Movement #Iwantrunner gathers 1,800 business leaders and civil society representatives at the Municipal Conference Center in Madrid this Thursday from noon, supported by the Valencian Businessmen’s Association. The event centers on the Mediterranean corridor, highlighting its importance for both trade and mobility. AVE marks the seventh edition of this labor infrastructure initiative and presents a midyear review for 2023 under the banner “We are risking the future.” The goal is clear: demonstrate the urgent need to complete the rail and road links that will connect ports with inland regions and speed up both passenger and freight movement.
Opening remarks come from the AVE president and the head of Boluda Corporación Marítima, with notable participants including José Blanco, former Minister of Development and CEO of Acento, and Pierre Giacometti, a prominent figure in European policy circles. The organizers describe a panel designed to share a European view on current challenges and opportunities for the corridor, inviting attendees to gauge how continental strategies intersect with Spain’s regional priorities. [citation: AVE]
Following the opening, a working session will feature leaders from industries tied to rail and logistics. Carlos Bertomeu of Iryo and head of Air Nostrum, Raul Blanco, president of RENFE, Javier Rivera, CFO of PowerCo Spain, and Helene Valenzuela, general manager of Ouigo Spain, will explore the practical steps needed to finalize the corridor within planned timelines for both goods and passengers. [citation: AVE]
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Throughout the event, attendees will review progress and delays in the Mediterranean corridor studies. The second six-month check for 2023 will assess the central government’s actions and commitments toward completing the corridor. A key objective is ensuring public representatives stay accountable to infrastructure milestones and deliver tangible results soon. The schedule had initially anticipated the attendance of the Minister of Transport, but a scheduling conflict tied to another major event prevented participation. Regional leaders from the Generalitat and the Region of Murcia were also expected to participate, with some last-minute changes noted. [citation: AVE]
The final segment of the program features Marian Rojas, a psychiatrist, who will analyze the societal dimension of the project. Her insights will address how civil society can justify and respond to large-scale infrastructure programs and how collective behavior aligns with long-term mobility goals. [citation: AVE]
AVE emphasizes broad representation among the 1,800 attendees, spanning 17 autonomous communities. The gathering includes senior figures from national and regional employer associations, board members, a broad cross-section of AVE staff, and representatives from the social, sports, and corporate spheres of the country. [citation: AVE]
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The organizers stress that one of the main aims of Movement #Iwantrunner is to craft a plan to complement existing radial connections with a circular Spain. This means strengthening infrastructure generally and railways in particular to link regions more effectively and boost national competitiveness. [citation: AVE]
Complete radial Spain with circular
The message from AVE is consistent: backing the Mediterranean corridor is an investment in the country as a whole. Better regional links translate into a more cohesive and prosperous national economy. Since 2016, AVE has kept supporters informed through the portal www.elcorredormediterraneo.com, which tracks the status of each corridor segment and highlights ongoing progress to raise public awareness and demonstrate the country’s latent demand for this essential infrastructure.