The Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona will reopen the bidding process to fill this year the two paid members, which are vacant because, before the elections and the change in the government team, no offer was obtained. These members, also called silver chairs because they are occupied in exchange for a financial contribution, are designed to give representation to large companies. In Chamber media it is taken for granted that the two positions will be filled as soon as the process opens.
The reduction of this type of members, from the previous fourteen to only two, was one of the great reforms of the previous team, the one headed by Mònica Roca. The number was reduced, but in parallel the required financial provision was doubled, from 75,000 to 150,000 euros per year. This, added to the uncertainty about the electoral result, caused the contest to be deserted, without any offer from the large company.
For this reason, one of the first decisions adopted by the new team chaired by Josep Santacreu was to return the required contribution to 75,000 euros and to reopen the process to receive offers. It will be done as soon as it is authorized by the Business Department, which is the guardian Administration.
The coverage of the two vacant members is one of the ways planned to increase income by 10% this year, to exceed 27 million euros. It is the highest figure since the suppression of the so-called cameral resource, the mandatory quotas that were eliminated in 2011. This is reflected in the budget approved this week by the institution's plenary session, the second to be held under the presidency of Josep Santacreu. To achieve this increase, we also rely on an increase in income linked to the PICE program (training for young people), the revitalization of the Chamber's spaces, the promotion of new initiatives and the ICT training program. According to Chamber sources, the new roadmap is prudent and realistic “since it mitigates the main deviations from fiscal year 2023 and readjusts structural spending.” Last year it closed again with losses. However, the same sources clarify that the entire program for the new mandate will not be launched until 2025, once it is approved by the executive committee.
In addition, the plenary approved, among other appointments, the heads of the territorial delegations: Ferran Andreu (Alt Penedès), Xavier Badia, (Anoia), Carles Guilera (Baix Llobregat), Vicenç Hernández (Barcelonès Nord), Mercè Sallés (Berguedà) , Xavier Montserrat (Garraf), Elisabet Parés (L'Hospitalet), David Anton (Maresme), Josep Pujadas (Osona) and Pep Garcia (Vallès Oriental).
