black stonethe American investment fund, will invest, through its company QTS, 7.5 billion euros in a data center in Calatorao (Zaragoza) and will create 1,400 direct jobs, as announced this Monday by the President of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón.
Thus, the Board of Directors of Aragon met this morning and approved a Declaration of Autonomous Interest of General Interest (DIGA) to promote this data center campus, which will occupy 224 hectares around the A-2 highway, seven kilometers from the urban area of Calatorao , and whose influence will reach municipalities such as Lucena de Jalón, Épila or La Muela. Jobs will be created mainly in the technology and construction sectors.
The event also took place in the presence of the vice-president of the Autonomous Community, Sea cowboy; the president of the Cortes of Aragon, Marta Fernández; and other authorities, such as the presidents of the provincial councils and the councilors of the regional executive, as well as the mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca. Also, the general manager of Blackstone Jean-Christopher Dubois.
Azcón stressed that “Aragon is experiencing a spectacular moment” and that the challenges are “impressive” due to the “incredible opportunities” that are opening up in the Autonomous Community, emphasizing that it is “a historic moment”with reference to unemployment data and investment capture.
“Every euro of investment that arrives in Aragon is welcome, all investments, small or large, contribute to the well-being and growth of the Community,” said Azcón, emphasizing that the billion-dollar investments “act like a lever, like a catapult.” to transform the economy of Aragon like we have not seen in recent history and much faster than any economic transformation that has occurred in Aragon and Spain.
The objective of the Government of Aragon is “to add a new economic engine that generates prosperity and wealth in the Community”Azcón continued, emphasizing that the impact is not only on GDP and employment, but is “global” and is being realized “in record time, at a time that many of us are not able to to understand.”
“Today is one of those days that will be remembered,” said Azcón, adding that “2024 will remain engraved in the collective memory of the Community as a year of prosperity because never will a year represent so many billions of euros investment”. .
The technological future with Blackstone
“The future will be technological or it will not be” and that is why the Government of Aragon rolls out “the red carpet” for all investments linked to the technological sector, said Azcón, who spoke of his idea of transforming the ‘Aragon in “European Virginia”.
Blackstone “is, without a doubt, one of the most important investments not only in Spain, but in all of Europe”, estimated the head of the Regional Executive, stressing that it is expected that this investment will increase in over the next few years. . 25 years oldGDP at 16,500 million euros, 25,450 in an “optimistic” scenario.
In addition, this infrastructure will not only serve Aragon and all of Spain, but “Blackstone aspires to provide technological services to an important part of Europe because they believe that it is the best place to invest in the entire south of Europe”. stating: “In Aragon we have talent, a privileged geographical locationan indisputable capacity to produce renewable energies, competitive and available industrial land and unalterable social peace; “We are unbeatable.”
Blackstone sources expressed their satisfaction at being able to land in the autonomous community: “We are delighted with this announcement and to be able to work with the Government of Aragon and the rest of the parties involved in this project.”
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. The company seeks to provide attractive returns to institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which it invests.
Its assets under management, which exceed trillion dollarsinclude global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth capital, credit, real assets, non-core assets and hedge funds.
Azcón said: “It does not stop here, we have a few months left in 2024 and we are not going to stop, we are going to continue working so that other billion dollar investments reach the Community autonomous before the end of the year. year.”
He also said that the important thing is that society remains open to investmentsto the generation of wealth and prosperity, “by simplifying administrative procedures, creating a fair tax framework and generating opportunities”, adding that his government will pay “particular attention” to what relates to energy.
He said that in the meeting he had last week with the President of the Government of Aragon, Pedro Sánchez, in La Moncloa, he informed him of the need to strengthen legal certainty “and speed” to attract investments, so that “investments see the light.”
“We must be prepared, think, because there are moments of opportunity like never before and also uncertainties and unknowns,” he concluded.
The transformation of the economy
The vice-president of the Government of Aragon, Sea cowboydeclared that Aragon is “a prosperous and ambitious society” and that with this investment it becomes “a leading technological hub in Europe”, emphasizing that it “will contribute to transforming the Aragonese economy” thanks to its ability to attract new businesses. , employment and digital transformation.
Vaquero stressed that this data center campus will promote the digitalization of the entire industrial sector and that “the pair of generating talents and attracting companies feed each other”, indicating that “where there is more talent, there is There are more possibilities.” arrive technology companies and where there are more technology companies, there is a greater opportunity to repatriate talent.
The vice-president continued to assure that “Spain has gained a specific weight” in the field of technology thanks to Aragon’s ability to attract investments “and to be a reference pole”, adding that ‘”it’s time to be ambitious and not be conformist”.
He also expressed that the competitiveness of companies will be in technology, which “will be an essential lever for the transformation of society and that is why the future of Aragon will be technological or will not be.”
