Córdoba is already at the head of the Andalusian business cluster that aspires to position the region as a European logistics hub

The starting point is a network of a dozen major freight transport hubs, Europe’s second most important port, airports and some significant infrastructure deficits such as the central and Mediterranean branches of the rail highway . The words and music of this commercial enterprise, created by 25 companies and led by Miguel Ángel Tamarit, vice president of Pegasus Groupthey sound very good. Commitment to the logistics of tomorrow (artificial intelligence, industry 4.0, energy efficiency, robotics, etc.). It must first be certified by the Junta of Andalusiaa fundamental seal to aspire to a bag of millionaire funds to start the race.

The university advisor, Jose Carlos Gomez Villamandoshas put on the table an appeal for 10 million euros which will be ready in January. His department had to rush to create a regulatory framework for clusters (there are six Andalusians with national certification) that promotes these groups (the industrial cold of Lucena is about to arrive). “There is an innovative dynamism that we must accompany and bring into contact with the academic world,” said Gómez Villamandos.

The initiative led by Tamarit, who yesterday with the rest of the authorities took charge of repeating that it has a regional character despite its Cordovan birth certificate, was surrounded by important names. Ecorail and Magtel to the vice-presidency exercised by Julio Gómez Pomar (former president of Renfe and former secretary of state), but also Covap, Coreco, Grupo Peña, Logintia, Jicar; Solavance, Vistalegre or Pegasus herself, among others. There will also be an advisory council made up of experts who will lead the way on legal and technical matters. The manager of the new group will be Antonio Vilches.

This activity moves the 6.5 percent of Andalusia’s gross domestic product and across the country, 64,000 companies operate directly in their market (40,000 indirectly). Andalusia is already the third region of specific importance in terms of logistics and what this group of companies seeks to make it the key axis of Southern Europe.

The initiative has an obvious Cordovan patent, largely because the province and the city are experiencing a sweet moment in this sense after having traced for decades in their strategic documents the value of their geographical location as a major logistical node. A theory that now seems to be put into practice and becoming a reality.

Optimistic indicators for Córdoba

But this context is also supported by what the Minister of Industry, Jorge Paradela, was also responsible for emphasizing in his speech, by crossing a series of quite revealing indicators in front of a meeting room of the Provincial Council full of businessmen – a circumstance that is also somewhat abnormal so far.

“Very interesting things are currently being done in Córdoba, since the Cunext green copper to Hitachi’s commitment to large transformers for photovoltaic power plants,” said the advisor.

And, without a doubt, it is full of the “industrial dynamism” of a province that, in the last two years, has been the third in terms of new industrial investments, the second in all of Andalusia in resource generation capacity for sustainable projects; the first in number of projects that went through the industrial accelerator that the Junta de Andalucía launched to accelerate important investments (eleven projects are based in Córdoba)… Or the territory benefiting from the most complementary regional incentives granted, in addition to monopolizing a third of the group of municipalities included in the local industrial network of Andalusia.

Or the first province to request guarantees in the Guarantee fund. Paradela recalled the two calls launched at that time by the Andalusian government for regional incentives (118 million) and a just transition in decarbonized areas (like Guadiato).

“Our moment”

And he left a gentle message about the infrastructure gap this and other clusters face. The new planning of the high-voltage electricity network has left shadows in Andalusia, such as in Guadiato, where the lack of electrical energy hinders the possibilities of relocation or expansion of companies.

In this context of lines open to companies in the logistics group to seek fishing funds, there is also the Ministry of Industryas the government subdelegate in Cordoba reminded us, Ana Lopez. Call for help for clusters which have dedicated 74 million euros over the last two years to this type of initiative.

The data, all sufficient, as well as the reality of the Army Logistics Base, to which all participants dedicated praise,

that he Mayor of Córdoba, José María Bellidopuffed out his chest last night in front of the auditorium full of businessmen saying that “it’s our time.” Also the president of CECO, Antonio Díaz, who recalled the years of agreements with institutions and unions to vaccinate logistical commitment.

Bellido also claimed, as president of the Provincial Council, Salvador Fuentesa better infrastructure environment that will help “logistics become even more important”. The mayor has recovered the new plots of land for this sector which are being created in Córdoba and which range from the large park attached to the military base of La Rinconada via El Álamo or the El Higuerón park.