AVE The Engine of Ciudad Real (Note, this is an informal translation of the information presented by Ms. Rosario Roncero Garcia-Carpintero, 9:30-10:30 am)

AVE, The Engine of Ciudad Real The construction of AVE in 1992 put Ciudad Real on the map – only a 50 minute ride to the heart of Madrid. One of the first small cities in Spain with access to a high-speed train The benefits of AVE to Ciudad Real have surpassed expectations, making it an attractive city in which to live, visit and invest. AVE has increased the pride of the citizens of Ciudad Real in their own town.

Ciudad Real-A Strategic Enclave The extraordinary geographic location of Ciudad Real, on a flat area in the middle of the peninsula and linked to important communications infrastructure, make it an unrivaled strategic location in Spain. By 2010, Ciudad Real plans to have three freeways and one toll road, in addition to two already existing roadways.

Ciudad Real-A Strategic Enclave AVE is a symbol of progress, modernity, and quality of life for those Ciudad Real residents who work in Madrid, or vice-versa. An average of 800,000 travelers use the AVE service because of its excellent quality to cost ratio. This service provides more than 10 trains daily between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Ciudad Real’s position has been further enhanced by the construction of the first private international airport for public use, which, in conjunction with AVE, connects Ciudad Real to the world.

AVE’s Impact on Population & Economy The city’s proximity to Madrid as a result of AVE has resulted in a significant increase in population. – In the last decade, Ciudad Real’s population has increased by 15%, more than the growth experienced by the province (6%) and the community (13%) AVE had also increased the development of services associated with events such as fairs and conferences, competing with Madrid with lower costs, cultural sites and culinary offerings.

AVE’s Impact, Continued Ciudad Real’s economic growth can be seen in various indicators. For example: – The city’s market share has increased my more than 6 points. – Ciudad Real appears in the annual economic publication La Caixa 2009 as the Spanish city with the greatest capacity to attract commerce.

AVE’s Impact, Continued The growth that AVE has brought to Ciudad Real has not changed its unique identity. Its enduring characteristics include: – A high quality of life and public safety – m 2 of green area per person, 976,875 m 2 of parks, and 15,000 trees throughout the city – 27 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, 8 professional schools, a major university, a music conservatory, a language school, a network of libraries, and private education centers. – 18 pediatric centers, 5 nursing homes, and a modern hospital complex – An average of 1,000 new homes built per year, and a below average cost of living

AVE’s Impact on Tourism One of the sectors most influenced by AVE is tourism, which has seen an increase of over 200% Visitors to Ciudad Real by City of Origin

AVE’s Impact on Tourism The variety of dining and tourism activities from has increased by almost 40% The construction of a new hotel and casino with over 800 rooms and convention space will further expand the city’s offerings A golf course with practice center is only 3.5 km from Ciudad Real

Building an Industrial Base The city has created a high-quality industrial base, offering advanced services to businesses: – Oretania Industrial Area: More than 1 million square meters at the intersection of two freeways, and near the AVE station. – Castilla-la Mancha Advanced Industrial Park: 220,000 square meters, minutes from the AVE station, and with a direct exit to the future A-42 freeway.

Ciudad Real Central Airport The first private international airport in Spain 4,000 x 60 m runway and 3,000 m taxiway Three terminals: – Passenger terminal that accommodates 2 million passengers per year – Cargo terminal for both cold storage and dry goods – General aviation terminal Future plans to create an AVE terminal in the airport for passengers to connect directly to Madrid.

Questions?