La Xunta insta a Amazon a promover el comercio local gallego y educar a los jóvenes.
The minister for Employment, Commerce, and Emigration, José González, expressed to Amazon that it is the «enemy» of local Galician commerce, which is why he is working to «educate» young people to «encourage them to shop in local stores» instead of online.
During a parliamentary appearance, González discussed the Galicia 2025-2030 strategic commerce plan, which was presented at the end of March by the Xunta and includes 320 million euros for 74 specific actions in a sector that comprises 32,000 businesses and 107,000 jobs.
In the debate, BNG deputy Carmela González Iglesias highlighted that one in three of Spain’s large commercial areas were built in Galicia, which she described as a «brutality.» She called for the Xunta to declare the region as a «saturated area» and implement a moratorium on the construction of large shopping centers.
The Minister defended that large commercial areas are «detrimental to Galician commerce,» as they take away business from local stores. He contrasted this with Amazon, which «creates some jobs» but ultimately exploits local stores by turning them into their own. He referred to Amazon as the «enemy.»
Therefore, the Minister of Commerce advocates for «educating young people» and personally tries to do so with his three children. He emphasized that buying online contributes to the concentration of wealth in certain parts of the world, especially where major tech companies are based.
José González stressed that this «ambitious» strategy represents a significant step towards the future of commerce in Galicia. He highlighted the extensive participation of 300 sector representatives in its development.
Among other issues, the focus is on the «local» campaign, targeting young people aged 12 to 18 to foster strong connections with local businesses. Various measures are in place to enhance competitiveness, including promoting digitalization, modernizing offerings, supporting open shopping centers, and increasing professional training.
Efforts are also being made to synergize with local businesses and attract strategic talent, such as young people, to ensure sustainability. A new commercial voucher will also be launched.
On a different note, BNG’s Carmela González Iglesias criticized significant shortcomings in the strategy, noting the closure of over 9,000 small businesses during the 16 years of the PP’s tenure in the Xunta. She highlighted the need for a new commercial law in Galicia to align with current market trends.
In conclusion, the Minister reiterated the importance of the strategy for the future of commerce in Galicia and emphasized the need for dialogue with local representatives to ensure its success.
FUENTE
