Cipriano García, Director of Caja Rural de Zamora: “All the important cheese companies are in our province”.

The name of Cipriano García has been linked to Caja Rural de Zamora for more than 50 years, half of which have been as director of the entity. García is an institution in Zamora and its province, leading a human capital of more than 350 employees working in up to 105 points distributed not only in Zamora but also in León, Ourense, Valladolid and Madrid.

A whole professional life dedicated to Caja Rural de Zamora, but also a whole personal life, since he joined it when he was only 15 years old, so this bank has been key in his vital development throughout this more than half a century.

Now, on the occasion of the celebration of Fromago 2024, fair in which Caja Rural collaborates as Gold sponsor with the contribution of 50,000 euros for its organization and celebration, Garcia reviews the involvement of the bank with this event, the activities planned and also what this event means for the city and province of Zamora.

What does Fromago mean to Caja Rural?

This is a very important initiative for Zamora and everything that is important for Zamora, of course, is also important for Caja Rural. I think it is a showcase worldwide, even, no longer national or international, which, somehow, puts in value a very important product in a province like ours. We are the largest producers and from Caja Rural, of course, we are, as always, ready to support what happens here.

In what way does the entity want to be present during the fair?

Fundamentally, in the economic field. There is no initiative or project that can be carried out without money, but I believe that on our part there is a predisposition not only to provide the money, but also to be close enough to cover the needs in the recreational and cultural fields. In a way, our predisposition is absolutely open to any possibility of development of the project.

What activities are planned?

In addition to the monetary contribution of 50,000 euros, we will carry out a series of musical performances in the Plaza Mayor, which is where we will have our stand. We are going to collaborate with Zamora10, with the City Council, with the Provincial Council and with the CEOE in promoting a trade campaign with significant discounts that we have already carried out in other activities during the winter seasons and, in some way, have a very active collaboration in any initiative that the project wants, any situation that may arise during the fair, as our general philosophy.

How important is it to support this fair financially?

It is fundamental, of course, without money we cannot carry out activities of any kind. And I believe that the most important thing is the economic aspect. But as I say, there are also other ways to collaborate and to activate this fair that in some way enhances what we pretend to be Zamora, in short.

I believe that the fair is a very important apology, but the ultimate goal, I believe, is the promotion of this province, as I have said, not only at a national level, but also at a world level.

What has been the economic and social evolution of Zamora in recent years?

Zamora’s situation is well known. We are a rather depopulated province. I believe that we need revulsives like this one. In recent times, our situation is well known all over the world.

We have to take initiatives of this type with all that we are capable of contributing in all areas and that are put in value from unity, always thinking positively and believing that our current situation will always be improvable.

Where does the future of Zamora lie?

I believe that by developing all the strengths that we have, enhancing our own companies, since we have very important companies in this province, which in some way are constantly accrediting themselves as innovative promoters, even. But I think we lack unity.

We need to unify criteria and push all of us in the same direction and there are very important companies with first line entrepreneurs, I believe that there is an individualism that we should overcome without thinking about individualism, which I believe weakens us.

Is the cheese sector key to your evolution?

Yes, of course. The cheese sector is absolutely fundamental and essential in the province of Zamora. We are the province in Spain that has by far the largest number of sheep. All the important cheese companies are in our province.

There are many producers of all levels, of all kinds, settled in Zamora as a result of what I said before. I think it is a buoyant industry and, furthermore, I think it is an industry of which we can boast, precisely because we are the producers, but also because we have the best cheese makers and the best cheeses in the world come out of Zamora.

Do these fairs open Zamora to the world?

Yes, of course. One of the foundations of the fair is precisely that it is a showcase. Somehow, that the world knows that Zamora exists. I believe that this fair could be the seed of many others that could be carried out looking for autochthonous products like this one and that in some way serve as a reference for a multitude of development possibilities that, as I say, I believe this province has. And I believe that, indeed, this fair is extremely important for us.

How can Zamora be revitalized?

Enhancing our values. We have a very important agri-food industry, we have an exceptional heritage and we have natural resources, especially in the field of energy, that are absolutely unmatched.

We are one of the provinces that reports or has reported the most energy during the last 100 years to provinces or regions other than ours, which have evolved exponentially and that somehow we, who have been the producers, have remained at the end of the line, while where the energy has been directed, which has been the differentiating element of the last 100 years, are the richest in Spain.

I believe that there is a clear and irrational imbalance that in some way should serve as an incentive and a spur for the people of Zamora to try to improve our situation.

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