PRESS RELAESES

• 428 entrepreneurs have voted at the PIMEC head office, this represents a 9% increase with regard to the previous elections.
• One of Josép González’s objectives is to influence in order to one again become competitive, increasing belief in industrial economy and making SMEs become economic and social promoters, as well as the main generators of jobs. 
• The president wants to expand the presence of the employers’ organisation in terms of territories and sectors.

Josep González i Sala has been re-elected as the president of PIMEC. His was the only candidacy presented for these elections of the employers’ organisation, the fourth for Josep González, after the merger of the Catalonian employers’ organisations PIMEC and SEFES in July 1997. In this new term, 71 entrepreneurs and representatives of business associations will accompany Josep González, of these 40% are new members. A total of 428 entrepreneurs, 9% more than in the last elections, voted during a session which took place from 10.00 to 13.00 at the PIMEC head office in Barcelona.

During the past four years, PIMEC has had to face a significant global economic recession, which has drastically decreased the business community and its competitiveness. During this period, the employers’ organisation has been one of the first economic agents to help and brought to light the consequences this crisis would have on the businesses and to highlight the main problem which the SMEs suffer, the lack of credit available from banks and savings' banks, which has enabled many businesses from surviving.

In order to highlight the importance of the SMEs and self-employed workers in the Catalonian and Spanish society, PIMEC led the gathering on 26 March 2009 in Madrid, in front of the Congress of Deputies. On this day, the members of parliament were handed the proposals from the SMEs and self-employed workers. Having participated in the constitution and implementation of the Multi-sector Platform against Dilatoriness, thanks to which changes have been made to Law 3/2004 of measures to fight against dilatoriness in commercial operations, which will undoubtedly entail shorter payment periods for commercial transactions. The employers’ organisation has worked on creating alliances, creating the PIMEC Acció Social Foundation, consolidating Autònoms PIMEC and creating the organisation's bylaws, as well as continuing the expansion and regional presence. PIMEC has participated in several national agreements, in the Law on Prevention and Environmental Control of Activities, has developed new services for its members, etc.

The following are a few of the objectives Josep González has set for the new terms:

• Continue to help SMEs, self-employed workers and businesses during this crisis, which will unfortunately last some time longer. Provide help in all business scopes: financing, consultancy, internationalisation, innovation, training,… 
• To influence in a change of sustainable model, which can enable businesses to one again become competitive, increasing belief in industrial economy and making SMEs become economic and social promoters, as well as the main generators of jobs. 
• Reinforce the message sent to the governments and politicians, who have a duty towards SMEs and fighting for them. Looking back over history, we can see this has not been fulfilled, although Europe has recently started to do so. 
• Expand PIMEC’s presence, in terms of territories and sectors. 
• Promote new international, national and regional alliances. 
• Transform the map of the employers’ organisation for SMEs to have more presence and more specific influence. In this sense, it is not a priority for the employers’ organisation to seek an agreement with Promotion for Employment. 
• See that the new Arrears Law is applied and upheld among businesses, as well as among public administrations.

Next steps
During the first meeting held by the Management Board, on 9 November, Josep González will present his proposal for members of the Executive Committee, regional presidents and regional offices, as well the different sectors and Fundació PIMEC. The corresponding presidents will time until 14 January 2011 to present their proposals for the members that will become part of their management bodies. The general secretary will also be appointed during the first meeting of the Executive Committee, on 16 November.

PLEASE NOTE: We have attached the list of members who are part of the entity’s new Management Board  and photographs of the president voting today at PIMEC’s elections.