Baleària president receives Forinvest award for his career
Valencia continues to host the largest fair for finance and insurance in Spain, a landmark event that showcases the strength of the national financial sector. This year marks a push by regional authorities to expand the reach of Forinvest beyond Valencia, with talks of editions in Castellón and Alicante. The Finance Minister, Arcadi Spain, announced that the competition would also be part of the agenda starting this year, reinforcing the event’s role in connecting finance leaders with business opportunities across the region. The Mediterráneo venue in Valencia remains a central hub for the financial industry’s annual gathering.
During a meeting in Alicante with the managing director of the Valencian Institute of Finance (IVF) and the vice-president of the event, the new director of Forinvest, Maria Jose Puigcerver, and Manuel Molina, the general secretary of the Casa Mediterráneo, outlined the event’s refreshed organization. They emphasized that Forinvest is evolving into one of the most important showcases for Spain’s financial sector, uniting the top executives from major banks and insurance firms with key industry players. The aim is to mirror Valencia’s successful model in Alicante, bringing the sector closer to the broader business ecosystem.
One of the keynote suggestions was to structure the event into three formats, each tailored to highlight regional characteristics and the leading ideas from prominent figures. The event will feature high-caliber speakers who will share insights and forward-looking strategies for the financial landscape.
80 million credits
Arcadi Spain framed the decentralization effort as a core objective of the Generalitat, extending beyond governance to practical financing initiatives for businesses amid uncertain economic conditions. The regional government seeks to empower local companies by providing accessible financial mechanisms and stronger regional support through these forums.
In the past year, IVF has reported enabling more than 80 million euros in grants, described by regional authorities as the largest sum in its history, aimed at companies and self-employed individuals across Spain.
A summary from the Consell delegation described the meeting as a step toward closer collaboration with Alicante and the productive fabric of the region. IVF is currently reviewing loan requests totaling an additional 35 million euros in Alicante, bringing the current regional total under review to 111 million euros. The plan also includes opening a delegation in Alicante at the Ciudad de la Luz facilities to further engage the local business community, with operations expected to commence in January.
Javier Mira from FacePhi, Forinvest Award for professional career
Speaking on the Forinvest development, regional officials highlighted the goal of expanding the event’s international footprint and enhancing gender diversity within the leadership ranks of the financial industry. The initiative aims to spotlight women professionals and broaden the event’s appeal among global audiences, while ensuring that the industry remains relevant to universities and the broader society.
Officials noted the importance of fairs that are genuinely useful and serve as reference points for the sector. They stressed the need for competitions that are fair, transparent, and capable of attracting international attention, contributing to a vibrant ecosystem where higher education institutions play a pivotal role.