During an interview, the president of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria described the situation within Proexca, the public foreign promotion entity, as "intolerable." According to his statements, technicians from this organization, whose top management is based in Tenerife, are actively discouraging business owners from investing in Gran Canaria.
The president detailed that Proexca's presidency, vice-presidency, and CEO are all located on the same island. Furthermore, a new general directorate for strategic projects, linked to the Presidency of the Government, has been created with an office of seven people also in Tenerife. This structure forces entrepreneurs interested in investing in Gran Canaria to travel to Tenerife to meet with consultants, where, according to the entrepreneurs themselves, they are encouraged to change their investment location.
“"Look, but why don't you do it here? Look, in this place, such and such, this happens very frequently."
The president insisted that these practices are common and have been reported directly by business owners. For him, this situation fuels inter-island disputes, although he emphasized his duty to defend Gran Canaria's interests against any imbalance.
Regarding judicial matters, the president sought to convey a message of legal certainty concerning the Island Planning Ordinance (PIO), asserting that "the PIO remains in force." He announced that the Cabildo will appeal "to all instances" the recent ruling by the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands, describing it as "erroneous, unjust, and disproportionate."
“"We continue to insist on an erroneous, unjust, disproportionate ruling."
According to the president, technicians believe the court has not thoroughly reviewed the ruling. He clarified that the plan's annulment does not halt strategic projects like the train, though it could create more bureaucracy for future infrastructures such as water jumps. In the worst-case scenario, they would revert to the 2004 PIO.
The interview also touched upon the booming primary sector, highlighting the "extraordinary variety and quality" of Gran Canaria's cheeses, recognized globally. The president defended the Cabildo's "key" role in boosting the sector, advancing towards food sovereignty, and linking products to gastronomy, which already boasts seven Michelin stars and a green star. The goal is to encourage young people to join the sector, ensuring product sales and the value of their efforts.
Regarding the scarce presence of local products in the tourism sector, the president pointed to hotel owners as primarily responsible, for prioritizing cost savings over quality. Finally, he reflected on the high cost of living, questioning the profits of large oil companies and the lack of market control, a situation that, in his opinion, also affects food.
