Catalan business leaders urge Sánchez to boost infrastructure investment and cut red tape

Catalan business leaders have called on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for more investment in strategic infrastructure and a reduction in excessive bureaucracy.

The request was made during a meeting held on Thursday at the historic Llotja de Mar building in Barcelona, attended by the presidents of the thirteen Chambers of Commerce in Catalonia, the general director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Inma Riera, and four other Catalan business leaders. 

At the meeting, Sánchez praised the "important role" of the Catalan chambers of commerce play in economic and industrial leadership, and expressed his willingness to work with the Catalan government to ensure that Catalonia "returns to the historic position" it has always held in the Spain's major transformations, according to a Spanish government statement.

For its part, the General Council of Chambers conveyed to Sánchez the main concerns of the Catalan business community, such as reducing bureaucracy and improving productivity.

The heads of the Catalan chambers urged Sánchez to take decisive action on some of the country's pressing challenges, including the housing crisis.

The chambers also complained about the "chronic deficit" of investment in infrastructure that Catalonia suffers from, emphasizing projects such as the Mediterranean rail corridor, Barcelona-El Prat Airport, and the Rodalies commuter rail network, which, they said, require "close collaboration between administrations."