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"Remember, the Spanish economy
is growing faster than the European Union average
and the Valencia region is growing at a quicker pace
than the national average. This shows we're on the
way to being one of Europe's economic stars."
US automobile executives recognized this when they
decided to build a Ford plant in the region more than
30 years ago. "It's the only Ford factory in Spain
and one of the most important in Europe," says Mr.
Camps. "It's been a real stimulus to help us better
understand industry and exporting." Until recently,
agriculture was a mainstay of the regional economy
and while Valencian oranges and other fresh produce
still enjoy respect in markets far from their origins,
these days the region is becoming known for its technology,
services, light manufacturing, footwear, ceramics,
and other industries. "One of the most significant
sectors of the economy is tourism and not just the
sea-and-sand variety which has been luring people for
decades," Mr. Camps says. "This sector is undergoing
an amazing degree of diversification and such activities
as rural tourism, adventure travel, conventions and
meetings, and cultural tourism are all on the rise
in Valencia."
Castellón is a case in
point. The province is one of the wealthiest in
Spain, where there is almost full employment. Its
ceramic tiles and similar products account for
28 percent of the worldwide sector and are exported
to 180 countries, with the United States being
of the biggest customers.
"That particular industry is
also a leader in design innovation and research
and development that has a knock-on effect on other
sectors," notes Carlos Fabra, President of the
Province of Castellon. "Our ceramic R&D teams
recently came up with a solution to a European
Union directive banning lead in glazes which we
at first thought would kill off the industry". "At
the same time, we're giving new impetus to our
agricultural sector and looking for fresh markets
as competition increases from North Africa and
other places, and again, the United States is vital
to our plans." Tourism is important to Castellón
as well and officials are looking to lure the thousands
of golfers of northern Europe to the courses springing
up all around the province. "Within a few years
we'll have a new airport which eventually will
be able to handle flights from anywhere in the
world," says the President . Anyone visiting the
region eventually passes through its capital of
the same name. Valencia recently garnered international
headlines when it was chosen to host the America's
Cup sailing race in 2007, a choice that has really
put the wind into the city's sails. But then Valencia
has been receiving a lot of attention lately.
"Spectacular things have been
occurring here," notes Rita Barbara Nolla, the
city's mayor since 1991. "There was the Norman
Foster-designed Trade Fair and Convention Center,
and also the City of Arts and Sciences dreamed
up by our own Santiago Calatrava. These projects
and others such as the future bullet train from
Madrid, and all the work we have planned for the
America's Cup are transforming the city."
Other factors contribute to Valencia's
reputation as a city of the future. Authorities
ensure that there is a high standard of living,
low cost but quality housing, lots of parks, and
a plethora of cultural and social activities."We
were also the first city in Spain to be entirely
covered by a fiber optics cable network, and while
only 36 percent of homes in the rest of Spain have
computers, in Valencia that figure is 52 percent.
So it's not just the government which is interested
in technology, it's also the people," says the
mayor.
Reflecting the surrounding region,
the city's economy is pretty evenly balanced among
agriculture, industry, tourism, and the services
sector although the latter is rapidly becoming
more important. "Valencia is continually evolving," boasts
the mayor and I want to make sure that never stops."
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