More than 200 professionals and public representatives are meeting in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to analyze the main challenges facing commerce in the Canary Islands. The conference focuses on innovation, competitiveness, and the sector's adaptation to new consumer habits.
The Canary Islands Trade Congress was held last Friday, March 28th, at the headquarters of the La Caja de Canarias Foundation in Las Palmas, with the participation of more than 200 industry professionals and experts. The opening ceremony was presided over by the Vice President of the Canary Islands Government, Manuel Domínguez, and the Councilor for Economic Development of the Gran Canaria Island Council, Minerva Alonso. Also among those attending were the Mayor of Ingenio, Vanesa Martín, and the Councilor for Trade, Almudena Hernández, who praised the importance of this event in strengthening trade in their municipality and across the island.
During his speech, Manuel Domínguez highlighted the growth of trade in the Canary Islands, which closed 2024 with a 5,2% increase, above the national average, and a 2,2% rise in February. He also highlighted the creation of more than 169.000 jobs in the sector and defended the need to promote open commercial areas and traditional markets. For her part, the mayor of Ingenio advocated adapting to new sales models and digitalization, while the councilor emphasized the urgency of addressing the challenge of generational change, especially in the artisan trade.
The Congress features conferences, roundtables, and workshops addressing sustainability, business growth, and digitalization as key elements for strengthening competitiveness. The first presentation was given by Lorenzo Amor, president of ATA, who warned about the loss of 50.000 businesses in Spain over the last five years and emphasized that commerce remains the main generator of employment in the country. Amor advocated adapting commerce in the Canary Islands to new consumer demands, promoting innovation and dialogue between administrations and SMEs.
