The CEyD was founded following a radical overhaul of the Strategic Plan for Valencia which began in 1995 and was based on three key areas:

“ Public/private, public/public and private/private cooperation.

“ Local empowerment in the process to create an urban strategy.

“ One objective, seven strategic lines and 50 key projects.

     - The objective:

“To make Valencia a green European city open to the sea, socially inclusive and culturally active; the hub of the Autonomous Region of Valencia and a link between the cities of Europe and the Iberian peninsula and the Mediterranean, with highly competitive sectors of the economy operating in the global marketplace.”

     - The seven strategic lines:

1.- Strategic line 1: “To make Valencia a city boasting excellent communications with the rest of the world, a key hub in the Mediterranean Arc and in the chain of connections with the rest of the country, the peninsula and the world as a whole, able to connect Madrid and Lisbon to the Mediterranean, and providing the nexus between Alicante, Barcelona, Murcia, Palma and Bordeaux thereby linking the Mediterranean with France’s Atlantic seaboard.”

2.- Strategic line 2: “To enhance environmental quality and make Valencia a green European city.”

3.- Strategic line 3: “To increase the capabilities and competitiveness of sectors of the economy in the global market by substantially enhancing added value and bringing about continued income growth.”

4.- Strategic line 4: “To develop training in order to guarantee the integrated education of people and ensure technological innovation.”

5.- Strategic line 5: “To provide training for the cultural, commercial, tourism and administrative sectors to make Valencia not just the capital but the symbol of a prosperous, cultured and mutually supportive Autonomous Region of Valencia.”

6.- Strategic line 6: “To provide an effective response to new social, demographic and health-related challenges and thereby create a high standard of living for all its citizens.”

7.- Strategic line 7: “To bring about internal cohesion between the city, its metropolitan area and its natural surroundings in order to safeguard the future urban quality of life of a city steeped in history.”

In 1998 it was decided to renew the strategy and engage in a thorough process of evaluation:

“ It was found that the measures proposed were largely being fulfilled.

“ It was also clear that the projects were succeeding in moving the city forward.

Between 1998-2002 the development of the city was channelled through six leadership spheres:

1.- Valencia: an advanced city in the information age.

2.- Valencia: a global promoter of networks of mutual support.

3.- Valencia: a green European city open to the sea.

4.- Valencia: a Mediterranean port fomenting communication and exchange.

5.- Valencia: an international meeting point.

6.- Valencia: education-oriented and cultural.

The need to provide a new direction to respond to strategic challenges led to the creation of the Valencia Strategy and Development Centre (CEyD).

Click HERE for more information on the Strategic Plan for Valencia (Information in Spanish ).