jose Selles. The event also welcomed the president representing the Alicante Family Business Association (AEFA), Maite Anton, along with board members Salvador Perez and Mayte Torregrosa. Delegates from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (Euipo) were represented under its leadership, Augustine Grau in Corporate Relations and Mariano Ramirez from the principal’s office. [citation]

For the Port Authority of Alicante, the president attended with the chief of staff Gonzalo Garcia and the communications lead, beautiful David, providing an opportunity to meet the director of Alicante-Elche airport, Laura Navarro. [citation]

Also in attendance was the head of the Economic Research Institute of the State of Alicante (Ineca), Nacho Amirola, and Quino Palaci, who coordinated the Work Commission. [citation]

The Círculo Empresarial de Elche y Comarca (Cedelco) was represented by its president, Salvador Perez, and its director, Safe Sun. [citation]

sectoral employers

The hotel sector was represented by Hoşbeç, attending with its former president and the outward momentum of industry leaders celebrating years of effort. The event also drew in Toni, the current head, who has spent fourteen years steering the organization. He was joined by the current successor, Fede Fuster, the general secretary Nuria Montes, and leaders from several subsidiaries, including Anna Major of Port Hotels, Luis Perea from Terra Natura, and Leire Bilbao representing Visit Benidorm. [citation]

The Valencia Shoe Entrepreneurs Association arrived with a large delegation headed by president Marian Cano and key members including Mari Angeles Lopez, responsible for character branding; Joaquin Marco on Internationalization; and Aitor Boiza handling Markets and Competitiveness. The Alicante State Metal Entrepreneurs Federation (Fempa) was represented by Louis Rodriguez, while Javier Gisbert brought the top representative of the Alicante Public Works Federation (FOPA). [citation]

Also present were leaders from the Real Estate Developers Association of the State of Alicante (Provia). Prominent businessmen such as Javier Fur, CEO of Grupo Marjal, joined the gathering with company president Francisco Gomez. Asuncion Soro from the Bonmatí Group and Pablo Sernet, alongside Abel Garcia and Christopher Ruiz from TM Grupo Inmobiliario, were part of the delegation. [citation]

Ana Gosalvez, Secretary General of the Alicantina SME Trade Federation (Facpyme), attended with vice presidents and notable figures including Juan Utrera and Jose Antonio Vizcaino. The presence of Pedro Fernandez, president of the Advanced Tertiary, and the former president of Mármol Alicante, David Beltra, added further depth to the gathering. [citation]

The agriculture sector was also well represented. Jose Vincent Andreua, president of Asaja Alicante, arrived with Ramon Espinosa, the organization’s technical secretary. Vinos de Alicante and the head of the DO origin were also present. [citation]

Union representation featured the UGT-PV secretary general Ismail Saez and Yaissel Sanchez, the secretary for l’Alacantí-Les Marines. CC OO participated through Eva Calleja, its organizing secretary for l’Alacantí i les Marines. [citation]

Yaissel Sánchez, secretary general of the UGT in l’Alacantí-la Marina, together with Ismael Sáez, the regional head of the union; and Eva Calleja, CC OO’s Organizing Secretary at l’Alacantí i les Marines, moments before Thursday’s event. PILAR CORTES

Banking representatives also seized the moment. The Commercial Director for the Valencian Community, Mary Thomas Rives, joined with the Alicante regional Business Area manager, Jose Antonio Sendra, and Carlos Merelo; Amparo Vidal and the broader team of managers across the province. [citation]

The Eastern regional manager from Banco Sabadell, Fernando Canos, attended with the Alicante regional director, Main Ponsoda. Participants included Silvia Koloma, Anthony Sanchez, Jose Manuel Fuentes, Juan Valdes, and Martha Quesada. [citation]

From BBVA, the Alicante regional manager, Alejandro Haligua, was present, as was Cajamar’s regional director in Alicante, Manuel Nieto, joined by David Ruiz, Juan Manuel Martinez, and Pepe Carrillo. The Bank of Spain’s Alicante branch manager, Pedro Sanchez, also took part. [citation]

Hydraulics firm Hidraqua was represented by its Valencian Community CEO, Jordi Azorin, and the general manager of Alicante Municipal Waters, Javier Diez, along with team members Francisco Munoz, Sergio Sanchez, Cyriacus Clement, Martin Sanz, and the director of Acción 2030 Social Agbar, Asuncion Martinez. [citation]

I-DE’s regional manager for the Community of Valencia, Ana Lafuente, and Iberdrola’s delegate for the Valencian Community, Joaquin Longarte, joined Cesar Calomarde, Enrique Planells, and Maria Jose Garcia. [citation]

The attendance also included Cayetano Sanchez Butron along with Fundesem’s head Ismail Navarro, Manuel Palomar from Cenid, and Francisco Menargues with Mercedes Ortiz, president and technical secretary of the Alicante College of Economists respectively. Jose Juan Fornes, Masymas CEO, and Luis Consuegra, Director of Corporate Affairs at Mercadona in Alicante, rounded out the group. [citation]

businessmen

A wave of prominent provincial leaders joined the festivities. Antonio Arias, CEO of Vectalia, and Rafael Bernabeu, CEO of J’Khayber, were among the first to arrive, followed by Pedro Lopez, president of Chocolates Valor, Ezekiel Sanchez, CEO of PLD Space, Ruben Fernandez of GrupoIdex, and Francis Domene, CEO of Domti. Anthony Alonso, owner of Edijar and manager of Plan Vega Renace, was also present. [citation]

The lineup continued with Armando Sala from EDI Real Estate Group; Enrique Pelaez and Javier Pelaez from Peláez Consulting; David Santiago, CEO of PCEX; Alfredo Milla Sonnel, CEO; Jose Antonio Izquierdo, CEO of Alibuilding; Joaquin Selma, owner of Selma Millenary Oil; Antonio Martinez, manager of Pimesa; and Fernando Soler, director of Clínica Soler. Other business leaders included Jesus Navarro of Carmencita, Julio Sanchez from the Energy System, Vincent Major from Mayor Seramik, Enrique Ortiz Carratala, Civil, and builder Antonio Manuel Puchades. [citation]