"Every new section of highway we open represents a new axis of prosperity for us all", says Mariano Rajoy

Agoncillo (La Rioja)

In his speech, the President of the Government stressed that improving infrastructure not only means undertaking major projects but, above all, it is about bringing people together, providing regional structure and opening a channel for fostering exchange in the best interests of all. He said that the road opened on Monday is good news "for La Rioja, for Navarre and for Spain as a whole because every new section of highway that we open represents a new axis for the prosperity of all".

Investment has been maintained in spite of the economic difficulties

Besides highlighting the "excellent" collaboration between the various administration services to develop this project, Mariano Rajoy said that, in spite of the constraints, an effort is being made "on productive infrastructures in social and economic areas with a view to enhancing regional cohesion and improving quality of life for the people". Furthermore, "it is a key factor in competitiveness", he said.

Gobierno de La RiojaIn this regard, the President of the Government insisted that the Government of Spain's main objectives have been, and continue to be, economic growth and job creation because they are essential factors in being able to maintain the great pillars of the Welfare State. He also said that Spain is entering "a different period" and recalled that, in 2015, Spain will grow by at least 2.4% and create more jobs than last year.

Mariano Rajoy also stressed that Spain is one of the EU countries with the best infrastructures, both road and rail, and indeed one of the most advanced anywhere in the world.

La Rioja, the autonomous region posting the highest growth in 2014

Mariano Rajoy congratulated La Rioja because it was the autonomous region posting the highest economic growth in 2014. According to data published by the National Statistics Institute (Spanish acronym: INE) on Friday, La Rioja grew by 2.5% while Spain as a whole grew by 1.4%.

Gobierno de La RiojaThe President of the Government also recalled that the Ministry of Public Works has invested 338 million euros in La Rioja during the course of this legislature, with 165 million euros just on improving its road network. The Ministry of Public Works has thus met its investment commitment to this autonomous region, said the President of the Government. He went on to mention such important milestones as the already open Camino de Santiago Motorway and others that will be opened shortly, such as the AP-68 project (between Arrubal and Navarrete) and the improvement works on the N-232 (Briones, Fuenmayor and Villar de Arnedo by-passes).