Cork industry to get a boost

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR (Agencies) Retecork is the Spanish acronym for the Red Europea de Territorios Corcheros, or European Network of Cork Territorieas, of which the Campo de Gibraltar is a large part. Retecork presents cork and its natural environment as the basis on which to build sustainable development in rural areas. As a result of the presentation, the Ministry of the Environment, through its Directorate General for the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas, has set aside what is hoped to be only an initial sum of €515,813, which is to be used to 'help consolidate the image and identity of the cork territories'. Action is to be taken in Cataluña, Castilla-La Mancha, Comunidad Valenciana and Extremadura, as well as in the Campo area, where Los Barrios is a founding member of Retecork, and members include Jimena and Castellar.> The objective is to seek out new opportunities for the industry, support its productive structure, improve operational skills among the labour force and to create new jobs through sustainable management of the cork oaks. Other more specific aims include supporting artistic and craft endeavours that use cork, improving links among museums and 'interpretation centres' throughout the country, and the creation of promotional campaigns aimed at improving awareness of the cork industry and environment and its development as a local rural economy.
(See How did that cork get in your bottle?)