Target Conexus Foundation to strengthen the Madrid-Valencia economic corridor by creating a green transport corridor that deepens ties between the two regions and positions them as major drivers of the country’s economy. This vision received unanimous business support during a ceremony held at Casino de Madrid, with both regions present, and includes plans to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle charging points on key highways linking the two areas, while improving intermodal mobility. The Sagunto gigafactory by Volkswagen adds momentum to this strategy as another pillar to attract investment and keep momentum in transportation efficiency.
At the Business Summit organized by the group led by Manuel Broseta and backed by Valencia’s employer federation ANSWER Madrid CEIM, the Valencia Chambers of Commerce, and AVE, Antonio Arias from Alicante participated as CEO of Vectalia in a roundtable assessing the potential and challenges of this logistics and mobility corridor between Madrid and Valencia. The event highlighted how the corridor connects with the Mediterranean and Cantabrian-Med corridors, offering competitive advantages that could make it a gateway for goods, projects, and talent with global reach.
Broseta stated at the close that the initiative aligns with a broader, long-term plan. It aims to transform the corridor into an innovative, sustainable wealth generator for both communities, joining a broader framework of regional cooperation and economic strategy.
The objective is straightforward: to deepen Madrid-Valencia ties by updating existing infrastructure, advancing rail transport, and boosting intermodality. This is viewed as a means to accelerate investment and growth across the two regions.
one third of sales
In this context, Salvador Navarro, president of CEV, noted that Madrid accounts for roughly one-third of goods and services sales generated by Valencian companies on a national scale. Aurelio Martinez, head of the Port of Valencia, pointed out that about 40% of traffic in this port originates in or destinations Madrid, highlighting the two regions as among the country’s most dynamic. Conexus vice-president Alicante echoed the sentiment, while Asuncion Martinez and Antonio Arias stressed that logistics and mobility are essential for future growth and job creation across both areas.
Asunción Martínez from Alicante, new vice president of the Conexus Foundation
Another confirmation from the leadership of Spain’s logistics employers’ association UNO, Francisco Aranda, observed that last year the logistics sector supported around a million jobs nationwide, with a sizable share—about 300,000—in Madrid and Valencia. The speakers underscored the challenges of building a robust green corridor and advancing rail freight, noting that rail usage for goods in the country remains a small fraction of total freight. Between Madrid and Valencia, rail currently accounts for about 30% of exchanges due to port-related volumes, yet experts argued for more dry ports and heat exchangers to improve intermodal transfers between rail and road.
Intermodality is also viewed as a cornerstone of decarbonizing passenger travel. Jesus Alonso, president of Ford in Spain, emphasized that the company intends to make all its European cars electric by 2030, underscoring the transportation transition as a key climate and economic objective.
Yolanda Atienzar, head of CEV’s Logistics Commission, criticized slow deployment of charging points, noting that current installations lag far behind EU and national targets. Valencia was expected to host more than 6,000 charging spots by 2023, yet only about two thousand high-power points existed on highways, with just a few dozen notable locations. She urged increasing deployment rates tenfold to truly support the green corridor’s ambitions.
Marina Serrano of Aelec, the electricity sector employers’ association, stated that the network is ready to support the required interconnections. She noted that while regulatory hurdles exist, the process for establishing these infrastructures can take up to a year, and that the sector remains committed to overcoming obstacles to realize the corridor’s goals.
Chambers of Commerce support the transformation of the Madrid-Valencia axis into a green and digital corridor
Leaders Antonio Arias and Carlos Bertomeu warned against rushing decarbonization at the expense of certain industries or transport methods, suggesting that a balanced approach could avoid unintended harm. Arias pointed to the value of synthetic fuels and other technologies in reducing emissions, while Bertomeu argued against bans on regional flights when a high-speed rail option exists. The arrival of AVE has already diverted substantial traffic from air routes like Madrid-Valencia, carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers; further restrictions could backfire if high-speed rail access is not available at key hubs.
Francisco Pérez of Ivie warned of an imbalance in Madrid-Valencia relations. He noted Madrid’s higher per-capita income driven by a concentration of high-value services, while Valencia remains below the national average in this area. Pérez suggested that the corridor should attract national and international investment to boost Valencia’s value-added capabilities and narrow the gap.