The Auditorium of the Mar de Vigo Congress Palace was the venue for the VI ARDÁN Awards Gala, an event organized by the Vigo Free Trade Zone which brought together more than 450 representatives from the business, economic, political and social spheres of Galicia. The ceremony, a benchmark in recognition of the Galician business excellence, highlighted the companies' efforts, innovation, and contribution to regional development.
The event, hosted by actress and creator Alejandra Martínez de Miguel, crowned Roeirasa, a company from Vigo, as the leader in the ranking of award-winning companies six ARÁN indicators. Along with it, other renowned firms were distinguished such as Spanish Seaweed Company y Hermasa (both from the Vigo area); Aluman Systems, Igalia and Torus Software Solutions (from the province of A Coruña); and Cuvida (from San Cibrao das Viñas).
Special Lifetime Achievement Award: Stellantis, Motor de Galicia
One of the most emotional moments of the night was the delivery of the Special Award for Business Achievement to StellantisThe car company was applauded for its role as a benchmark in the economy and industrial engine of southern Galicia, as well as for its contribution to population settlement, development and social well-being in the Vigo region.
David Regades, Special Delegate of the State in the Free Trade Zone, warmly congratulated all the award-winning companies, describing the Gala as "the most representative of the economy in Galicia"Regades emphasized the difficulty of achieving these recognitions, noting that "analysis has been conducted 45.000 Galician companies and only the 3% have achieved indicatorsThe delegate emphasized his view of "This is the real Galicia, the one that manufactures electric and connected cars, the one that makes satellites, the technological Galicia, the one of photonic semiconductors or new industrial sectors, and which is at the forefront of the world."
Regades also announced major future projects, such as the upcoming installation of the Foundation stone of the photonic semiconductor factory and the bidding of the López Mora ICT Hub this same year. Regarding Stellantis, he highlighted its crucial impact: "it is the one that generates the 21% of the city's economy and 12% of employment in the entire regionThis Special Award is also a recognition of all the workers at the most productive plant in Europe."
José Luis Alonso Mosquera, general manager of Stellantis Vigo, received the award from David Regades and Mayor Abel Caballero. Mosquera highlighted the "a highly effective cooperative model" of the automotive sector in Galicia and the "successful public-private collaboration"He stated that the company's challenge remains "efficiency and competitiveness," and that the collaborative model is "fundamental to ensuring our future."
For his part, the mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, congratulated both Stellantis and the other award-winning companies, emphasizing the importance of ARDÁN's work as "an irreplaceable guide for understanding and using all companies in Galicia".
The Gala also offered an enriching discussion on the digital age, new technology sectors, talent management and business leadership, moderated by Ana Fuentes and featuring experts such as Silvia Leal and Tati Ballesteros, as well as the CEO of Alén Space, Guillermo Lamelas.