The Generalitat of Catalonia has distributed 45.7 million euros among 205 industrial companies to support new investments in "the largest line of industrial aid in its history", as highlighted this Monday by the Minister of Business, Roger Torrent, in a conference press release. The funds come entirely from the Generalitat and are intended to build new industrial plants or improve the production of existing ones. The investments will create 1,424 new jobs "spread throughout the territory."
The line, non-refundable aid already allocated, was focused on improving competitiveness and modernizing the Catalan industry, seeking "a more sustainable and digital model." In the background, the objective of the current National Pact for Industry, which seeks for industry to represent 25% of GDP by 2030. It was initially created to respond to the conflict in Ukraine and was endowed with 10 million euros, but due to high demand it was expanded to the final 45.7 million "optimizing and rationalizing expenses within the department's perimeter" with a "significant effort" . In total about 250 projects have been presented.
The aid will help companies improve their competitiveness, environmental impact or digitalization, towards a "more sustainable and digital model." In addition to the 1,424 new jobs, "19,925 workplaces will be consolidated," she said. "We guarantee quality, well-paid work, the reinforcement of the productive fabric, the green transition and territorial balance." The companies that benefit most are those in the food sector, manufacturers of metal products and the chemical industry. By veguerías, Barcelona concentrates the highest volume of aid, with 21.7 million euros. They are followed by Girona with 7.1 million and Central Catalonia, with 6.9 million.
The aid has reached 500,000 euros, representing up to 20% of the investment project. With the amounts contributed by companies, mostly SMEs, almost 250 million euros will be mobilized between private investment and aid. “Traditionally, lines of help in machinery, in incorporating capital, had been missed,” Torrent said. For example, the case of Copiral, based in Agramunt and focused on raw materials for animal feed, has been cited, which will create 20 jobs with a new factory in which it will invest 3.5 million euros. Preciber, specialized in high-precision metallurgical parts such as dental implants, will double the surface area of its Reus plant to 8,000 square meters.
Given the demand and the mission of "reindustrialization", the minister has asked that the exceptional situation after the pandemic and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine be maintained and that administrations be able to give more aid to companies. Especially given the disparity in criteria between the EU, which seeks greater control or restriction, and the US or China, with more leeway. “While other competitors have much higher aid or limits, in Europe we maintain a limitation from previous times,” he noted. Today contributions in public aid for investments cannot exceed 20%, compared to the previous 10%. “We demand that the exceptional measures be maintained,” Torrent insisted.
The Generalitat will monitor the projects to guarantee that jobs are created.
