Industry acts as a driving force behind the diversification of the regional economy, creating jobs and supporting a wide range of services. Alicante stands out for a productive diversity that is unique within Spain, with specialized sectors that elevate the province as a reference both nationally and internationally.
After the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 and the heavy impact on manufacturing, activity has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Yet, uncertainty remains for many firms due to heightened energy costs and the volatility of raw materials. The disruptions linked to the situation in Ukraine further threaten the development of industrial municipalities across the province.
At the roundtable on “Crisis and industrial municipalities,” Silvia Verdú, deputy mayor of Pinoso; Jesús Villar, mayor of Sant Vicent del Raspeig; and José Manuel Penalva, Crevillent’s mayor, agreed that today the industry’s uncertainty weighs more heavily than the crisis of 2020.
Silvia Verdú commented that supervision is welcome but reducing bureaucratic burdens is crucial to speed up projects, in her view.
Jesús Villar recalled the health crisis and noted that the response was effective, with no major company shutdowns despite the challenges. He highlighted how aid measures, consumer bonds, tax relief, vaccine development, and infection stabilization helped soften the blow compared to 2008, though the present risk stems from rising energy and material costs. The mayor stressed the need to promote renewable energy and create favorable conditions for firms to obtain affordable power.
Villar called for more facilities to simplify expansion, renovation of industrial estates, and the construction of larger warehouses to accommodate growing firms. He praised IVACE funding aimed at modernizing industrial zones as a step in the right direction.
The discussion also pointed to procedural delays that hinder opportunities for municipalities. Verdú argued that today it takes years to implement changes in industrial areas, underscoring the need for better coordination with higher-tier authorities to shorten lead times and meet the demands of industrial tenants.
Jesús Villar noted a trend toward demand for land in larger industrial estates and warehouses exceeding a thousand square meters, a point echoed by local business leaders and planners.
In Pinoso, the natural stone sector, especially cream ivory, is undergoing a severe downturn. Production dropped from 500,000 cubic meters in 2007 to around 90,000 today. Verdú pointed to a small pierce of the market with only a fraction of the former number of firms remaining, but she highlighted the resilience shown by a handful of companies and the notable performance of the footwear and wine sectors in the town.
Both Verdú and Sant Vicent’s mayor argued for improved industrial estates and bigger warehouses to welcome new players and diversify the local economy. Verdú also cited a six-million-euro investment from the Generalitat intended to reduce truck traffic through urban areas near marble quarries.
Crevillent, where industry accounts for roughly 30% of the local economy, hosts a diverse set of businesses with the rug and carpet sector standing out. Penalva expressed cautious optimism about employment improvements and a broader company base since the 2008 crisis, noting that tourism and hospitality faced heavier Covid-era impacts. He remarked that the health crisis did not trigger the same level of disruption in the industrial sector as in other areas.
Looking ahead, Penalva highlighted the COMPTEM project to strengthen Crevillent as a leading local energy community in Europe. The initiative envisions up to 5 MW of capacity through a mix of self-consumption facilities and photovoltaic plants owned by Enercoop, with a timeline aimed at 2030. The objective is to boost the local manufacturing sector and foster new energy-conscious industrial activity.
Penalva also stressed that Crevillent is becoming more attractive to large companies, which require swift urban planning processes to develop industrial spaces. The city has both regulated and unregulated industrial land awaiting development, and progress depends on administrative agility to meet business demands. The local government is asked to streamline procedures, resolve conflicting responses, and deliver essential services promptly.