During the closing session of the Alliance of Industrial Cities 2026, held in Bocairent, Rodríguez emphasized that identifying and tackling these challenges in isolation is unfeasible. The event, shared by Ontinyent, l'Olleria, and Bocairent, and coordinated by COEVAL, focused on adaptation to economic, social, and global changes.
The mayor advocated for consolidating the joint work initiated by the three municipalities and incorporating new stakeholders. He positively assessed debate forums like those of the Alliance, considering them an opportunity to better understand the issues affecting both local institutions and businesses.
Rodríguez recalled that the complexity of the challenges requires alliances that transcend the initiating localities. He proposed involving the provincial councils (diputacions) and the Generalitat Valenciana, as competencies often limit the scope of action for local councils. The aim is to engage agents capable of intervening in the territory's industrial and economic development.
“"The reality is that for us, as cities, it is very important to identify challenges. The only way to face them is, first, to identify them and then try to confront them, but doing so from solitude is materially impossible."
The closing session also featured contributions from Ramon Vidal (Mayor of l'Olleria), Xavier Molina (Mayor of Bocairent), and Javier Cabedo (President of COEVAL). All agreed on the relevance of territorial cooperation and collaboration between administrations and the private sector to address industrial changes.
Vidal stressed the importance of anticipating problems and adapting industrial areas and municipalities. Molina championed the concept of alliance against the trend towards individualism, while Cabedo highlighted that the sessions addressed industrial modernization, geopolitics, and the transformation of administrations to attract and retain talent.
The Bocairent session concluded the cycle that began on September 24 in l'Olleria and October 1 in Ontinyent. The final lecture, 'Industrial Cities Facing Change: Cooperation and Social Innovation to Transform the Territory,' was delivered by Mª José Vañó, a professor of Commercial Law at the University of Valencia, who expanded on the adaptation of administrations and new collaboration models.
