Cantabrian companies discuss with the Secretary of State for Trade the actions needed to make the management of the Next Generation EU Recovery Funds more efficient.

• Cámara España and Cámara Cantabria organize a business forum before the Secretary of State to advance on the European Funds Next Generation EU.
• The necessary speed, reinventing Spain and thinking big as a country project and common sense in public management are the main lines demanded by businessmen.
• The businessmen were accompanied by the President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet, and representatives of the Government of Cantabria.

Santander, 16/04/2021. The Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of Cantabria, in collaboration with the Secretary of State for Trade and the Government of Cantabria, have developed the Business Forum "The necessary transformation of the Spanish economy: digitalization and sustainability as levers", both in person and online at the facilities of the Chamber of Commerce of Cantabria.

The conference was opened by Modesto Piñeiro, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Cantabria, who gave way to the representatives of the Government of Cantabria, Paz Díaz Nieto, General Director of European Funds of the Government of Cantabria, who replaced María Sánchez, Councilor of Economy and Finance due to her preventive confinement for direct contact with a positive COVID, and Daniel Alvear, Director of Industry, Energy and Mines, who replaced Javier López Marcano, Councilor of Industry in a similar situation.

After the speeches of the regional government, José Luis Bonet, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, gave the floor to José Luis Bonet, who indicated that this day is the first of successive days that will take place throughout the country, in which the companies will talk with the Secretary of State. He indicated that "we are facing a historic opportunity, thanks to the Next Generation Funds; "it is very necessary to reinvent ourselves as a country, as companies and as people" said Bonet, "our objective cannot only be the economic recovery after the crisis, but to carry out a profound transformation to achieve a more solid, sustainable and inclusive economic growth and strengthening".

Bonet also stressed the need for agility in the vaccination processes to ensure a speedy economic recovery, as well as the example of the role that the Chambers are playing in the pandemic, as highly flexible, agile institutions with a high technical capacity, at the service of the Administration and companies.

After Bonet's speech, the business forum began, moderated by Álvaro Herrero, Director of Innovation at Industrias Jacinto Herrero and President of the Industry and Economic Development Commission of the Chamber of Commerce of Cantabria and with the participation of three singularly relevant companies in the region in the fields of digitalization (Maflow Spain Automotive, with the participation of its CEO Marcos Díaz), sustainability (OXITAL and Horizont Family, with the participation of its President, Manuel Huerta) and internationalization (Grupo Tejedor Lázaro, with the participation of its President, Carlos Tejedor).

Marcos Díaz, CEO of Maflow, commented before Xiana Méndez, Secretary of State for Trade, the necessary speed and vision with "long lights" and not short-termism, which should develop our Administration, with the example of leading and highly innovative companies, where speed is the key differentiator against its competition. Díaz also spoke of the necessary reinvention of Spain through innovation and digitalization, citing the example of his own company, as they are adapting to additive manufacturing to gain in competitiveness and the achievement of new contracts with major brands.

Carlos Tejedor, president of Grupo Tejedor Lázaro, indicated that "the company must put all its resources and capabilities to row together in a shared vision as a country in this exceptional situation". He cited the declaration of interest that his group, together with ten other companies, has developed through a project to the Next Generation Funds. He considers "time control" to be fundamental, as it is key in the execution of these Funds. He also pointed out in his presentation the need to assume at a national level an "economic patriotism" that demands the necessary efficiency in the management of these important funds that come to Spain.

Manuel Huerta, cites the unique opportunity that we are facing and the necessary effort that both the Administration and the companies must make "we cannot relax, the road to travel must be a joint one and we cannot miss this opportunity, there is still a lot to improve in the management capacity to achieve success". Likewise, Huerta reflected the inconsistency that often exists in the management and information provided by the Administration, citing the controversy with the environmental and economic impact that can be caused by the demolition of an oversized sewage treatment plant compared to its demolition and reconstruction. And in the same way, he cited the lack of information that favors uncertainty with respect to the management and execution of the European Funds.

The closing of the day, was developed by the Secretary of State for Commerce herself, Xiana Méndez, who indicated that she assumed as her own and committed herself to use the concept of "economic patriotism and long lights" that are so important in the current crisis. "There is no way out of this crisis if it is not through a necessary general collaboration between the whole Administration and the business sector, it cannot be otherwise".