SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Feb. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The initiator and former leader of Ciudadanos, Albert Rivera, has urged current political figures to set aside political beliefs to facilitate the overdue reform agenda in Spain and, particularly, to establish legal certainty for businesses and freelancers.
This was expressed on Thursday during the ‘Dialogues for Development’ meeting in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, organized by Management Activo, featuring a presentation by the partner and general director of Afi, David Cano.
“Spain has a reform agenda that has been demanded for years by civil society and politics, but it is being hindered by political polarization and the government’s focus more on granting amnesty and privileges to politicians than on assisting entrepreneurs and freelancers,” stated Albert Rivera.
He insists that the convergence of “various political forces, and in some cases radical, within the Spanish Government will likely prevent the much-needed National Pacts for this country.” “The essential reforms in education, labor and training, as well as in public administration, cannot progress without comprehensive National Pacts,” he added.
SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES.
Alongside the partner and general director of Afi, David Cano, both speakers examined the socioeconomic challenges confronting the business community and touched upon subjects such as technological advancements, artificial intelligence, 5G networks, nanotechnology, and cybersecurity in a world characterized by its constant evolution.
David Cano remarked that the economic activity slowdown, particularly the moderation of inflation, has led central banks to adjust their stance. “They have transitioned from contemplating potential hikes to clearly declaring their intention to lower interest rates,” he mentioned.
Furthermore, the partner and CEO of Afi asserted that currently “we are confronted with a set of risk factors, including the upcoming U.S. elections, tensions between Taiwan, China, and the U.S., events in the Gulf, or the war in Ukraine, highlighting the reality that geopolitical risks are unavoidable, and it is essential to recognize that events thousands of kilometers away can have a significant impact.”
Cano also emphasized that a focus on the primary sector, notably in agriculture, could be crucial for the economic advancement of the Archipelago. “In addition to tourism, there lies an additional opportunity that the region can capitalize on with a focus on the primary sector, especially agriculture, which has shown resilience and countercyclicality.”
The speakers also addressed the topic of educational reform with a particular emphasis, as Spain lags in educational levels and the outcomes of primary, secondary, and university education, lacking representation among the top universities in Europe. “This deficiency in the education system poses a barrier that necessitates immediate attention,” Rivera remarked.
