Originally published 1999 | ||
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Galicia's two major economic poles are A Coruña and Vigo, with A Coruña in the lead, producing an estimated 33.2% of VAT receipts against 24.3% from Vigo. A third economic center is Santiago de Compostela, capital of Galicia. Other important cities are Ferrol and Pontevedra. In recent years the distance has grown between the interior provinces, Lugo and Ourense, which are more rural and less developed, and the coastal provinces, Pontevedra and A Coruña, particularly the areas situated along the axis of the A-9 Highway.
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There is also a growing economic sector in Fair Trade and alternative economy.
Background
Galicia is the fifth largest autonomous region in Spain by area, with its own language, and cultural traditions which, like Catalonia and the Basque Country, set it apart from the rest of Spain.
Spanish Civil War
Dictator Francisco Franco was originally from Galicia, although during the Civil War and the dictatorship from 1939-1975 he banned Galician from being spoken. During the Franco years the region was neglected by the central government and lagged other regions during the Spanish miracle of the 1960s and 1970s.
Contemporary Economy
Today, Galicia is a producer and manufacturer of several goods, including automobiles, ships, fashion garments and timber. Vigo produces 17% of all the automobiles manufactured in Spain. The port of Vigo is also important for shipping and seafood exports. Galician productivity of timber stands at 207.95 m3/k2.