- · The Basque Country will receive more than 5.6 million euros for the modernization of five sustainable urban markets; 388,000 euros for a sustainable rural market and 1.1 million euros for the promotion of a tourist influx area.
- · The Executive will distribute a total of 104.52 million euros to 119 projects, which will receive aid from the Next Generation EU funds, aimed at improving the competitiveness of commercial activity.
- These lines are part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which includes a total allocation of 415 million euros to support trade between 2021 and 2023
The Government, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Mincotur), has published the proposal for a final resolution of the call 2022 for aid to the commercial sector, which awards 7,228,600.8 euros to the Basque Country for the promotion of 7 projects for the modernization of municipal markets, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
In particular, the Basque Country will receive funds in three aid lines: 5,694,552.8 euros for the modernization of five sustainable urban markets; 388,000 euros for a sustainable rural market and 1,146,048 euros for the promotion of a tourist influx area. In this link you can consult the projects benefiting from the aid.
In total, 119 projects from all the autonomous communities will receive 104.52 million euros, according to the Next Generation EU funds, which contemplate a global allocation of 415 million euros between the years 2021 to 2023 to favor and boost the competitiveness of small trade.
“To achieve two primary objectives on the Government’s agenda: to support the recovery of the commercial sector, composed especially of SMEs and self-employed, enhancing its digital and sustainable transformation. And, on the other hand, strengthening the fabric in small and medium-sized towns and in tourist areas, which is a key element to establish population, promote its development and territorial structuring,” said the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto.
“We want these actions to have a direct impact on the population, fighting the demographic challenge and generating employment opportunities. We must take advantage of the opportunity offered by the funds of the Recovery plan to enhance and transform our commercial network, which is unique and is part of the identity of our cities and towns”, added the minister.
Commercial Sector Support Lines
The approved actions are distributed in three lines intended to help the transformation and modernization of small business, within the Plan of competitiveness and modernization of the tourism sector (Component 14) and of Boost to SMEs (Component 13) of the Plan of Recovery, Transformation and Resilience.
- Support for sustainable urban markets: 52 beneficiary projects worth EUR 60.23 million. It aims to finance plans and projects of technological, innovative and sustainability content, as well as improvement of equipment, aimed at the commercial sector located in its demarcation.
- Aid to areas of tourist influx: 24 beneficiary projects worth EUR 29.26 million. It is specifically aimed at supporting those commercial establishments located in tourist areas and improving the shopping experience of visitors.
- Support for sustainable rural markets: 43 beneficiary projects worth EUR 15 million. Aimed at supporting the implementation, modernization and promotion of commercial activity in rural areas (localities with less than 5,000 inhabitants), improving the competitiveness, sustainability and diversification of the rural economy.
High participation in 2022 and new call in 2023
The competitions held in 2022 under the lines of support for the commercial sector have had a high participation, as evidenced by the high number of applications received: 280 applications in the line of aid to sustainable urban markets, 188 in aid to sustainable rural markets and 131 in aid to areas of tourist influx.
This afternoon, the Board of Directors General of Commerce of the Autonomous Communities will meet, where the news about the bases for the new call of 2023 on the three lines of aid to improve the competitiveness of the commercial sector will be addressed.