Por Pablo Arranz 
Representatives of business associations, companies, and institutions gathered in Elche (Alicante) on Tuesday to review the current state of the works on the Mediterranean Corridor and the pending actions. They also advocated for more «progress,» although some advancements have already been made, to finish this project «as soon as possible.»
This was conveyed during a business breakfast held at the Huerto del Cura Hotel, as part of the activities of the Quiero Corredor platform, in collaboration with the Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs (AVE) and the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV).
The event consisted of a roundtable discussion moderated by the general secretary of the regional business association, Esther Guilabert, with the participation of the presidents of AVE and CEV, Vicente Boluda and Salvador Navarro, respectively, as well as Francisco García from the Quiero Corredor movement and Esperanza Navarro, the director of People and Culture at the Elche-based company Gioseppo.
Other prominent figures in attendance included the president of the Port Authority of Alicante (APA), Luis Rodríguez; the mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, and the rector of Miguel Hernández University (UMH), Juan José Ruiz.
García emphasized the need to «complete» the Mediterranean Corridor, stating that the railway is the most efficient, ecological, and safe mode of transportation. He also reviewed the current state of the railway infrastructure works and highlighted the «major bottleneck,» the Serrería tunnel in Valencia, which is on the brink of collapse, and other pending actions such as the Elche, San Isidro, and Monforte del Cid triangle.
In this regard, he called for «pressuring» the Ministry of Transport to address these railway connections «as soon as possible» and enable the connection to Europe from Algeciras (Cádiz). He also noted that the Mediterranean Corridor does not involve building a new line from scratch but rather «adapting» what already exists.
BOLUDA HIGHLIGHTS THE «UNITY» OF BUSINESSES
In a similar vein, AVE President Vicente Boluda emphasized the role of the Corridor in the transportation of goods and the significant population concentration in the Mediterranean region, underscoring the need to complete this infrastructure: «Either we finish it, or it serves no purpose.»
He mentioned that there will be ongoing biannual checks on the «real state» of the works, as reported this Monday, and praised the actions of Quiero Corredor, which facilitated the unity of businesses in advocating for this infrastructure.
Boluda also pointed out that the evolution of actions to enable the Mediterranean Corridor has been influenced by various state governments, from the «joke» he was told in 2011 that it would be completed by 2015, to the directives issued by Íñigo de la Serna, former Minister of Development in the PP government, for this project.
«Subsequent governments have been carrying out works on the Corridor. Not at the speed we would have liked, but at least we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,» he added, emphasizing that «without proper infrastructure, businesses will not establish themselves» in areas where these railway lines pass through.
NAVARRO: «NOT JUST A TECHNICAL PROBLEM, BUT ALSO POLITICAL»
On the other hand, CEV regional business association President Salvador Navarro stated that the «pressure» from business meetings like the one held in Elche on Tuesday is «crucial,» and although the current Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has stepped up efforts in this latest stage, the Corridor project has taken «decades» to find a solution. «It’s not just a technical problem, but also political,» he assessed.
Navarro stressed that the Mediterranean Corridor is «strategic» for the ports of the Valencian Community, considering the significant exports of products to other parts of Europe, as well as for «integrating» the movement of citizens with «reliability» and «frequencies.»
Regarding this, he noted that the Port of Valencia, «the number one in the Mediterranean,» faces a «serious lack of connectivity,» which poses a significant issue as those using it for imports or exports may choose to move to other port facilities.
«Due to political inaction, the Mediterranean Corridor has been left behind for many years,» reiterated the CEV president, who believes that the works are «underway, but not at the appropriate pace.» He also added that another issue to address when completed is how it will be managed, whether publicly or privately.
For the top representative of the regional business association, this infrastructure is a «territorial competitiveness highway» for the Valencian Community and the Mediterranean region, urging for it to be completed «as soon as possible.»
He also highlighted the «role of AVE» and the business community, which has even held meetings in various parts of Spain to «inform the authorities of their role» in a country where «everything revolves around Madrid.»
He affirmed that addressing the actions of the Mediterranean Corridor is akin to the «serious issue» of regional financing in the Valencian Community, with the transition between «different governments,» both from the PP and the PSOE.
Furthermore, he emphasized that various sectors will benefit from the Mediterranean Corridor, such as the agri-food sector, which is «already competitive but can be more so,» and other industries in the Valencian autonomy like footwear, ceramics, and automotive.
He also mentioned the future development of the PowerCo gigafactory in Sagunt (Valencia). «Without connectivity, you’re dead,» he stated, while also highlighting the need for «decarbonization.»
From Gioseppo, Esperanza Navarro highlighted the «impacts» that the Corridor would have on the Valencian Community and Spain as a whole. She also noted that it is «difficult to envision a strong, innovative, creative, and talented Europe» without developing this railway infrastructure. «Europe must take on a significant leadership role,» she asserted.
In this context, she called for a shift towards sustainability and stated that the Mediterranean Corridor would help achieve «greater eco-efficiency.» She also emphasized that without this railway connection, talent management is «complicated,» contributing to making businesses «more innovative and competitive.»
She also advocated for considering a connection with North Africa, given the «very interesting and urgent future» where the Corridor could provide «tremendous opportunities in economic and social matters.»
RUZ: AIRPORT AND INDUSTRIAL PARK OF ELCHE
On his part, Elche Mayor Pablo Ruz advocated for a High-Speed connection with the Cercanías line in the city of Elche, as well as with the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport and the Business Park. Regarding the latter, he mentioned that after meeting with Adif, they were informed that a feasibility study for a stop will be commissioned.
The business breakfast held in Elche on Tuesday is one of the activities organized by the Quiero Corredor movement, which will carry out other advocacy actions in places like Seville, Barcelona, and Lorca (Murcia). Additionally, another event is scheduled for November 20 at the new Roig Arena in Valencia, coinciding with the second biannual check of the year on the works.