Orihuela has become a focal point in the region’s business landscape. The debut of the III Night of Oriolan Economy at the CAM auditorium drew a wide array of manufacturing leaders and public officials, including the vice president of the Consell, Aitana Mas, and Carolina Gracia, alongside the mayor.
With the determined tone typical of Mario Martínez, head of the Orihuela Chamber, the speech began by affirming entrepreneurs as a touchstone. From there, the talk shifted to the persistent demand for skilled labor and the anxiety over a shortage of technical profiles. The discussion spanned a horizon of fifteen years, addressing digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the metaverse, climate change, and the circular economy.
Above all, the focus was on regional structure. He highlighted how few prefectures treat their regions with such seriousness as Alicante, noting Alcoy and Elche as industrial hubs, Benidorm and Torrevieja as tourist centers, and Alicante as a city striving to be a technological pioneer.
Regarding Orihuela, the message was clear: the city is not only the historic capital of the province but a key player in Vega Baja. The call was for the 27 municipalities of Vega Baja to act with a united voice alongside Orihuela and Torrevieja, demanding the infrastructure needed to counter long-standing neglect in the area.
The plan also included the creation of another Valencia regional office, deemed vital and to be announced in 2023. The conference room in Orihuela Costa would serve as a reference point for the coastline, which swells to about 300,000 residents in peak season. It was stressed that for the first time a political party has spoken explicitly about discrimination, a countermeasure to the discontent shown by the region’s most economically dynamic areas.
The Valencia Community Chambers Council held a full plenary session in the Marqués de Rafal Palace in Orihuela, a symbolic site the Consell acquired in June to establish the Generalitat Presidency’s first headquarters outside the provincial capital. Martínez described the day as a moment of coexistence, a chance to bring the north to the south and forge alliances Vega Baja and Orihuela need so deeply.
During the plenary, the emphasis was on proximity to SMEs during these challenging times for business. José Vicente Morata, chairman of the Council of Chambers, underscored that these institutions exist to support small and medium enterprises.
As an example, Morata highlighted the Orihuela Chamber’s ability to convert a valuable asset into future-ready businesses capable of competing in a market that is continually changing.
At Economy Night, six Oriolan companies were recognized for excellence across the year. Trivee received an Innovation division award, Doalco was honored as a Global Company, Olé fruit and vegetable products earned an Internationalization award, Wonderflip ecological mattresses received a Sustainability award, Los Angeles was recognized in Restauration, and Berenice sports shop earned a Local Trade award. The Orihuela Higher Polytechnic School, affiliated with Miguel Hernández University, celebrated its 50th anniversary as a center for education, innovation, and technological development in the agri-food sector with an honorary award for Juan Cerdan.
Vega Baja’s potential also took the spotlight. The vice president of the Generalitat, Aitana Mas, closed the night by acknowledging the region’s potential and the challenges faced by the southern Alicante communities. He stressed that these areas should not remain on the periphery, noting the historical underinvestment and the need for greater budgetary effort, especially in investments.
Mas remarked on the general fear among Alicante residents of being left behind due to lower government investment and a widening gap from the regional average. Yet he remained hopeful, noting that negotiations could reverse this trend with a notable increase in investment, including a 51 million euro rise for Alicante. He reaffirmed an institutional commitment to safeguard every corner of the territory from the north to the south of the Community of Valencia and to drive improvements where they are most needed. The socioeconomic reality of Vega Baja, he said, deserves careful attention and investment.
Overall, the evening underscored a push to turn Orihuela into a beacon of regional collaboration and economic resilience. The gathered leaders pledged continued support for the area, aiming to strengthen infrastructure, attract investment, and foster a favorable climate for local businesses to thrive. This renewed emphasis on unity and practical action signals a broader strategy to balance development across the Valencian Community. (Cita: Consejo de Cámaras de la Comunidad Valenciana)
The event illustrated how Orihuela, backed by the broader Vega Baja, is poised to reverse past neglect by concentrating on practical gains, from digital capacity to regional offices, and by celebrating the achievements of local firms that drive the area’s economy forward.