The region has repeatedly found itself at the bottom of national investment surveys. For the second consecutive year, Alicante is set to receive from central government the lowest per-capita investment in Spain, a situation that deepens an infrastructure gap that has stretched for decades.
In the General State Budget draft presented to Congress, Finance and Public Duties Minister María Jesús Montero highlighted a figure of 160.8 million euros. This amount marks a historical low for state spending and translates into roughly 85.5 euros per resident, according to Ineca calculations. That sum places Alicante far below the national average and even behind nearby provinces, with Jaén receiving about 110 euros per person in similar allocations, according to the same sources. These numbers underscore a persistent investment shortfall relative to other regions.
The start of the expansion of the Torrevieja desalination plant is now postponed to 2024
The cited figure also reflects a 12.3 percent cut in the investments outlined in this year’s Budgets, where the Central Executive Board had earmarked 97.7 euros per capita. This level is well short of the 274.7 euros that were anticipated for the national group. The gap between promised investment and actual allocation has become a recurring concern for the region.
Last year, the Generalitat managed to secure a transfer commitment from the government through an extra 300 million euros aimed at autonomy through innovative mobility policies and two targeted agreements for sustainable infrastructure development. However, the funds themselves remain stalled, awaiting a clear destination and timely disbursement.
In response to the ongoing situation, Ineca voiced regret at Alicante’s marginalization, warning that continued neglect by the central government could erode business confidence and slow regional growth. Local businesses and residents have watched important projects drift along without full funding for nearly two decades, a pattern that fuels frustration and demands for concrete action.
The cabinet head, Nacho Amirola, has emphasized concern over this pattern, noting that budgets can serve as powerful instruments to correct regional imbalances. When they consistently overlook a region, however, they risk becoming obstacles to the normal development of the local economy.
Another year of waiting for the Azorín library and more money at Casa Mediterráneo
Income per person remains one of Alicante’s lowest in Spain, with current figures around 20,116 euros compared to an average of 26,417 euros in 2019. Ineca highlights that this disparity is linked to insufficient regional investment, noting that per-capita wealth in Alicante has progressed at a rate well below the national average over the past nineteen years. Specifically, growth stood at 29.6 percent, versus 39.52 percent for the country as a whole.
The organization urges representatives from across the political spectrum to present a united front in pressing the central government to raise investments in Alicante equitably. The goal is to close the gap and remove the sense of unfairness that has persisted when comparing the province to other regions, ensuring a more balanced development path for the future.
With the regional deficit extending back to 2008, Ineca estimates that Alicante has faced a cumulative shortfall of about 3,539 million euros in state investments to date. If the estimates align with the eventual allocations, the province could begin addressing decades of underfunding and begin to rebuild momentum for local projects and services.