The Government completes the aid programme to strengthen the commercial sector in the Basque Country with the mobilisation of more than 20.3 million euros

The Government, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, has mobilized 20.39 million euros in the last three years (2021-2023) to support the modernization and improvement of the competitiveness of the commercial sector in the Basque Country, as part of the global investment of 313 million euros of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

In the Basque Country, 22 projects have been awarded this aid within the three trade support lines covered by the programme: sustainable urban markets, sustainable rural markets and strengthening commercial activity in tourist areas. In total, 346 projects from all the autonomous communities and cities have been beneficiaries through the three calls activated between 2021 and 2023 and financed by the Next Generation EU funds.

“We have completed this Recovery Plan aid program by executing 100% of the budget allocated for these three years. This aid has been aimed at improving the competitive model of the Spanish commercial sector and supporting it in its transformation processes to make it more digital, sustainable and resilient,” said the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez.

- Support for sustainable urban markets: 162 beneficiary projects amounting to €186.09 million. It finances plans and projects of technological, innovative and sustainability content, as well as improvement of equipment, aimed at the commercial sector that is located in its demarcation.

- Aid to areas of tourist influx: 73 beneficiary projects worth EUR 85 million. It aims to support those commercial establishments located in tourist areas and improve the shopping experience of visitors.

- Support for sustainable rural markets: 111 beneficiary projects worth EUR 42 million. Aimed at 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.

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has published the proposal for a final resolution of the call for 2023 of the three lines of aid to support the commercial sector: 118 projects will receive a total of EUR 105 million.

This last call for applications from the lines of support to the commercial sector has had a high participation, as evidenced by the high number of applications received, with more than 560 initiatives presented.

In addition, the financial allocation of the rural areas aid line has been increased, with a sum of 22 million euros for 2023, and projects that improve energy efficiency have also been valued.

“These actions will have a direct impact on the benefit of the population, fighting against the demographic challenge, generating employment opportunities and revitalizing commercial activity in rural areas,” according to Gómez.

1. Aid for Trade in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan:

https://comercio.gob.es/es-es/prtr-comercio/Paginas/Plan-de-Recuperacion-Comercio.aspx

2. Call for Proposals 2023, final resolution proposal:

2.1. Sustainable markets:

https://www.mincotur.gob.es/PortalAyudas/mercados-sostenibles/Concesion/2023/Documents/MERCADOS%20FAVORABLE%20DEFINITIVA.pdf

2.2. Rural areas:

https://www.mincotur.gob.es/PortalAyudas/mercados-sostenibles-zonas-rurales/Concesion/2023/Documents/RURALES%20FAVORABLES%20DEFINITIVOS.pdf

2.3. Areas of tourist influx:

https://www.mincotur.gob.es/PortalAyudas/Fortalecimiento-ZonasTuristicas/Concesion/2023/Documents/TURISTICAS%20%20FAVORABLE%20DEFINITIVA.pdf