Their employers are Galicia, Asturias, and Castile y Leon. They rearranged their units on Tuesday to press future autonomous governments and the central government for a firm commitment to cohesion and the territorial construction of the Northwest, powered by a decisive push from infrastructure projects.
The gathering, held under the banner “What unites us,” featured the official introduction of Juan María Vallejo as the new president of the Leon Businessmen’s Federation (FELE). It also aimed to raise visibility for the three business bodies and their requests, including a plan to combat depopulation through a robust infrastructure network, to position the Northwest as a competitive region capable of attracting investment, and to frame it as a hub for intercontinental connections, given its strategic geolocation.
Business leaders responded to these calls, noting that the requests had not yet received a reply. Vallejo emphasized that this moment is timely to present concerns about how the Atlantic Corridor Master Plan will unfold, asserting that promises must now be translated into concrete actions.
María Calvo, president of the Asturian Federation of Entrepreneurs (FADE), highlighted progress for commerce in the Northwest. “At last a commissioner is in place, a master plan exists (the Ministry of Transport has promised completion by October), and the Northwest is now recognized in the ministry. The key is there is no stall. The requests are embedded in this plan with clear deadlines and budget lines; addressing the demographic challenge is essential,” Calvo stated.
Besides infrastructure commitments, entrepreneurs from Galicia, Asturias, and Castile y León pushed for an array of measures to boost regional vitality. They called for entrepreneurship incentives, favorable tax treatment, tourism initiatives to foster new businesses—especially in rural areas—joint strategies for Northwest tourism, population-support programs, and direct dialogue with European institutions to open channels of cooperation.
The senior leader of Asturias’ employer group acknowledged that substantial work remains. He underscored the importance of maintaining momentum to fulfill stated commitments and promises. He predicted that opening the Pajares variant would represent a major advance, bringing the Northwest closer to Spain. He also made a clear point: Asturias does not limit itself to the Alternative; the Alternative should serve as a starting point for broader progress.
Participants described modernization of rail as necessary, noting ongoing work on the León-La Robla and Pola de Lena–Pola de Gijón corridors awaiting high-speed upgrades. They pressed for the future Master Plan for the Atlantic Corridor to address every facet of infrastructure, including roads, ports, airports, logistics hubs, and smart transport platforms, all designed to integrate for seamless intermodality. The emphasis was on advancing steps forward with a shared sense of need among the three regions, and on irreversible actions to reverse demographic decline and make the Northwest an attractive, competitive landscape for businesses.
Juan Vieites, head of the Galician Confederation of Entrepreneurs (CEG), urged the central government to align its policies with the Northwest’s goals. A direct, ongoing dialogue with the European Union was sought to avoid sidelining the region. Vieites stated that the Northwest should be positioned as a competitive region and configured as an intercontinental connecting node, with the administrations taking a higher, more proactive role.