The Camp de Tarragona region has added seven municipalities and established a new agency aimed at attracting investments. This initiative seeks to enhance competitiveness and streamline industrial planning.
The Camp de Tarragona region is set to transform its economic landscape following the recent approval of a new metropolitan agency designed to attract investments. The Assembly of the Association for Metropolitan Development voted on Tuesday to create the Metropolitan Agency for Competitiveness and Investment Attraction, which will focus on unifying bureaucratic management and strategically planning industrial land.
With the addition of seven municipalities—Altafulla, els Pallaresos, la Pobla de Mafumet, el Catllar, Creixell, els Garidells, and Vespella de Gaià—the metropolitan area now encompasses a total of fourteen localities. Roc Muñoz, president of the association and mayor of La Canonja, emphasized that this expansion is just the beginning. “We are not stopping here; more municipalities will likely join in upcoming assemblies,” he stated.
Muñoz also reassured stakeholders that the new agency would operate under the existing association framework without adding unnecessary bureaucracy. Plans are underway to establish a legal framework that will provide stability for the agency’s operations. “We want to start with concrete initiatives: branding, website development, presentation materials, asset portfolios for the territory, land maps, opportunities for European projects, metropolitan indicators, and useful tools for municipalities,” he elaborated.
The primary goal is clear: “to attract investments,” as articulated by Tarragona’s mayor Rubén Viñuales. He further noted that this initiative aims to position Camp de Tarragona as a leading hub in southern Europe for competitiveness, innovation, green transition, and quality of life. This vision draws inspiration from successful models in cities like Gothenburg in Sweden and Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Reus Mayor Sandra Guaita highlighted that they have already been functioning as a metropolitan area informally but stressed the need for formal tools to enhance efficiency. “We need these resources to operate more effectively,” she remarked.
Looking ahead, Muñoz pointed out that drafting a new law governing the metropolitan area will be essential but cautioned that it could take time—citing Barcelona’s lengthy process which took six or seven years as an example. He urged patience among stakeholders as they navigate this complex legislative journey.
This strategic move not only aims at boosting local economies but also seeks to create an environment conducive to sustainable growth and innovation across all member municipalities. As plans develop over the coming months regarding specific projects and initiatives within this framework, residents can expect updates on how these changes may impact their communities directly.
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