Fátima Báñez was accompanied by the mayor of the municipality, Jorge Romero, the Government delegate in Andalusia, Antonio Sanz, and the State delegate in the Free Trade Zone, Jorge Ramos
Jorge Ramos highlighted the efforts of the Free Trade Zone and the support of the Government of Spain through the Feder Funds
The first mayor of Barreño thanked the Free Trade Zone for its commitment to the municipality after the recent launch of the business incubator also in Palmones.
The Minister of Employment and Social Security, Fátima Báñez, and the mayor of Los Barrios, Jorge Romero, inaugurated this morning the first phase of the redevelopment and improvement of the Las Marismas de Palmones Business and Technology Park, in Los Barrios. The event was attended by the Government delegate in Andalusia, Antonio Sanz, the Special State delegate in the Cádiz Free Zone, Jorge Ramos, the Government subdelegate, Javier de Torre, as well as other authorities and technicians from the Free Zone, the City Council and the company in charge of the works.
During the event, which began with the discovery of a commemorative monolith located in one of the access roundabouts, Fátima Báñez greeted the authorities present and was informed about the details of the work.
The State delegate in the Free Trade Zone, Jorge Ramos, highlighted the intense work carried out by the Consortium in recent years to create infrastructures for the benefit of the industrial and business fabric and thanked the support received from the Government of Spain, which has translated into an investment of more than 75 million euros in Feder Funds.
Ramos highlighted that these European funds have made it possible to carry out industrial and business projects in El Puerto de Santa María, Ubrique, Los Barrios and Rota, in addition to starting the great project to expand and expand the Tax Precinct to the entire province.
In this sense, the Free Zone delegate explained the progress of this project, by which the premises will go from 300,000 to 1,300,000 m2, especially in the capital where they already have 150,000 m2 after the purchase of the Altadis land, and in Los Barrios, where the Free Zone already has 140,000 m2 in El Fresno to soon begin the implementation of companies.
Precisely, the mayor of Los Barrios, Jorge Romero, highlighted the strong presence of the Free Trade Zone in Campo de Gibraltar and especially in the municipality of Barreño, where the Palmones business incubator has recently been put on the market and which will soon see how companies begin to locate in El Fresno.
Furthermore, he was satisfied with the redevelopment of the Polígono, which has provided a significant improvement in a very important enclave in the area and which has a significant number of users who will be able to enjoy greater quality and comfort after the work.
This act has put the finishing touch to works that began at the end of last summer and that have enhanced the global image of this industrial estate over a total area of 116 hectares.
Specifically, the works, the result of institutional collaboration with the Los Barrios City Council, have affected all of the industrial estates in the area (Palmones I, Palmones II, Palmones III and Marismas de Palmones) and have carried out a comprehensive improvement of an area that is a reference for economic activities in the Region, in which actions such as the strengthening of the urban structure have been carried out; improving service infrastructure; and the enhancement of the global image, correcting an obsolete infrastructure over the years and modernizing and energizing a business space that attracts the population of the entire Campo de Gibraltar region.
In addition, access to this important industrial and commercial area has been fluid by improving access from the A-7 highway at several kilometer points, as well as extending several streets and access 112. In this same sense, a link connection has also been executed between the Palmones III Industrial Estate and the Marismas de Palmones Business and Technology Park and the existing roundabouts have been improved. The industrial estate has gained quality and comfort for its users and workers since work has also been done on a redesign and improvement of the parking area and free spaces, in addition to other actions such as the replacement of lighting, signs, etc.
The works, which will have a second phase in the near future to complete the modernization of the entire area, have been co-financed by funds requested in the Framework of the FEDER Operational Program of Andalusia 2007-2013.
It should be remembered that the works were awarded to the company Vías y Construcciones for an amount of 2,955,755.09 euros (VAT not included). The action is part of the line of work that Zona Franca has carried out in recent years to reinforce its presence in the province and, in particular, in Campo de Gibraltar with the development of infrastructure that promotes economic activity and, therefore, favors job creation.