The Government of Aragon Launches «Aragón es Pyme» Network to Boost Local Development

The Government of Aragon has approved the decree that regulates the operation, organization, and registration of the Aragón es Pyme Network, an initiative aimed at boosting the socioeconomic development of the region through collaboration between local entities and businesses.

The Aragón es Pyme Network seeks to attract talent and business proposals that energize the entire Aragonese territory. Its purpose is to strengthen the role of local entities as engines of economic development by creating a support ecosystem for SMEs and entrepreneurs at the local level, enhancing institutional coordination among different levels of government and local stakeholders, as explained by Ana Sanz, Director General of SMEs and Self-Employed.

The Network will serve to promote and share success stories in municipalities for local economic development by supporting local entities that advocate for active policies to foster entrepreneurship, growth, and consolidation of small and medium-sized enterprises. Among its specific goals are to promote local economic development, identify and showcase best practices developed in the territory, assist municipalities in designing and implementing effective measures for the consolidation and growth of the business fabric, and create an active community of municipalities, regions, and provinces that share learnings and collaborate with the Government of Aragon to promote SMEs.

The decree establishes the Register of Adhered Entities to the Aragón es Pyme Network as a tool for visibility, monitoring, and transparency of the local entities that are part of the Network. The Register will be public and will contain the measures and lines of action committed to and implemented, as well as the annual monitoring reports submitted by the entity.

To ensure the proper functioning of the Network, a Monitoring Committee is created, composed of representatives of the Government of Aragon (Directorates General of Self-Employed and SMEs, Depopulation, and Local Administration), the Aragonese Institute of Promotion (IAF), the Aragonese Federation of Municipalities, Regions, and Provinces (FAMCP), and the Aragón Emprende Foundation.

The Government of Aragon will promote thematic forums and specific working spaces linked to the objectives and lines of action of the Network, with the aim of facilitating the exchange of experiences, analyzing common challenges, disseminating best practices, and formulating proposals aimed at boosting the Aragonese business fabric.

Participation and adherence requirements

Municipalities, regions, and provincial councils in Aragon that promote, develop, or plan to develop any of the established objectives may become part of the Aragón es Pyme Network. Non-institutional organizations that carry out activities of interest to promote entrepreneurship, support SMEs, or stimulate local economic dynamics may also participate as collaborating entities. Collaborating entities may include business associations, chambers of commerce, foundations, or other non-profit entities that actively collaborate with municipalities in developing activities to support SMEs.

To join the Network, local entities must demonstrate lines of action such as administrative simplification and favorable tax measures for SMEs. They must also show their commitment to promoting generational change, by participating in business transfer or intergenerational entrepreneurship programs, including local business banks, support for new owners, and housing measures. Other lines of action include promoting digital transformation plans directed at self-employed individuals, local businesses, and SMEs, as well as supporting local trade, agri-food businesses, and craftsmanship, with assistance to traditional sectors that add territorial value through fairs, aid, campaigns, or advisory services.

Context of the Aragonese business fabric

99.86% of Aragonese companies are self-employed and small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which employ more than 98,000 people. The Aragonese business fabric is characterized by a high presence of SMEs, which constitute a fundamental pillar for economic development, territorial cohesion, and job creation in Aragon.