Galicia and Gipuzkoa Strengthen Economic Competitiveness Through Social Economy and Community Values
Gipuzkoa and Galicia emphasize blending economic competitiveness with social economy and community values, boosting sustainable regional development.
- • Gipuzkoa’s Ipuskoa 1025-2025 program links community values with economic competitiveness amid global challenges.
- • Galician Xunta announces 2026 corporate social responsibility strategy and supports social economy programs with €10.6 million.
- • Experts stress inclusive prosperity through social infrastructure and shared company projects.
- • Initiatives focus on sustainability and labor well-being in SMEs and microenterprises.
Key details
On November 20, 2025, regional initiatives in Galicia and Gipuzkoa highlighted the integration of economic competitiveness with community and social economy values, underscoring strategic commitments to sustainable and inclusive growth.
In Gipuzkoa, the Diputación Foral hosted the second session of the Ipuskoa 1025-2025 program, attended by over 150 participants. The event focused on harnessing economic competitiveness to serve the community in a globalized economy. Unai Andueza, Deputy for Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects, stressed that linking community values with economic competitiveness is vital for the future well-being of the territory. Experts from various universities, including Stephan Garelli and Josu Ferreiro Aparicio, emphasized the challenges and opportunities of merging community cohesion with business competitiveness amidst global instability. Representatives from Grupo Gureak, Orbinox Group, and Mondragón Unibertsitatea illustrated how a strong community sense influences local business competitiveness. The session concluded with Sarah Chaytor advocating for building inclusive prosperity through social infrastructure, while Eider Mendoza highlighted the importance of reinforcing companies as shared projects to foster responsible, equitable communities.
Simultaneously, in Galicia, Secretary General Pablo Fernández and Director General Marta Mariño participated in the fifth edition of 'Cafés con aroma a economía social,' organized by the Forum for Social Economy in Galicia. They highlighted the convergence of social economy, governance, and sustainability within the region’s economy. Fernández announced a new corporate social responsibility strategy for 2026 aimed at adapting to labor market changes, praising the ongoing 'Responsabilízate' program that promotes sustainability in SMEs and microenterprises with a focus on labor well-being. Mariño highlighted the social economy’s resilience in creating inclusive opportunities. The Xunta’s 2026 budget dedicates €10.6 million to bolster key social economy initiatives such as Aprol Economía Social, ES-Transforma, and ES-Factory.
Together, these initiatives from Gipuzkoa and Galicia demonstrate Spain's regional commitment to combining economic growth with community-centered, socially responsible strategies to address contemporary economic and social transformations.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.