The mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, has highlighted that after the break due to Covid-19 “the recovery is very noticeable”
The mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, has good news for the municipality. After the stoppage caused by the pandemic, the region “takes off” in a recovery aligned with the reactivation of the south of the island, which “directly influences the companies” of the municipality.
After facing the impact of the virus on their economy, residents have met again in person at neighborhood assemblies to agree on budgets and other issues that affect Agüimes and the positivity is palpable. “The enthusiasm of the neighbors has been restored” and that “citizens receive with hope the change in trend” and the good prospects of “ending the happy pandemic.”
"The reality of the takeoff of the south directly influences many companies in the area, because a good part of them are food suppliers in the southern zone, and this is an important structure." These companies had losses during the pandemic of more than 70% with a sharp drop in their turnover, with 60% of their staff on ERTE, among other measures. Now they are recovering quickly and “have returned to activity.” At this time, due to problems with the supply and arrival of goods and the increase in transportation prices, “some have seen the capacity of the company itself exceeded” due to the significant demand. “The recovery is very noticeable,” he celebrated.
One of the examples that the mayor of Agüimes has cited is the car rental companies, which are operating again and are based in the municipality. The return of tourism and the reactivation of the economy has led to “recovery figures that are significantly noticeable.” Internal traffic alone “has grown by 30%,” which speaks clearly of the municipal recovery and its business activity.
“If this is maintained and there is no incident that questions tourism again, the reactivation of the municipality and tourism,” the recovery “will have good news.” In recent months, there has been a drop in unemployment that occurred during the pandemic and with it, the return to "normality", especially in the service sector on which the municipality depends.
“The outlook is good, there are complexes that have higher demand in pre-covid figures,” said Hernández.
In addition, Agüimes has been able to receive new companies in the Arinaga Industrial Estate and Aldi's star project, which will have its landing in the Canary Islands in the municipality. "The landing of Aldi in the Canary Islands, a multinational with relevant business figures in Europe and Spain, will be in Arinaga" where "its logistics center will be located, which will boost direct and indirect employment with around 250 jobs."
It is not the only good news, which is “the one I prefer to stay with,” confesses the first mayor. This supermarket chain "is already generating employment with the construction of this first surface, the most important in the industrial estate that has already had large constructions" and "with a significant budget." A health products company and a pool water purification business have also settled in Agüimes in recent months, expanding the market in Gran Canaria. An organic waste treatment plant for the production of biogas has also been installed in the free zone, among other examples of new additions to this region in the southeast of Gran Canaria.
Within municipal activity, new projects are also growing and have been launched, such as the awarding of the Arinaga Cultural Center, which will be a key building for the social life of Agüimes and the response to a neighborhood demand. Work is also underway on the tender for drafting the project to improve the Arinaga promenade, with which “the beach space will gain in comfort and accessibility.”
In addition, the councilor has highlighted a work that he considers "key" with the progress of the new access to Guayadeque that plans to "end the problem of the road on the shore, an island road that passes through the first street of the municipality that is narrow and “urban”. This problem needs to be resolved and we have been working on it for “about six years, in a complex process” that is already “approved and therefore closer to the solution with the start of the works.”
No news from the Arguineguín cement factory
The Cementos Especiales de las Islas (CEISA) plant historically located in El Pajar, Arguineguín, is within the media and political debate, with the possibility of relocating it to the port of Arinaga to provide land for tourist exploitation in this enclave in Mogán. Although it has been a widely known issue and involved in controversy, “this mayor and this administration have not received a call or a consultation about the possible relocation of this facility in the municipality,” which is why he claims to know about the issue “through the media.” communication".
That has been “a debate in the media, but no one has had a meeting with this mayor.” At the moment, "nothing has been raised about the cement plant" although he assures that "if there is an activity compatible with the industrial estate, soil and corrective measures, there is no problem" for the City Council to receive the project.