The regional regulation for the simplification of administrative procedures supports entrepreneurial initiatives that promote innovation, internationalisation and competitiveness through the attraction and encouragement of new national and international investment. Within the framework of the Law for Administrative Simplification and Support for the Economic Recovery of Galicia, the productive fabric of the region has access to several tools and financial aids through which, in the last year, the Xunta has managed to reduce the time required to issue reports for business formalities by 17 days.

To help achieve this objective, the new Galicia Company Office, available to both SMEs and entrepreneurs, provides direct information and assistance to process business projects. Thus, its online tool evaluates potential priority business initiatives, which must include, at least, two of the requirements established to obtain this distinction: to generate 25 indefinite full-time jobs; to invest a minimum of €1 million in fixed assets, excluding real estate properties; and to belong to a strategic sector or complement value chains and /or be considered an innovation project.

Priority status

In order to be classified as a priority business initiative (IEP, in Spanish), companies shall submit their proposals to the Igape (Galician Institute for Economic Development). If they comply with the regulations, the Igape will transfer the record to the Second Vice-Presidency and the Regional Ministry for Economy, Enterprise and Innovation, where the classification as IEP will be proposed to the Council of the Xunta. 

The priority of the project and reasons of public interest will allow IEPs to reduce by half the regular processing time for the development of this type of project.

An investment with fewer obstacles and more guarantees

The Galicia Company Office is the body of the Xunta responsible for managing the instruments provided for in Law 9/2021, of 25 February, for Administrative Simplification and Support for the Economic Recovery of Galicia in order to make the implementation of business initiatives in Galicia easier. As Francisco Conde, the second vice president and Regional Minister of Economy, Enterprise and Innovation, recently stated, “at the moment, the best thing an Administration can offer is working with commitment and responsibility to meet the requirements of the business fabric”

For example, companies from Galicia, such as Oviganic Ibérica, Hijos de Carlos Albo or Aluminios Cortizo, are developing priority business initiatives at the core of their organisations. Oviganic, a company that processes sheep milk and sheep and goat whey, is working to build a new plant for infant products that will double its production to 40,000 tonnes. “The project, will create many jobs for young people, is a great opportunity for a rural area like this,” says Mercedes Pombo, CFO of Oviganic. She admits that this initiative is “very ambitious for the company and also for Monforte and Galicia.”

Additionaly, Cortizo’s new technological campus will be based on generating employment and focused on two main axes: sustainability and innovation. “Out campus aspires to become one of the most important and emblematic engineering centres in Europe and to create more than 350 jobs,” notes Gonzalo Brea, Director of Engineering and Large Developments.  

Among the priority business initiatives in Galicia, the canning company Hijos de Carlos Albo has a more industrial proposal. The company has launched the Logistics Platform of Salvaterra-As Neves (Plisan), known as the dry port of Vigo. “Albo is adapting perfectly to changes over the years by implementing technologies for process improvement based on mechanisation and on a computer system, which enables us to grow,” explains Pablo Boullosa, manager of the factory in Vigo.