Commission approves support for Castile-Leon region of Spain On a proposal from Mrs Monika Wulf-Mathies, Member of the Commission responsible for regional policies and the Cohesion Fund, the Commission has approved a global grant of around ECU 12.9 million to enhance competitiveness in the province of Salamanca in the region of Castile-... On a proposal from Mrs Monika Wulf-Mathies, Member of the Commission responsible for regional policies and the Cohesion Fund, the Commission has approved a global grant of around ECU 12.9 million to enhance competitiveness in the province of Salamanca in the region of Castile-Leon, Spain. The ERDF assistance will contribute towards total public expenditure for the project of ECU 18.319 million. With this sum, it is intended to mobilize a further ECU 20.788 million from the private sector, bringing the total investment to ECU 39.107 million. The measure will cover the period 25 October 1994 to 31 December 1999. The assistance will cover the following: - Aid for investment in industry and craft trades (this aid is reserved for SMEs and covers direct aid and interest-rate subsidies); - Research and development measures to enhance the quality of production in the province's enterprises; - Aid for investment in services, in particular to provide support to the tertiary sector through direct aid or interest-rate subsidies; - Promotion of networks and local products (this is intended to promote the province's products externally); - Fairs and exhibitions (this will assist enterprises and associations participating in national and international trade events); - Aid for investment in tourism (this should develop more and better tourist facilities, with the focus on services which help to enhance the province's image externally); - Infrastructures for technological development, particularly in the multimedia sector and with regard to software for language learning and tourist services; - Centre for services to enterprises, providing a basic infrastructure for local businessmen. Countries Spain
