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The south of Madrid prepares for a new industrial hub that will change the job market
Madrid is developing an industrial district in the south. New training centres and drones. More opportunities for neighbourhoods and businesses. The change will affect the automotive, defence, and aerospace sectors.
The south of Madrid is about to undergo a shift in its productive landscape. The Comunidad de Madrid has announced the creation of the Distrito Industrial Sur, an initiative aimed at transforming working and business life in municipalities such as Leganés y Fuenlabrada. The goal is clear: to attract investment, bring together strategic companies, and open up new opportunities in sectors like automotive, defence, and aerospace.
The news was made public during the opening of the business event Madrid Global: empresa, inversión y futuro, where more than 300 businesspeople and executives from the area heard first-hand about the regional government's plans. Rocío Albert, councillor for Economía, Hacienda y Empleo, emphasised that Madrid is not just its capital, but 179 municipalities that deserve quality public services and access to new opportunities.
The operational heart of this district will consist of three technology centres. In Leganés, the Centro Madrileño de Innovación y Capacitación para el Empleo will specialise in mechanical manufacturing and industrial automation. Fuenlabrada will have a centre focused on logistics and aeronautics. In addition, the region will invest 16.3 million euros in a space dedicated to drone testing and training, in line with the regional strategy to boost this high-tech sector.
The initiative is part of the regional Plan Industrial and aims to ensure that growth is not limited to the city centre. The idea is for the southern neighbourhoods to gain weight in Madrid's economy, facilitating collaboration between companies and improving the area's competitiveness. The impact will be seen in job opportunities, vocational training, and the arrival of new investment.
This move is reminiscent of other recent urban transformations, such as the creation of new green spaces over existing infrastructure, as previously reported. Madrid is already moving in this direction: decentralising, diversifying, and betting on innovation in all its neighbourhoods.
Leganés y Fuenlabrada have historically been industrial benchmarks in the Comunidad de Madrid. Their strategic location, the presence of universities, and the transport network make these municipalities key points for the development of new sectors. The boost from technology centres and the arrival of projects like the Distrito Industrial Sur reinforce their role as engines of change and modernisation in the south of the region.