The investments of the Recovery Plan of the Government of Spain in Extremadura exceed 1.4 billion euros in the strategic and social sectors of the region; investments that are acting as a fundamental element in the transformation of the productive fabric of the region and that together with the other measures of the Government are consolidating the social shield that protects the citizens and improves their living conditions.

The various programs contemplated in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan have involved investments for Extremadura that already exceed 1.4 billion euros, of which 706 million have been transferred to the Junta de Extremadura for the direct implementation of the same; while the Government of Spain has executed investments and direct aid in an amount close to 700 euros.

A new production model

SMEs have been one of the main recipients of these funds and programmes; 3,700 small businesses, micro-enterprises and self-employed people have already benefited from digital kit grants amounting to more than EUR 17 million and 900 companies in the region have accessed financing mechanisms through the CERSA guarantee programme.

The Government of Spain’s commitment to green reindustrialization is generating a new reality in Extremadura since at the moment the region has a third of the total installed power of photovoltaic energy with a deployment of 5,165 megawatts. This reality, together with the installation in the region of the Iberian Energy Storage Research Center and two innovative projects in energy storage, with a public investment of close to 100 million euros, is placing Extremadura at the head of this type of energy development and favoring the installation in the region of projects such as the synthetic diamond factory of Trujillo, which has granted aid of 200 million euros, or the investment planned for the battery gigantic factory in Navalmoral de la Mata.

The digitalisation of society is another of the essential elements to advance a new development model and to this end, through the UNICO Programme, more than 16 million euros have been invested that have allowed the extension of broadband to 52,700 households and companies in rural areas of Extremadura.

Along with sustainable energy and digitalization, water and its optimization are also a fundamental factor for the socio-economic development of Extremadura. The Government is carrying out irrigation modernization projects in 12 areas of the region with an investment of more than 60 million euros.

The development of business initiatives in rural areas is closely linked to sustainable development of the environment and in this regard 56 unique energy efficiency projects have been launched in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants with a public investment of 4.6 million euros.

Labor and social improvements

All these initiatives aimed at creating a new environment for industrial and business development in the region, together with the other legislative and social measures implemented by this Government are bearing fruit that are reflected in the statistical data that reflect the progress experienced in Extremadura in recent years. In this way, Social Security has 399,564 members in the region; 19,071 more than in 2018; 145,818 indefinite contracts have been signed, 477% more than in 2019; 59,500 workers have seen their salary increase linked to the SMI; unemployment has decreased by 27,905 workers since 2018, which represents a decrease of 33%.

To the employment and affiliation data that confirm the trend of economic growth in the region, we must add the measures of the Government for the protection of citizens. In this regard, it should be noted that 56,132 Extremadura citizens benefit from the Minimum Vital Income; 69,608 receive the Electricity Social Bonus; 23,431 students benefit from the highest scholarships in history; 16,878 Extremadura citizens enjoy free transport payments and pensioners have seen their pension increase by more than 223 euros each month.

For the Government of Spain, the funds of the Recovery Plan and the social protection policies implemented in Extremadura are generating a new sustainable and digitalized productive model while improving the living conditions of the majority of the citizens of the region.