During the conference ‘Defense as a lever for the reindustrialization of the province of Jaén’, held at the Jaén Exhibition and Congress Palace, Reyes underscored the transformative impact of CETEDEX. This forum, organized by the UGT-FICA Federation of Industry, Construction and Agri-food, highlighted how the center is positioning Jaén on the defense industry map.
“"Analyzing the opportunities that a center like CETEDEX represents for a province like ours, from a business perspective, I believe is a success. CETEDEX is a driving project that attracts companies, will generate employment, will generate wealth, and positions Jaén on the map of the defense industry."
The president of the Provincial Council emphasized Jaén's rich industrial tradition, often overshadowed by the image of olive groves. He noted that the industrial sector holds a similar weight to agriculture in the provincial economy and job creation. Jaén's economic diversification ranges from the olive oil and agri-food industries to metalworking, transport, plastics, renewable energies, additive manufacturing, the wood industry, and new technologies, a landscape reinforced by the security and defense industry and CETEDEX itself.
Reyes reported that over 140 companies have expressed interest in the CETEDEX project through the Attraction and Support Office, a joint initiative with the Confederation of Business Owners of Jaén. He also highlighted the crucial role of the University of Jaén in attracting talent and innovation, being a fundamental asset for the province's selection as the CETEDEX headquarters.
This reindustrialization process, driven by the defense industry, is not an isolated phenomenon in Jaén but is fostering a paradigm shift in industrial development across the region and other territories. The province of Jaén has joined the Ruta de la Plata Industrial Corridor, which stretches from Asturias south to Andalucía, aiming to create an alliance that strengthens this reindustrialization.
Juan Latorre, first vice-president and deputy for Institutional Relations, along with Manuel Fernández, sub-delegate of the Government in Jaén, and Domingo Ocaña, general secretary of UGT FICA Jaén, also participated in the inauguration. Latorre mentioned companies such as Escribano, FMG, SAPA Placencia, Sicnova, and Meltio, which have either established themselves or shown interest in the province, solidifying the industrial and technological ecosystem generated by CETEDEX.
“"CETEDEX will be fully operational by mid-2028, and we believe that large companies in the sector will generate employment, and that employment will cascade down to small and medium-sized enterprises."
Domingo Ocaña predicted that CETEDEX will be fully operational by mid-2028, creating jobs in both large companies and SMEs. José Manuel Rodríguez, general secretary of UGT FICA Andalucía, emphasized the importance of the Spanish Government's implementation of CETEDEX, given the relevance of the defense industry in the current geopolitical context and the commitment to increasing investment in this sector, offering new employment opportunities for Jaén's youth.
