The main political and business authorities in the Community of Valencia confirm their attendance at the gala to be held on Thursday at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), sponsored by Banco Sabadell

The Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Alicante will acknowledge Aguas Municipalizadas de Alicante's work in complete water management in the province's capital during the 44th Noche de la Economía Alicantina (Alicante Economy Night). The event will take place on Thursday, 25 October, in the auditorium of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) with the sponsorship of Banco Sabadell.

This event is the most important on the province's economy. It is expected that the main autonomous and provincial political authorities will attend, as well as businesspeople from all sectors. The President of the Government of Valencia, Ximo Puig, the mayors of Alicante and Elche, the Government Delegate, the President of the Provincial Council, the councillors for Economy and Transparency, and the main business representatives of the Community of Valencia have confirmed their presence at the event.

Aguas Municipalizadas de Alicante has its 120th anniversary this year. In 1953, it was founded as the first mixed private-public company in the world for managing the complete water cycle, as shown in a document published by the World Bank in 2011. The creation of this mixed private-public company has two assets: the public partner that is Alicante City Council; and Hidraqua, a company in the SUEZ Group, which is the technological partner providing knowledge and experience as a multinational specialised in the complete water cycle that works in over 70 countries, providing global solutions for the local environment.

During the gala, prizes will be awarded that recognise the work of companies in Alicante province during 2017 in the categories of Commerce, Exports, Tourism, Industry, Business Innovation, Service Companies and Family Companies and the Entrepreneurship Prize, given in collaboration with Fundesem.

The jury has recognised the following companies this year with the prizes:

• Commerce: Licorea SLU, Alicante.
• Service Companies: Lokimica SA, Alicante.
• Exports: Ex aequo Illice Internacional SA, Elche, and Amefrutis SL, Bigastro.
• Industry: Neoflex SLU, Elche.
• Family Company: J’Hayber SL, Elche.
• Business Innovation: Laboratorio Carol SL, Onil.
• Tourism: Servicios Turísticos Marjal SL, Guardamar del Segura.
• Entrepreneurship: Centro de Recuperación Emocional y Alimentaria SL, Elche.
• The Medalla de Oro y Brillantes was awarded to the businessman José María Martínez-Tercero.