Weaknesses 1.Extreme temperatures. Sometimes there are periods with drought and in spring or autumn there are torrential rains with floods. 2. The natural barrier in the south is an obstacle for the communication with Barcelona. 3.Salinity of agricultural lands due to the salt mining waste. 4.High water consumption for domestic use: 177 litres/hab/d. 5.Increase of vehicles pollution. 6.External energetic dependence. 7.Scanty tourist promotion. Sun tourists stay on the coastal areas. 8.Extensive secondary forest of low quality.

Strengths 1.Strategic location in the middle of Catalonia. 2.Climate: Mild and slight risk of natural disasters. 3.Relief: good communications in the plain. 4.Montserrat: attraction from the geological and biological point of view, besides the spiritual one. 5.Good atmospheric quality 6. Large amount of water thanks to the canal La Sèquia. 7. There is enough available surface of land for the growth of both towns and new industrial areas. 9.Important mining.

SOCIAL&ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Economy …and Crisis begins… GDP Bages Services is the first economic sector

Number of Bages companies Economy Most of the companies are in the service sector

Agriculture Farming Stabled farming: pigs, cows and poultry. Unirrigated agriculture: cereals (wheat, barley, sunflower), vineyards and olive trees. Irrigated agriculture: various kinds of vegetables, only for local market (1.000 Ha around La Sèquia). Agricultural industry There are 158 companies. People working in primary sector (%, 2001)

Industry MAIN ACTIVITIESNUMBER Energy and Water97 Chemical and Mechanical106 Mechanical transformation715 Agricultural industry158 Textiles434 Editing and Furnitures341 Unclassified Industry104 TOTAL1955 SIGNIFICANT COMPANIES Energy and Water: -Aigües de Manresa, S.A -Fecsa Endesa, S.A Chemical and Mechanical: -Metalbages, S.A Mechanical transformation: -Foneria Condals, S.A Agricultural industry: -Escorxador comarcal del Bages, S.ATextiles: -Algodones del Bages, S.A Editing and Furnitures: - Versatil, S.A

Bages companies evolution Percentage of companies for number of workers Industry Predominant medium-sized and small companies

Industrial areas

Industrial areas (% of land)

Infrastructures, transport and communications

There are 354 companies related to transport and comunications. There are two rail companies: RENFE (Spanish rail network) and FGC (Catalan rail network). The main mass media are regió7 (the main newspaper), TVM and Canal Taronja (two local televisions). Infrastructures, transport and communications

Financial Services There are 174 branches of banks. Managing companies Managing agencies: 52 ETT: 12 Publicity agents: 6 Shops&business services Service companies: 5483 Shops: 2710 Supermarkets: 26 Weekly street markets: Artès – Wednesday Avinyó - Wednesday Callús – Wednesday Cardona – Sunday Castellbell i el Vilar - Wednesday El Pont de Vilomara i Rocafort – Monday Manresa - Tuesday Moià – Sunday Navarcles – Friday Navàs – Saturday Sallent – Sunday Sant Fruitós de Bages - Tuesday Sant Joan de Vilatorrada – Thursday Sant Salvador de Guardiola – Sunday Sant Vicenç de Castellet – Friday Sant Vicenç de Castellet - Friday Súria – Saturday Main shopping areas: Els Trullols (Manresa) Passeig Pere III, Carrer Àngel Guimerà, Carrer Born, Carrer Nou. (Manresa) Sant Isidre. (Sant Fruitós de Bages) There are good finantial services

Trade Fairs

Tourist sites : Montserrat: Montserrat mountain. Món Sant Benet: Sant Benet ancient monastery. La Cova de Sant Ignasi. La Seu: cathedral. El Casino: modernist art in Manresa. Castell de Cardona: medieval castle. Castell de Balsareny: medieval castle. La Sèquia and Parc de la Sèquia: medieval canal and facilities. El Pont Vell: ancient roman bridge. Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac: Natural Reserve Parc Cultural Muntanya de Sal de Cardona: ancient salt mine Jaciment del Cogulló:archaeological site