Acemce has recently been active at two local events. The first of these was the VII Manilva International Festival held on the Paseo Maritimo in Sabinillas.

Coming just one week after the Association’s launch, Acemce had a stand on which it took the opportunity to provide information on the Association’s activities and sign up new members. As thanks for providing Acemce with this opportunity, and in line with the aim to contribute and collaborate on events such as this, the Association secured the services of, and paid for, the Gibraltar Sea Scouts Pipe Band which led the parade on the Sunday much to the delight of onlookers who expressed their thanks for their appearance.

The following week Acemce collaborated in the ‘Tarde Romantica’, an evening of music and culture, at which the Association also had a stand where members could promote their individual businesses as well as the Association itself. The evening proved a great success, with Acemce contributing a football signed by Iker Cassilas and provided by Seguros Groupama, to the prize draw. As nobody appeared to have the winning ticket it was decided to throw the ball into the crowd, this act being performed by Gary Walters, President of Acemce.

These events are proving a valuable opportunity to promote the Business Association and also providing members the opportunity to promote their businesses to the public.

Acemce committee members also used these occasions to talk to numerous local businesses about their concerns which included the current economic downturn and reduced spending power of their customers, the financial problems at the Town Hall which is creating problems for those businesses with which it is in debt to. Other issues are the policing of the area with some ‘trouble spots’ reflecting badly on the image of the area.

There is concern also about the out-of-town retail parks which draw consumers away from local commerce, this particularly affects boutiques, shoeshops, computers and electrical retailers, who often have comparable prices and better service. Another bone of contention is the high costs of setting up in business, either as self employed or as a company, with social security payments, shop and office rentals, telephone and internet services, opening licenses amongst issues raised.

There were also many ideas put forward, with a bridge over the Rio Manilva connecting the urbanisation of Marina de Casares with the promenade in Sabinillas; an expansion of the Mercado del Mar along the whole promenade; offsetting of taxes, IBI, opening licences, etc against Town Hall debt to local businesses, courses in Business English for Spanish speakers and Spanish for non-Spanish speakers, being amongst the many topics brought to the Association’s attention.

With these topics in mind the Association is requesting meetings with the various departments responsible, Commerce, Tourism and Image, etc., so that we can present these points and other questions and proposals to them.

This group of businessmen will continue to work to bring the interests of local commerce to the attention of all relevant institutions so that they can rest assured that their voice will be heard. This point is reinforced by the fact that ACEMCE is also a member of the Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga (CEM) and the Confederación de Empresarios de Andalucía (CEA) and has also made contact with neighbouring associations in the Campo de Gibraltar and Estepona.

The Association is also working on a number of initiatives with various departments of the Junta de Andalucia, particularly in the area of business formation, legal advice, employment, grants, etc., and will be holding a number of workshops over the coming months.