The Marina Alta Recognises the Talent and Effort of its Business Leaders

The Cercle Empresarial de la Marina Alta (Cedma) is hosting its annual awards ceremony today, marking the seventeenth edition in 2025. The event, which celebrates the dynamism, innovation, and social commitment of the local economic fabric, will take place at 7:30 PM at the Hotel Marriott La Sella in Dénia. It promises to be a lively and celebratory occasion.

This year, the jury unanimously decided to honour Seguros Javier Seguí for Business Trajectory, the cultural and commercial project Melic for Sustainability and Business Ethics, Abahana Local Group for Business Innovation, and Almendras Artigues as Businessperson of the Year. These four examples of dedication and rootedness reflect the diversity of sectors, generations, and business models that make up the Marina Alta's economic ecosystem.

Javier Seguí will receive the Cedma Award for Business Trajectory for his over three decades of dedication to the insurance sector and his strong involvement in the associative, cultural, and sporting life of Dénia. After starting in a multinational, where he became a regional director, he founded his own agency, Seguros Javier Seguí, in 2008. Throughout his career, he has been noted for his commitment to social and community causes, actively collaborating with entities such as the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) and Amunt contra el Càncer, and supporting initiatives like the Artistic Musical Group of Dénia, school and sports events, or the Rotary Club, which he presided over in 2017 and 2018.

The award for Sustainability and Business Ethics will go to Luis Silvestre, the driving force behind Melic, an initiative that combines inland tourism, culture, and the promotion of local products. His store, Melicatesen, distinguished with the Sicted tourism quality seal, is a cornerstone of the project, organising tastings, events, and activities to highlight the region's agri-food and artisanal heritage. Melic has also developed proposals such as the 'Ruta dels Riuraus', 'Sunsets of Music and Wine', or the 'Passaport Cellers de la Marina Alta', always with the region as an identity axis. Silvestre has presided over Multisecma and actively participates in entities such as the Institut d'Estudis Comarcals de la Marina Alta, the Centre Excursionista de Pedreguer, or the Riuraus Vius collective.

In the field of innovation, the recognition has gone to Abahana Local Group, a company based in Calp with branches in Moraira and Benissa, specialising in the management of exclusive holiday villas. Founded in 2000 by David Alonso Roth, the firm was a pioneer in the digitalisation of tourist rentals in the southern part of the region, combining advanced technology with a personalised human touch. Their commitment to sustainability is reflected in investments in solar energy, ecological pool maintenance systems, and partnerships with local suppliers. The company has established itself as a benchmark for high-end residential tourism on the Costa Blanca.

Finally, the Cedma Award for Businessperson of the Year will be presented to Juan Carlos Artigues, the third generation leading Almendras Artigues, a family business located in Pedreguer with an annual turnover of over ten million euros. Specialising in the peeling and marketing of high-quality almonds for the nougat and confectionery industry, the firm combines automation, quality control, and tradition. Additionally, it has a retail outlet, Aracris Food, in the Les Galgues industrial estate, offering a curated selection of nuts, dried fruits, and gourmet products. The award recognises both the industrial evolution of the business and the local roots of a company that has grown without losing its heritage.

The event this evening will not be a typical awards ceremony. As usual, Cedma opts for a close format, without long speeches, with space for networking, background music, and a relaxed catering that facilitates conversation among attendees. The event will feature the participation of business, institutional, and social representatives from across the region and will be conducted by the Cedma board members themselves, in line with the desire to give visibility to the entire federation and not just its presidency.

One of the highlights of the gala will be the presentation of the award for the best Master's Thesis completed at the UNED, an initiative that Cedma promotes together with the Alicante Chamber of Commerce and the university, which includes a scholarship of 1,500 euros for the winner. The award has been given to Luis Fabián Infante for his work 'Exercise of the State's ius puniendi through the Administration. Its constitutional fit. Search for effectiveness'.

Cedma's president, Benito Mestre, emphasises that this edition is special as it coincides with the 20th anniversary. "It will be a day of celebration, with nothing overshadowing the recognition of the awardees. An event without tedious speeches, but without renouncing our advocacy role. Always without breaking the cord, but making clear what we stand for," he states.

Cedma has just completed two decades of work to make visible, unite, and defend the interests of the region's productive fabric. Today, it brings together around thirty business associations from diverse sectors and represents over 1,500 companies. Its activity has been crucial in demanding infrastructure, promoting training, supporting digitalisation, and fostering sustainability among SMEs.

Cedma advocates the value of associationism as a tool for transformation and territorial cohesion. It does so by recognising those who, through their work, contribute to consolidating an economic model with its own identity. The Cedma 2025 Awards distinguish individual trajectories and act as a mirror of a vibrant, entrepreneurial region committed to its future.