Content A Strategic Location 3 Excellent Travel links with future upgrades 3 Quality of Life 5 A Place of tourist interest 5 Industrial and technological infrastructure 7 A Diverse Economic Structure 9 Available Workforce 9 The presence of powerful industrial and service companies 9 Pro-corporate policy framework 10 Business investiment support 10 Foreign Investment 10 2
A Strategic Location Calatayud boasts a strategic location in Spain, a focal point between the cities of Madrid (236 Km.), Bilbao (334 Km.), Barcelona (386 Km.), Valencia (270 km.) and at a distance of only 86 Km from the capital of province, Zaragoza. Within a radius of 400 km it has access to a population of 18 million inhabitants. Consequently, its location allows quick access to the most important cities and business centers in Europe. Its proximity to the area of el Corredor del Henares (Guadalajara, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid), the port of Valencia and Zaragoza Logistics Platform (the logistics service area in Zaragoza), all guarantee an excellent location for businesses seeking a competitive advantage as major national, and international markets are easy to reach, hence reducing logistical costs and maximizing profit. Excellent Travel links with future upgrades Calatayud offers fabulous communication links by road, and in particular the high speed train service (AVE), established in 2003, which connects the head of the region with the main economic centers of Spain (Madrid and Barcelona). With the introduction of the high speed AVE train service, Calatayud is less than half an hour from the Zaragoza international airport which, with its new terminal (inaugurated in 2008), links Aragón with the main European capitals. 3
Zaragoza airport covers 40,000 square meters of land reserved for logistical activities, a terminal of perishable goods of some 2,000 m2, customs services, and has an unlimited operational capacity. Additional based in Zaragoza is the Terminal Marítima de Zaragoza (TMZ) (The Zaragoza Maritime Terminal), established in 2001. The main objective of the TMZ is to foster maritime foreign trade, offering the option of competitive, quality maritime transport to both regional operators, importers and exporters. The TMZ stimulates maritime transport in Zaragoza, Aragón, Valle del Ebro and adjacent areas. The combination of boat-train-truck offers a highly versatile service for entrepreneurs looking to optimize their costs and as a result, users dispose of more facilities to create intermodal transport solutions. All of this allows access to major national and international markets. Excellent Location 4
Quality of Life An extensive offer of cultural and leisure activities blends with the natural beauty of the environment, a historical-cultural heritage, a rich, varied cuisine and an agreeable climate. This makes the municipal of Calatayud a prize to live in, not just for its closeness to Madrid or Zaragoza, but also for factors such as the low crime rate, and ease of moving about and fulfilling daily tasks (work, school, shopping, medical matters ). To conclude: traditional businesses and modern commercial centers, varied entertainment options, hospitals and medical centers, quick travel links and esteemed educational schools and centers, give rise to a high quality of life for the cities inhabitants. A Place of tourist interest With reference to spa therapy, the municipal of Calatayud is a definite for continuing developments in tourism. The opportunities on offer in the municipal, such as touristic resources and an increase in determined forms of tourism: health tourism, culture and rural tourism, reflect the vast opportunities available to investors in this sector. Out of all of the spa offers in Aragón, the municipal of Calatayud has seven spas making it a thermal area of reference. 5
Another tourist attraction in Calatayud is the Augusta Golf Calatayud (18 holes), which is a very demanding tour, with several holes near to 500 meters, with small greens, closed streets and great precision blows. Its two lakes are typical because they are placed strategically in order to be part of some holes; this means that the training and the challenge are present in all the blows. The field is authorized by the Royal Spanish Federation of Golf in order to celebrate all kinds of local and national events of Golf. Furthermore, the Augusta Golf Calatayud possesses services to rent cars, bags, sticks, and custodies of sticks. 6
Industrial and technological infrastructure The price of land in Calatayud is significantly inferior to other adjacent zones, which make it an interesting location for projects requiring large surface areas. The city of Calatayud has three industrial estates with a fourth, newly built. In addition to the industrial infrastructure, the city has equipped facilities for the location of companies from the technology sector. In these areas, undergo their business activities companies associated with the TIC sector. They are fully equipped reducing time and installation costs. Furthermore, it is planned to start a Center for Advanced Technology Companies, next to the AVE train station. This is geared towards facilitating the base of twenty companies in the Technology sector in a 1,700 square meter area, where there are offices, mixed office spaces, general business administration services, and common services for businesses (training classrooms, secretaries, and infrastructure). 7
The types of businesses that suit this centre are the following: - Technology companies specializing in information and communication systems - R & D companies - Engineering, prototyping and assembly - Production technologies - Renewable energies and efficient energy generation - Etc. The location of this centre next to the AVE station facilitates: - Easy of travel for directors and project managers (one hour from Madrid) - Production centers, R & D and innovation departments with a saving of 30% in terms of installation costs compared to major cities. 8
A Diverse Economic Structure The diversity of the economic structure of Calatayud, as well as the interrelations between the various sectors, makes the area and ideal location for both industrial and service companies. Traditional industrial activities such as food processing make the municipal of Calatayud a market leader on a regional, national and European level complemented by other sectors such as freight transport and tourism (extensive balneotherapy offers, and referenced places of interest, such as el Monasterio de Piedra). Available Workforce The major investment effort in training by various institutions facilitates the availability of qualified people, with both vocational and university qualifications (UNED), for new industrial and industrial support service investment projects. Furthermore, the public institutions the Aragonés Employment Institute) The Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and The Calatayud Entrepreneurs Association, support and facilitate the selection process of candidates for companies wishing to locate in the area. Moreover, there are annual advanced technical training programs for employees and management. The presence of powerful industrial and service companies Calatayud boasts numerous firms, who facilitate the daily activities of industries based in the area: Employment Agencies and companies specializing in engineering, industrial installation and assembly, accommodation and catering, logistics, transport, packaging, IT maintenance, specialist training, cleaning and installation maintenance services, etc. 9
Pro-corporate policy framework Through various agencies and bodies of local and regional level exists strong support for the start up of new investment projects. Together these offer all the necessary conditions for setting up new business ventures. In addition to this, one must note the excellent workforce relations and the traditional social calm, which create a competitive pro-corporate policy framework. Business investiment support The various investment support programs from government agencies, private institutions, and local entities, require a personalized, individual case study to define the best options for investment plans. Promotional tools for investment are employment, competitiveness, and economic growth. There is financial support and incentives, (community grants, and regional/local government finance), available from different government agencies who possess funds dedicated to help finance the majority of investment needed for new and expanding businesses. All place special emphasis on permanent work contracts, R & D, and technical innovation (I+D+i, The Institute of Technological Development). Furthermore, the fact that Spain is a member of the European Union allows access to European finance funds for businesses, which makes it even more attractive to invest in Spain. Some of the types of grants available to help finance investment projects are: for personnel, training, the environment, and European grants for technical development. Support is given via market research and case studies focused on the feasibility of a business, rebates for the creation of Jobs, finance and grants, and support in the selection and training of personnel etc. The Calatayud County Council and the Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce and Industry provide constant business support advice and services. Foreign Investment Foreign investors in Spain enjoy freedom of investment and capital movements, as stated in the state council directive 88/361/CEE, of June 24th, and the European Union Treaty (The Maastricht Treaty), with an exception to the tax havens listed in the Royal Decree 1080/1991. 10
Foreign investors are mainly regulated by Spanish Law 12/2003, of July 4th, on the legal regime of capital movements and business transactions abroad, also by the Royal Decree 664/1999, of April 23, on foreign investment and by the Order of May 28 2001. It is generally sufficient to register with the Economic Foreign Investment Ministry office stating business objectives prior to beginning. 11
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