More than 200 representatives of the business sector rallied around the Confederation of Trade Associations of the Balearics (CAEB) and the Spanish Confederation of Trade Organizations (CEOE) into the new stage, and at the same time paid homage to Josep Oliver Mari, the until last month president of CAEB. The event was chaired by Carmen Planas, who received the congratulations of those present for leading the confederation into the new era, characterized by the slogan "Renovate, create and innovate". CAEB, and more specifically Carmen Planas, has the support of CEOE, represented at the event by the president, Joan Rosell, and by Narciso Casado, the Cabinet Director of the Presidency and Institutional Relations of CEOE. The business sector was also represented by the vice presidents of CAEB; Aurelio Vázquez, Eduardo López, Pau Belinfante, Francisco Martorell, Joan Bufí, y Joan Melis; by the treasurer Rafael Roig, and by the principal presidents of the business organizations of CAEB.
On behalf of the rest of the society, the president of the local Government, José Ramón Bauzá; the Delegate of the central Government Teresa Palmer, the President of the Parliament, Margalida Durán, the Mayor of Palma, Mateu Isern lead the procession of public institutions with plenty of senior officials and local government ministers, like the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Joaquin García: the Minister of Taxation and Budgets, José Vicente Marí; the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Gabriel Company. Also assisted the secretary general of PSIB-PSOE, Francina Armengol, and the highest representatives of the biggest workers union, Manuel Pelarda, of UGT, and Katiana Vicens.
The new president of CAEB, who emphasized the importance for the organization to be economically independent from the public administration, coincided that there are signs of economic recovery, which should help to recover the confidence. Additionally, Planas demanded from the responsible politicians "measures that guarantee an optimal use of production elements" and more efficient management of public resources.
After her speech, the Golden Ensign of CAEB was awarded to Josep Oliver, who expressed his gratitude for the distinction and offered his cooperation for the new president. Oliver emphasized how proud he was that "together, we have achieved a united business sector".
In his speech, Rosell, after thanking Josep Oliver for his "splendid job", explained that the economic figures over the recent weeks were "positive", it is important to carry on with the reforms, because if we don´t, "the result is decline". Rosell confirmed that "there is still a lot to do", for example in the negotiations over the collective agreement, which "needs to be changed from top to bottom", and other series of reforms, like that of the Administration, to be able to "avoid duplications" and to "make it efficient". In continuation, he indicated that in the Balearic Islands, in Spain and in Europe, "some governments are doing things right", even if it may costs some votes, "they will come back". Rosell also dedicated some words of congratulations to the current president of CAEB, Carmen Planas, who arrives in the Confederation with vigor and with an aim to "keep the good things and introduce improvements".
Lastly, Rosell affirmed that in CEOE things are changing "without breakages and with the cooperation of all", and expressed a wish that with the help of CAEB they can continue doing so.
The closing speech was given by the president of the Balearic Government, José Ramón Bauzá, who pleaded the business sector "as things are improving, share your benefits by giving jobs: please employ, invest in quality employment".
Additionally, he prompted the entrepreneurs to practice "social corporative responsibility", because " the business sector of a society should participate actively in the society from which it legitimately benefits from".
Bauzá, who highlighted in the beginning of his speech the great work done during 20 years by the outgoing president of CAEB, Josep Oliver, and continued by praising the business sector of the islands, which in the midst of the crisis " is demonstrating once again its capacity to adapt".
"We are aware of the efforts our business and production sector are making, and it is the obsession of the government that I lead to be up to the task at hand", explained the president.
Bauzá assured that "the collapse" of the administration of the community was one of the causes of the Balearic economic crisis, as the institutions were living "pompously" and accumulating debt when the companies "were already immersed in the process of restructuring".
"It was imperative to stop with the mistaken policies which were only going to further the disaster" and to introduce legislative and administrative reforms, as this government has done, he explained.
"Today the situation is better than yesterday, and better than two years ago, but there is still a lot to do if we really want to find a solution", and for that reason the role of the private sector is important, specially for the recovery of the employment, he reiterated.
In continuation, he expressed his delight for the reduced unemployment statistics and the increase of affiliation to Social Security, made public today, but he clarified that "they are not sufficient".
Speech by Carmen Planas (spanish)
No comments:
Post a Comment