VALVERDE (EL HIERRO), 4th May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The authorities of the Canary Islands have chosen to “create opportunities and enhance value” in rural areas, aligning with the goals of the Canarian Agenda 2030 and as part of their plan to foster sustainable social and economic growth.
As mentioned by the Canary Islands’ President, Fernando Clavijo, during the inaugural event of the ‘Routes 2030’ in La Frontera, El Hierro, this Saturday, this initiative is a pilot project led by the regional government in partnership with EMERGE. It will also be rolled out in Gáldar, Gran Canaria, and Tinajo, Lanzarote. The primary objective is to form partnerships between traditional sectors and innovation, aiming to create new opportunities in the 46 Canarian municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants by establishing a challenge bank.
The roadmap presented by the Canarian authorities united fifty experts in innovation, research, technological advancement, and entrepreneurship from the islands in El Hierro today. Representatives from the Cabildo of El Hierro, the town councils of La Frontera, El Pinar, and Valverde, along with the regional government and the two Canarian public universities, attended the meeting. They discussed three challenges related to reviving tropical pineapple cultivation on the island, promoting 100% local wine production, and digitising wine tourism in the Meridian Island through research and innovation.
In this context, Clavijo emphasised that “we must make innovation a necessity rather than an option, contributing to the well-being, sustainable development, and environmental preservation of the Canary Islands, making the archipelago a land of eight equally thriving islands.”
He also expressed confidence in public-private cooperation “to drive these transformations in our production system, building a prosperous future for the Canary Islands through innovation and science that benefits all sectors: primary, industrial, and tourism.”
He further highlighted that the progress of the Canary Islands “cannot overlook the advancement of the 46 municipalities, such as La Frontera, with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. These areas present a range of opportunities that can shape a more prosperous and sustainable future for the Canary Islands and its inhabitants.” Clavijo stated, “We could not achieve this goal without the involvement of universities, researchers, and start-ups who have actively participated in this initiative.”
Clavijo positioned the inception of the 2030 Routes as the start of “a new journey that will enable us to reshape the present and pave the way for the future we envision for the Canary Islands, attracting opportunities, generating quality employment, retaining talent, and adding value to the rural hubs of the archipelago.”
