Guillermo Santamaría, the Minister of Economy, Employment, and Digital Transformation, emphasized the crucial role played by five family businesses in Cáceres that were honored for their excellence by the Cáceres Chamber of Commerce. He highlighted their contribution as a “driving force for economic development, social cohesion, and job creation in the province of Cáceres.” Santamaría noted that businesses are at the core of regional policies, and for family businesses, an ambitious generational transition plan called ‘Extremadura Sigue’ is underway, involving the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agriculture and Sustainable Development. The 2025 Excellence Awards for Business Trajectory from the Cáceres Chamber of Commerce were awarded to Eugenio Hernández Ramos of Grúas Eugenio, Pedro Rodríguez Santano of Grupo Santano, Antonio Garrido Domínguez of Pavimentos Garrido, Antonio Ruiz Torres of Bodegas Ruiz Torres, and Nicasio López Bote of Finalima. Santamaría praised these companies for their “stories of perseverance, established trajectories, and commitment to the region.” He also mentioned implemented measures such as tax reductions easing the fiscal burden on businesses and self-employed individuals, and employment support programs that have received over 9,300 applications for stable employment promotion and 11,000 applications across five programs aimed at the self-employed. The mobilization of more than 128 million euros in regional incentives is facilitating investments that modernize the productive fabric. Additionally, the second call for the Consolidapyme program has been approved, which is vital for supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, now including NATO certifications to help businesses enter the defense sector. Four million euros are also available for business modernization, a much-demanded line for the self-employed, allowing them to renovate facilities, improve processes, and enhance competitiveness. The dynamism of Extremadura’s business network continues to be reflected in key economic indicators. The region has seen significant progress in key sectors, solidifying its position as a land of opportunities. During the first quarter of 2025, the Industrial Production Index (IPI) in Extremadura grew by 7.4% compared to the same period last year, a figure five times higher than the national average (1.5%). Meanwhile, the business volume in the service sector increased by 2.7% year-on-year between January and March. Santamaría stated that certainty and stability are essential for business decision-making. In this regard, the business confidence index grew again in the second quarter of 2025, and since María Guardiola’s administration began, business confidence in Extremadura has risen 2.5 times more than the national average. Furthermore, Extremadura has reached a historic milestone by reducing the number of unemployed people to 68,635, below 70,000 for the first time, and in the last year, 1,350 new companies have been created, 581 new self-employed workers have been registered, with a record number of female entrepreneurs reaching 27,732 active self-employed women. The industrial sector showed the best monthly performance relative to its weight despite a slight drop of over 5% this month. In year-on-year terms, construction showed the largest decline, consistent with positive indicators observed in the sector. These figures, he emphasized, “confirm that Extremadura is advancing steadily towards a more robust, competitive, and opportunity-generating economic model.” Santamaría congratulated the Cáceres Chamber of Commerce for recognizing excellence within the business sector and for collaborating with the regional government to ensure public-private cooperation benefits Extremadura’s development. “On behalf of all those who believe in the value of enterprise as a pillar of progress, congratulations! Thank you for your example, perseverance, and for continuing to inspire those who follow,” concluded the minister.
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