In association with

OCTOBER 26th - NOVEMBER 1st

THE COST OF THE EURO

Companies in the Málaga province will have to invest an estimated 40,000 million pesetas in measures to allow them to use the new Euro currency.

According to the General Secretary of the Málaga Businessman's Confederation, Javier Gonzalez de Lara, the figure had been reached after several studies had been carried out locally and presented between a half per cent and two per cent of total local business turnover.

SMALL BUSINESSES STILL UNPREPARED

Businesses in the computer and finance sector were those generally most advanced with their changeover plans, while many small shops had yet to start their preparations. Calling for more information to be made available to businesses, Gonzalez de Lara said that the Malaga's Businessman's Confederation would be continuing with its series of seminars on the matter, of which 14 had been held so far this year.

COMPUTER UPDATE

Several matters must be resolved in order to trade in Euros. Accounting software must be installed, capable of rounding up or down numbers and coping with the period where both currencies will be in use. The social capital of business has to be shown in Euros in the Mercantile Registry, cash registers have to be adapted and staff must be retrained in the use of the new currency.

EURO COUNTDOWN

Spain will convert to the Euro as a parallel currency on January 1, 2002. The previously designated six-month changeover period was amended earlier this year by the European Commission, and will now see the Euro becoming Spain's sole currency on April 1, 2002.

WASHING IRVING LEGACY

Towns in Málaga Province have been included in a new tourist route created in honour of Washington Irving, the American Romantic author famous for "Tales of Alhambra" who visited Andalucia in 1829. The idea comes from the tourist department of regional government, had a budget of 105 million pesetas and will create 200 jobs.

The new tour will be included in the "Legado Andalusi" promotion and covers 23 towns along its 250-kilometre route - Sevilla, Alcalá de Guadaira, Comona, Marchena, Ecija, Osuna, Estepa, La Roda de Andalucia, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, Mollina, Antequera, Archidona, Loja, Huétor-Tájar, Moraleda de Zafayona, Alhama de Granada, Montefrio, Illora, Fuente Vaqueros, Chachina, Sante Fe and Granada. In each of these towns and villages information posts will be established and 120 further signs will be placed alone the route which the tourist office says can be undertaken by car, bicycle or even on foot. It will be officially launched to the public and press tomorrow (Friday).

MORE WATER FOR MÁLAGA

Unless there are any last minute hold-ups, work will start shortly on enlarging La Concepción dam in the hills behind Marbella. The work will take three years and is part of "Plan Málaga" recently announced by the Hydrographic Confederation.

Waters from the Guadalmansa, Guadalmina and Guadaiza rivers are currently diverted into the dam. The increased capacity will allow waters to be stored from heavy rainfalls to be used in times of drought without having to release any surplus into the Rio Verde. Currently the dam is at 76.1 per cent of capacity but has been as low a s 42.1 per cent.

ONDA CERA INTERNATIONAL SCOPPS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

Onda Cero International in Marbella has been awarded one of the most coveted of all media awards in Spain. For its work in helping foreigners to integrate into Spanish daily life and society, OCI has scooped the Premio Ondas 2000 for the best local radio station in Spain.

"I am euphoric that the dedication of our multi-lingual, multi-cultural team has been recognised," said Onda Cero Marbella Director, Jose Navajas. "It has been a hard ten years establishing OCI and shaping the service that it offers, so I am delighted that our work is being recognised with such a prestigious prize2.

Jose Navajas founded Onda Cero International ten years ago, and has been the driving force behind the 24 hour service. OCI's coverage includes a daily local and national news programme in English, "Buenos Dias" and regular English commentary on Malaga FC matches. The seven English language presenters bring a mix of information, music and entertainment to the channel, while the Scandinavian team offers valued coverage to their nationals living on the Coast. The channel's output is shortly to be augmented by an hour of German broadcasting in the afternoons.

The Premios Ondas 2000 will be awarded in a glittering ceremony in Barcelona in early November.

TRANSPORT BUSINESS BOOM

Transport companies using the CTM Merchant Transport Centre in Málaga have seen their turnover increase eightfold over the last three years, according to the centre's annual report. More than 2,000 people are now employed at the site where more than a thousand heavy and light weight vehicles are based.

FOUR STARS FOR MIJAS

Inversiones Turisticas Torrenueva .S.L has plans for a four star, 200 room hotel to be built on a 9,000 square metre site at Torrenueva on Mijas Costa, if approved by Mijas Town Hall the company will invest 1,800 million pesetas in the project.

HOSPITAL INCREASE

The Costa del Sol Regional Hospital at Marbella treated 28,968 cases in the three months from July to September, an increase of 2,000 on the previous year. Traffic accidents accounted for the largest number of patients. In the inland town of Ronda a project has been drawn up to create another regional health area based on the Hospital General Básico de la Serrania.

THE BIG ORANGE

The town of San Martin del Tesorillo, near Sotogrande, has just held its first Feria Agritec 2000 - fair dedicated to the orange. The area of the Valle del Guadiaro, in which San Martin is situated, produces 60,000 tons of oranges a year - that's 80 per cent of the total produce in Cadiz province.

DO IT YOURSELF

Good news for home improvement and do-it-yourself addicts. Leroy Merlin and Factory plan to have huge stores opened by Christmas next year. They will be sited on the Palmones III industrial estate at Los Barrios next to the N-340.

PREPARING FOR PICASSO

The specialist construction company has been called in to strengthen the walls of the Buenavista Palace in Málaga city centre. The renovation work is needed to house the future Picasso Museum and comes following excavation work in the grounds which has revealed archaeological remains. The Picasso Museum, containing 186 of the Málaga painter's works, is due to open at the end of the year 2002.

ON THE ROAD

In the past year, an average of 60,000 vehicles a day was recorded as using the N-340 at Fuengirola. When the 17,000 using the Autopista del Sol is taken into account the total is 76,229. In Marbella, work has started on a new bypass to link Cortijo Blanco with Guadalmina to help alleviate the San Pedro roundabout bottleneck. The traffic authorities have announced that the flyover and junction to link Estepona with the proposed Estepona-Guadiaro motorway will cost 1,300 million pesetas.

TAKING THE LID OFF

Fuengirola town Hall has spent three years working on a plan to restore the site of the Roman "Finca del Secretario", which included a cover for the baths. However, the Provincial Culture Delegation have modified the plans stating the non-necessity of the covers. A final agreement form the regional government is expected at the end of the month.

NO NEW RAILS

The central government has rejected the proposal made by izquierda Unida deputy, José Luis Centella, to extend the Málaga - Fuengirola railway to Algeciras in an effort to include the Costa del Sol in the national and international rail network.