The subsidy granted amounts to 18.8 million euros and has meant the maintenance of 2,569 direct jobs and the creation of 277 new jobs in the Region of Murcia.
Last year, the regional government encouraged business investment worth 152 million euros, thanks to the 22 Regional Incentives approved for companies in the Region, compared to seven in 2020. The subsidy granted amounts to 18.8 million euros, which has meant the maintenance of 2,569 direct jobs and the creation of 277 new jobs in the Region of Murcia.
These data were announced this morning by the Regional Minister for Enterprise, Employment, Universities and Spokesperson, Valle Miguélez, during a visit to the facilities of the company Nueva Cocina Mediterránea, one of the beneficiaries of the Regional Incentives programme, which is jointly managed by the Directorate of European Funds of the Ministry of Finance and the Instituto de Fomento (INFO).
The councillor also highlighted that the investment per project approved during the year 2021 was 6.9 million euros, with a subsidy per project exceeding 850,000 euros, while the average subsidy granted represents 12.4 percent of the total investment.
Miguélez, who highlighted the work and growth of Nueva Cocina Mediterránea, explained that direct subsidies such as those included in this programme “are an essential support for companies with this profile, as they undoubtedly allow them to make a qualitative leap in their innovative capacity, helping to increase their productivity and, consequently, their competitiveness”.
In terms of industrial activities, the projects presented in 2021 are in strategic areas for the Region, such as the agri-food sector, which last year had six aid applications approved, with a subsidy of 4.3 million euros, an investment of 32 million euros, and the creation of 102 jobs and the maintenance of 614.
On the other hand, the chemical industry received in 2021 a total of five aid files worth €3.9 million in direct subsidies, generating investments worth €44.5 million, with the creation of 25 jobs and 964 jobs maintained.
Finally, the councillor highlighted the need and importance for companies of specialised advice from organisations such as the Instituto de Fomento. In this sense, she explained that “programmes such as the Regional Incentives, which have demanding requirements, need to be processed correctly and accurately, so having the experience of the INFO to help speed up the procedures is a highly valued option for the business fabric of the Region, where, in addition, the INFO has a direct link with the Ministry of Finance in the case of these aids”.”
A benchmark in the food industry
New Mediterranean Cuisine is a pioneering company from Murcia in the production of 4th and 5th range products, initially aimed at catering and supermarkets. Nowadays, it has become one of the essential companies in the supply of food products.
For some years now, the company has been selected as a developer of new references for different companies, which has been a major challenge. Nueva Cocina Mediterránea supplies and develops new products of the highest quality and great added value for the main distribution companies in the country.
In 2020, it began a project to transform its production model, with the collaboration and support of the regional government, through INFO and Icref. This project is focused on a new system with the implementation of an operating model based on the principles of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things.
The company is currently immersed in an expansion project, adapting the facilities acquired in 2020 and transforming them into a food industry that is a national benchmark. The investments made by the company have made it possible to increase its workforce from 100 workers in 2020 to 180 today.
