Every year, Alicante falls toward the bottom of the national investment agenda, leaving its infrastructure lagging behind what is needed in a province that ranks as Turkey’s fifth largest in GDP production. In response, the Valencia Community Confederation of Entrepreneurs, the Chamber of Commerce, the Alicante State Public Works Federation, and the Alicante State Institute for Economic Research joined forces under the Infrastructure Secretariat of the Ministry of Transport and Mobility. Their aim was clear: to push for a comprehensive rail and road program valued at more than 3,000 million euros, highlighting the state’s investment deficit in these lands. The four organizations see the need for a sustained push that could finally close the gap in funding and execution.
The quartet of groups is convening with ministry officials, a meeting likely to occur in October. They plan to update a nine-project priority list that the Chamber and CEV identified two years ago, adjusting for minor progress on several items and aligning with current needs and realities.
Among the rail priorities, the Alicante-Elche axis remains central, with a projected budget around 295.4 million euros. The plan includes a commuter link to the airport and a new station at IFA, alongside improvements to the Alcoy-Xàtiva line and a revitalized Valencia-Alicante rail corridor designed to support both residents and visitors. Denia, Benissa, and Benidorm would gain new or improved stations as part of the regional mobility strategy.
Other essential rail investments center on completing the Mediterranean Corridor and enhancing rail access to the Port of Alicante, with an allocation of approximately 216 million euros, plus changes to rail freight valued at 105 million. On the road network, the agenda calls for a third lane on the A-70 between Alicante and Elche (105.4 million), the revision of the CV-95 corridor between Orihuela and Torrevieja at 446 million, a third lane on the A-31 between Elda and Monforte del Cid at 162 million, and the Torrevieja variant at 30.5 million. These items reflect a broad, integrated approach to both passenger mobility and freight efficiency.
In the aftermath of the discussions, a photo caption noting the scene underscores the seriousness of the moment. The aim is to demonstrate a unified front that can translate into real, on-the-ground improvements for the province.
CEV chairman Salvador Navarro stresses that central government investment in Alicante is essential and that the four organizations must present well-prepared reports to the ministry to move projects forward. He warns that without a coordinated effort, other regions may take the initiative and capture scarce funds. NAVARRO emphasizes unity and a joint visit to Madrid to strengthen the case for funding and prioritization.
Alicante’s president at the Chamber, Joaquín Pérez, echoes the sentiment. He notes the long-standing consensus on infrastructure and the need to reverse the current trajectory. The strategy, he says, is to present a united front and visit Madrid together to maximize attention and weighting of Alicante’s needs.
Chamber president Carlos Baño adds that a united message prevents giving the government any excuse to defer investment. He explains that two major entities, CEV and the Chamber, have agreed to articulate the corresponding state demands in tandem, ensuring the case is heard clearly and consistently.
The Alicante State Public Works Federation, FOPA, which represents construction firms, stresses that this is not only about the limited budgets for Alicante but also about the performance gap in actual delivery. The head of FOPA, Javier Gisbert, notes that operating levels have remained low and expresses cautious optimism that the upcoming ministry meeting will yield tangible results.
Ineca and CEV bring charges against Government for pushing Alicante into ‘tail end’ of investments
In the final stages of the discussion, Ineca president Nacho Amirola argues that transferable projects are critical; without them, the region’s economy remains stifled and unable to compete effectively with other areas. Amirola points to the roughly 3,000 million euros raised through these initiatives as representing the investment gap the state has carried since 2008, the year when Ineca first started analyzing the regional situation. He notes that closing this gap would enable Alicante to attract broader economic activity and create a more balanced national investment landscape. (Source attribution to local economic studies and chamber communications)
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