The president of the Employers' Confederation of Lanzarote (CEL), Beatriz Salazar, and the vice-president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, María Jesús Tovar, met yesterday, Monday, to address the promotion of the future Congress Palace and the priorities of the island's business sector.
During the meeting, both representatives agreed on the interest of moving forward with this infrastructure due to its importance for economic diversification and the generation of opportunities for trade, hospitality, and services. Salazar and Tovar analyzed the obstacles facing the project and their possible solutions, and agreed to hold another meeting in the coming weeks to assess progress.
Beatriz Salazar explained after the meeting that “Lanzarote cannot continue postponing an infrastructure that it needs and deserves. Having an auditorium, a congress palace, and an exhibition center means being at the level of what our island represents and can offer, opening doors to more culture, boosting business activity, and generating new employment opportunities. We have the potential; now we need a firm commitment to make it a reality”.
The meeting also allowed for the discussion of the difficulties that condition business activity in Lanzarote. Among these, the pressure of costs and inflation on business profitability, the surcharges derived from double insularity, and the need for aid adapted to the island's reality were addressed. Likewise, the importance of reducing bureaucracy and streamlining building and activity permits to facilitate investment was highlighted.
The lack of housing and its consequences for the hiring and retention of workers was another of the issues discussed, along with the shortage of qualified personnel and the impact of absenteeism. In this area, both pointed out the need to seek solutions through prevention and social dialogue.
Salazar and Tovar also analyzed the challenges that companies will have to face by 2027, such as the incorporation of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the training of talent demanded by the productive sector.
To support SMEs in this adaptation process, Beatriz Salazar highlighted the need to strengthen public-private collaboration and the possibility of establishing a monitoring committee to identify needs and coordinate support measures was considered.
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