“The commitment of a Community”
In Zaragoza on 5th April 2017, the President of the Aragon Government, the top representatives of public companies attached to the Public Business Corporation of Aragon, chaired by Marta Gastón, councillor of Economy, Industry and Employment, (Expo Zaragoza Empresarial, Logistic Platform of Zaragoza, Logistic Platform of Teruel. Logistic Platform of Huesca, Logistic Platform of Fraga, Aragón Exterior); public and private bodies such as Zaragoza Logistics Center, ITAInnova, Aragon Institute of Development, Maritime Terminal of Zaragoza, Mercazaragoza, Airport Platform of Teruel, the ALIA Logistics Cluster, and the Monzón Terminal, we hereby state our unanimous support and commitment to the integral logistics development of the Autonomous Region. It is motivated through the development of efficient infrastructures needed to facilitate freight transport with our main national and international markets, and by relaunching the commitment to space, services, innovation and first-class training in an already leading and future sector for Aragon.
WHY
- Because we want to construct our future within the framework of a globalised world. This has to be done by means of effective economic diversification through the development of one of our strong points at international level: integral logistics. This is one of our fundamental strengths of competitiveness, which companies take into account when opening, developing investments and maintaining their businesses.
- Because we have the capacity. We have a supply of top-quality land, perfectly communicated by road, rail and air with the main markets, and economic centrality of Spain, which makes us truly competitive. In this global context, the connectivity offered by Aragon makes it a European leader. Our logistics assets are incomparable in infrastructures for freight transport: four intermodal terminals (TMZ, JCV, TIM and Plaza), an airport at "kilometre zero", together with talent and experience. This value has been developing along with first-class training at all levels of specialized education, particularly through the Zaragoza Logistics Center, with the support of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).. The public bodies of the Autonomous Region are also dedicated to the development of innovation in the sector, as demonstrated by the work of the Aragon Institute of Technology, the University of Zaragoza and the Aragon Institute of Development This has all benefited the development of a wide range of maximum quality services.
- Because it is necessary to maintain the effects of the re-industrialization of Aragon, economic development and employment, structuring of our territory and progress in research and innovation in logistics.
- By consensus. Administrations, public companies, private companies led by the ALIA logistics cluster, social agents and all catalyst bodies of social progress and employment organisms, join forces to defend this catalyst plan, which is a commitment by the Autonomous Region.
GLOBAL BENEFITS
- The commitment of Aragon exactly matches the main European goal and continental link in the free market. Southern territories of the continent are interconnected and the commercial links between member countries of the EU are strengthened. Everyone benefits, because economic borders no longer exist, leading to an economic flow of companies and citizens.
- It is a sustainable commitment. The development of the Aragon plan to interconnect territories reduces carbon emissions and the carbon footprint, which major companies particularly value in the development and location of their business plans.
OUR VISION: WHAT WE WANT
- Connectivity is the key to the success of our commitment, although we must solve some shortcomings. To achieve it, it is necessary to:
- Maintain the institutional collaboration and commitment at all levels, and the commitment of institutions to private logistic agents and to our companies and workers.
- Development of the Spain to France rail link through Canfranc. Crossings through the Pyrenees should reflect the non-existence of commercial borders in Europe. This is required owing to costs and opportunities -the neighbouring country is making progress in the project- and owing to deadlines. This will enable us to connect with France and Europe through the European railway track gauge.
- Connection with two major Spanish corridors: the Cantabria corridor and the Mediterranean corridor. We must connect freight traffic through Aragon, Vitoria and Pamplona to Irún, which will open the way to Europe. The development of the Mediterranean Corridor, from Zaragoza to Barcelona and Tarrogona, is an essential commitment. It will represent the achievement at national level of this initiative, implemented by the European Parliament, but which requires the decisive tender of the Spanish Government.
- Effective development of the Zaragoza/Teruel/Sagunto line under homogeneous conditions, at least concerning the single track with Barcelona, with an investment in phases and charged to the General State Budget. This is because it is the best way of structuring national territory in a decentralized way. We should solve the historic situation of neglect of this track, which is of interest to us all.
- Dividing and improving roads like the N-II, the N-232 or completion of the A-22, to put an end to the accident rate, and which will allow connectivity consistent with the tremendous traffic on these roads.
