Mayor (Murcia's City Hall )

The most serious problem in Murcia is obviously the lack of water. How will the continued lack of water affect the industries in Murcia and what plans does the Government have to solve this problem permanently?

Murcia is in a region where there is a chronic lack of water. It has always been a dry, barren region, and right now it is one of the most at risk regions in Europe with respect to desertification. It is a lack of large water sources and rain that have caused this problem. Therefore, we are continuously innovating and taking advantage of the few water sources that we have since it is the only factor that can limit the growth of economic activity of Murcia. For that reason we have been investigating for many years the efficient utilization of water, and now we are one of the most efficient cities in Europe thanks to our distribution networks which incorporate the most modern technologies to avoid and locate leaks.

With respect to the irrigation water it is exactly the same. We have a modernization plan for the irrigation of our land and an efficient utilization system that incorporates computer science systems so that any person from his or her house can manage their consumption. Everything is directed at the agriculture so that we can efficiently use every last drop of water. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it is insufficient for Murcia.

The National Water Plan, which was approved by the previous government (the Government of President Aznar), equipped us with sufficient water and optimism for the future. About 80% of the drinking water for the 1.4 million inhabitants would come from the Tajo River, in addition to a small amount from the Segura River. The Plan also estimated that 45,000 cubic meters of water would come from the Ebro River along with 20,000 cubic meters of desalinized water. The combination of all of these small sources would guarantee that Murcia would have adequate water supplies for the coming years. However, right now the current government (of Zapatero) has taken away the water from the Ebro River and they are reducing the amount of water from the Tajo. What we are starting to implement are the desalinization plants and the utilization of subterranean water.

Are you hoping to receive aid of the European Union?

We have received around 20 million euros in aid from the European Union in the last 8 years, which we have invested fundamentally in the improvement of the distribution networks in order to avoid wastes, the construction of a water purification plant and finally in the extension of the entire collection network (the sewage system and the sanitation system). For the last 6 or 7 years, Murcia has been purifying 100% of all the water that we consume. This means that we can reuse the water that we consume in many areas from agricultural to the rejuvenation of the water channels. In addition, we do the maintenance for all of the gardens and green spaces of the entire city with underground water.

We have seen that many times the decisions made concerning the allocation of water have been the result of lobbying rather than based on common sense. Do you think Murcia needs to lobby for more water or that common sense will prevail?

I believe that decisions should be based on common sense and strategy. The fresh water comes from specific regions and other regions distribute it, just like what happens with the country’s electricity. In Murcia, we do not have any power plants to produce electricity. Instead it comes to us through cables and wires from other parts of Spain, and even from outside of Spain. The situation with the water is exactly the same. The water could be interconnected between river basins, so that when there is a lack of water in one place and a surplus in another, the surplus could be transported to the region that needs it.

What we are doing is trying to improve the management of the country’s water supply. In regions where there is an abundance of water, it must be cared for in exactly the same way as it would be in the regions where there is very little water. We must also ensure that none of the country’s water is lost to the seas.

Today for example, despite the drought that we are suffering through here in Spain, every day tens of thousands of liters of fresh water from the Ebro River empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Instead of losing this water to the Mediterranean Sea, it should be distributed to all the regions of Valencia, Murcia and Almeria. Therefore, instead of fresh water going to the Mediterranean, and Murcia desalinizing the seawater, we could save all sorts of costs by simply managing what we have better.

By properly utilizing our water from various sources – lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and subterranean waters – and from our desalinization plants, we should be able to guarantee that everyone in Spain will have sufficient amounts of water. Water is a necessity of life in Spain, in Europe, in America, in Africa and in every country around the world; therefore common sense and strategy have to be used to solve this problem. Politics should not be a debilitating factor.

In spite of efforts to better manage the water, I imagine that for long-term success it will be necessary to transform the economy of Murcia from one based on agriculture to one based on services. What initiatives does the government have to educate and train the population in computer science, technological systems and other fields that are necessary to compete in today’s global economy?

Yes, we are indeed transforming our primary economy from agriculture to a services industry. The agriculture/food industry and the services industry are the most important areas of expansion and growth moving into the future. In addition, all of this transformation will be taking place in a region and a city with young population, where fundamentally the primary asset that we have is human capital. This human capital must be well trained and so we are developing initiatives to expose our youth to the latest technologies from a very early age in our schools, with a particularly strong emphasis on computers. This new culture of information in the classrooms - already in its 3rd year – will facilitate much learning. What we are hoping to do is to develop for the entire community a “smart city”, with new communications so that we continue to improve and develop. It is the greatest investment than we are making, so that the population can not only resolve current problems, but so that it is also prepared for the great conversion of Murcia to a city of industrial services.

The agreement with IKEA must have been a great personal victory for you. How did you convince them to establish its next store here in Murcia?

Murcia, and its surroundings, is at a very important moment. It is practically the fastest growing city from an economic point of view in the Mediterranean from Valencia to Malaga. We are in a geographically strategic point located in the middle those two major cities. Including the surroundings within a 20-minute drive from downtown, we number close to 1.5 million inhabitants and if we look at the numbers up to an hour away there are between 5 or 6 million inhabitants.

Murcia has been formed like a great capital, a great center of economic activities. If you include initiatives that exist for new urban developments and for new construction projects, it makes sense that there has been a population increase from other parts of Europe who come to our region and to all the Mediterranean.

Right now, we are developing urbanizations with a capacity for 30,000 new houses. If we add all the developments of Almeria, Alicante and the southern part of Albacete, we then have the possibility that approximately between 1.5 or 2 million visitors per year could come to our new malls, which would create a very important business. When you consider all of the complimentary services and needs that come with so many new houses and communities it is easy to see why IKEA chose to open its store here.

Are there any specific incentives that Murcia is giving IKEA in order to attract more multinational companies?

Fundamentally, we are doing two things. First, the Regional Government, through fiscal incentives and subsidies, hopes to attract a variety of companies. The Regional Government can subsidize these new companies and industries up to 15% or 20% of the total investment. Secondly, we at the Municipal Government are assisting in the training and selection of the personnel. These requirements, as in the case of IKEA, are carried out with some special initiatives concerning women. There is a large female work force, and within this female work force, there are many women capable of having both a very fruitful family and work life.

As I said, we are very closely collaborating with them in the selection of personnel and training courses. We have designed and managed very specific municipal training courses - as in the case of IKEA, like the new malls, with the opening anticipated for the next year - so that they can acquire the training at the appropriate levels. Therefore, on the one hand the young people of Murcia are trained, and on the other hand they have a guaranteed exit.

What other multinationals are you working with at the moment and which ones would you like to attract that are not here yet?

Currently, we are working with IKEA, the Mall of Vacesa Meter, the Mall of New Condomina, etc. Today in Murcia, there are many construction zones, many new houses and new investment opportunities. With respect to other great multinationals that we would like to attract, almost everything is within those great distribution centers, each one measuring about 90,000 m2. Metro Vacesa, for example - being one of the most important French real estate developers - has bought various complexes in Spain including Alcampo, which is a French supermarket. We have foreign and also Spanish investment.

Another mall, the New Condomina, a little more to the North, with its residential, golf and commercial zones, will offer H&M (Swedish), Zara, with Zara Home and its diverse varieties in fashion, also Leroy Merlin and many others. In addition, there is another new commercial zone in Murcia in the area around the University (downtown), which will be about 25,000 m2 and will have a Corte Inglés.

All of this makes for great growth, with a great variety of services for the surroundings of Murcia, with its 1.5 million people in the center, and close to 5 million more within a 20-minute drive. Taken together it means there will be a great boom for all of Murcia.

Tourism is very important for the Spanish economy, however Murcia still is not known for its tourism. From a tourism standpoint, what is special about Murcia and what initiatives or plans are in place to improve this sector of the Murcian economy?

Murcia, as a whole, understands a little about everything. We have an exceptional climate throughout the entire year, in which it feels like a continuous spring, with very pleasant temperatures and much sunshine. I believe that we have the greatest number of hours of sun per year than any other place in Europe. We have everything, a great cultural wealth of the Old Artistic Historical Sponsorship. Murcia is very much a Baroque city physically speaking with the most impressive example being the Baroque facade of the Cathedral. The museums are also in the Baroque style of Salcillo. They date from 17th century, and are some of the most important imagines in all Europe. One of these museums has a collection of antique Catholic figures that are paraded each year during Easter celebrations. It is the only museum in the world whose images are involved in a procession every year on the morning of Good Friday. Normally, all the images are inside, but that day we celebrate these images by showing them to all the people in the streets.

Besides maintaining that culture and its traditions, and preserving our buildings, churches and surroundings, we also have the natural wealth of “the orchard” or agricultural land, around the Segura River. From a landscape and environmental point of view, it is very beautiful encompassing lemon and orange trees that give off a lovely scent in spring.

At the same time, we also offer the coast that is the “Smaller Sea”, which is a great lagoon within the Mediterranean Sea, which has a special microclimate, water and seafood. There are very different fish found there in comparison to other areas along the Spanish coast, which add to our diverse and delicious cultural gastronomy.

We also offer several golf courses, some already constructed and others that are being constructed. We will have 10 or 12 golf courses throughout the region and together with the exceptional climate will be very attractive to tourists. Right now, there is a large tourism complex called Jayak located in an area called La Manga, which has a golf course in an area called La Manga. Large hotel chains are going to manage the hotels around the golf courses, like the Marriot and Intercontinental. Soon the large protected natural landscapes around the “Smaller Sea”, the salt mines with dunes, where you can hike and bike. We also have a mountain region that is only 25 minutes from the city by car, which also has green footpaths, and there is also "the old Railroad route", that also can be done by bicycle. In only 20 minutes you can go from mountains to the sea.

What would be your message about Murcia to the American companies that are thinking about investing in Spain?

Right now, Murcia is one of the Spanish zones with great potential now, and looking to the future. Our geographic location is exceptional good acting as the door to Europe from Africa and ships entering the Mediterranean Sea from Americas. The connections and communications in Murcia are exceptional by sea, land and by air with the airport of San Javier and another airport that is going to be built in Murcia.

The climate here is perfect for living, producing and working and as I mentioned before we have a wealth of young human capital, very well trained and with a great desire to work. The attitude of the people of Murcia is open and generous. One of the emblems of Murcia is an image, which we call the Midwife of Murcia. This image is especially famous in two places, one in the Palace of the Almudí, which is now a museum, and the other is on the door of the Cathedral. This famous image of a woman nursing her son and the son’s of many others exemplifies the generosity of the Murcian people.

Whoever comes to Murcia, we try to make them feel at home by welcoming them with the open arms of our warm and caring people. They will enjoy our excellent climate, gastronomy and the desire and preparation of the people to be productive. Murcia is possible the best place to invest, with the security that an investment here is going to be profitable and effective.