The Mayor of Lucena, Aurelio Fernández, participated this Friday in the Climate Biennial held in Avilés, within the 'Industrial Cities' dialogue session. This forum brings together representatives from territories that have undergone transformations linked to industrial activity to share urban realities and strategies for productive model evolution.
The session, held at Parque de Ferrera, included interventions from public officials, economic agents, and society representatives. Alongside the mayor of Lucena, participants included Lucía Núñez (Territorial Delegate for Economy of the Junta de Andalucía in Huelva), Olga Morales (Mayor of Viladecans), and Manuel Campa (Urban Development Councilor of Avilés), moderated by Jaime Moreno Serna, professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
Aurelio Fernández highlighted Lucena's industrial trajectory as an example of economic development built on initiative, collective effort, and the entrepreneurial capacity of its social fabric. "Our secret to success was not the companies; the companies were the consequence. The secret lay with the people, with those who decided to start businesses," he stated.
The mayor argued that industry not only generates employment but is also part of a city's identity, creating a strong emotional bond between the progress of local companies and the overall advancement of the municipality. "When a company from Lucena opens new markets or creates jobs, we feel the entire city is moving forward," he noted, emphasizing the importance of trust and closeness between administration, businesses, educational centers, and civil society.
A central theme of his speech was the need to place talent and training at the core of industrial policies. "A company's biggest challenge is no longer selling anywhere in the world, but finding prepared individuals to continue growing," he indicated. Therefore, the current challenge for cities is "not just attracting companies or having more industrial land, but training people, awakening talent, and building cities where that talent wants to stay."
Fernández asserted that "the best industrial policy begins long before the industrial park: in school, in the family, in vocational training," citing the work done in Lucena in recent years to strengthen the relationship between companies, vocational training, universities, and educational centers, which fosters vocations and life projects.
The councilor also stressed the importance of understanding industry as part of a city's culture, memory, and urban landscape, advocating for collaboration so that young people "feel they don't have to leave to fulfill their dreams." His vision for Lucena's industrial future is summarized as: "Talent is not retained, talent is convinced," emphasizing continued belief in people, opening opportunities, and the facilitating role of the City Council.
The Avilés Climate Biennial, titled 'Ensayar lo inesperado' (Rehearsing the Unexpected), runs until September 20, 2026, using art and contemporary culture to address climate, industrial, and social challenges. It is supported by various ministries and regional/local entities.
