Valencia Community Business Confederation (CEV) increases pressure on the central government to correct budget allocations that impact the Alicante province. The delegation traveled to Madrid with Carlos Mazón leading a group of MPs and senators from the People’s Party who are committed to broad representation of Alicante’s business community to push for changes that will boost infrastructure investment.
Business leaders expressed frustration at the persistent delays in Alicante receiving budgeted investments. In recent weeks they held talks with unions, with Ximo Puig, the head of the Generalitat, and with ministers Félix Bolaños and José Manuel Albares. A press conference at the CEOE headquarters in Madrid aimed to highlight the discrimination the province faces in national budgeting. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
On Wednesday, a large CEV delegation, led by president Salvador Navarro, returned to the Spanish capital to continue addressing the same issue. This time the forum shifted to a permanent table agreed with the PP on September 1 to facilitate direct contact between senators, deputies and the productive sectors. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
The meeting included Joaquín Pérez, president of CEV Alicante; Avecal (shoes), Marian Cano; David Beltrá of Alicante Marble; Luis Rodríguez from Fempa (metal); Javier Gisbert of FOPA (public affairs); Asaja Alicante represented by José Vicente Andreu; Cedma members from Marina Alta including Benito Mestre; and Toni Mayor from Hosbec (tourism), accompanied by Nuria Montes, the general secretary of the same organization. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
Also present were regional sectoral managers from the Valencian Community such as Rafael Torres, head of Confecomerc; José Luis Santaisabel of Fecoval (contractors); Fernando Fabra from Anffecc (ceramic); Cristina Plumed of Asecam (Camp de Morvedre entrepreneurs); and Alberto Ara from ATA-CV (self-employed). Esther Guilabert, general secretary of CEV, joined the delegation along with Valencia and Castellón heads Eva Blasco and Luis Martí. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
From the PP side, the delegation included Community president Carlos Mazón; senior deputies of the popular parliamentary group Jaime Olano, Guillermo Mariscal and Macarena Montesinos; Valencia Community deputies César Sánchez, Agustín Almodóbar, Belén Hoyo, Vicente Betoret, Luis Santamaría, Óscar Gamazo, and Óscar Clavell; executive senator Javier Maroto; and Valencian senators Alberto Fabra, Salomé Pradas, Pablo Ruz, Adela Pedrosa, Fernando de Rosa and Vicente Martínez. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
At the meeting Navarro urged investment across the Community with a clear emphasis on Alicante. He highlighted that 160 million euros allocated in the General Budgets are among the lowest in the history of the region and reminded lawmakers of their commitment to the land and its citizens. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
Mazón reaffirmed the PP’s commitment to defending the autonomy’s interests, noting that financing, water supply improvements, and infrastructure development are essential for regional growth, attracting investment and creating jobs. He outlined planned enhancements for Alicante airport connections, the Mediterranean Corridor, the coastal train, expansion of the CV-95 motorway in Torrevieja, measures to regulate desalinated water prices, watershed connections, and increased Imserso allocations. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
Alicante’s commercial representation left Madrid with a sense of cautious optimism about the receptivity shown by the PP, though there remains concern about what can ultimately be achieved. Nuria Montes, Hosbec’s general secretary, stressed that European funds must directly impact tourism, benefiting both public projects and private enterprise, while acknowledging that progress may not be sustained without ongoing support. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
FOPA’s Javier Gisbert joined the call for a review of promised prices for public works and broader infrastructure investments. He argued that the province must end discrimination and promised continued advocacy. José Vicente Andreu of Asaja echoed the need to limit desalinated water costs to ease farmers’ expenses. He admitted that while hope is modest, changes are possible. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]
Critics of the tax burden on companies voiced concerns during the Madrid meeting. The CEV, along with members of the Deputies and Senators from the People’s Party, criticized the central government for proposing a 2023 budget based on an unrealistic macroeconomic forecast rather than practical support measures for the production sector. They warned that raising revenue by increasing corporate taxes would raise costs in terms of employment and competitiveness, and they urged measures to alleviate high energy costs. [Attribution: CEV Alicante]