Business resilience has faces and names: Cascajares, Global Exchange and Zibá. Three companies that, in the face of challenges, have known how to pave the way in their sectors and reinvent themselves when necessary. From rebuilding after a devastating fire, to technological expansion, to the creation of innovative spaces for events, these companies reflect the spirit of improvement that defines entrepreneurs across the country. All three have a common denominator: thanks to the Iberaval Guarantee Society They have overcome the challenge of finding financial support to overcome critical moments and continue promoting the economic development of their territories.
The case of Cascajares constitutes, without a doubt, an emblem of hope and improvement. On January 26, 2023, a devastating fire consumed its production plant in Dueñas, Palencia. Alfonso Jiménez Rodríguez-Vila, its owner, He remembers that moment as a “great cure of humility”, a situation in which, overnight, they lost everything they had built in three decades. “Only the sign was left there,” he says, “and rebuilding it has been a titanic task.” However, remember that there were no human losses, which was a relief amid so much pain and allowed the company to move forward thanks to the support of institutions such as the Junta de Castilla y León and Iberavalessential in the most complex moment to guarantee the viability of a project that needed financial support to be reborn. In just eight months, they managed to build a new plant with 80 workers. Cascajares symbolizes the ability to rebuild in the midst of adversity, a message that Jiménez extends to all those companies affected by the effects of DANA in Valencia, where some of its distributors have also been affected: «I encourage you to have hope. “You can get back up and even come out stronger from these misfortunes,” he points out. The similarities between both cases are evident. As Jiménez points out, those 60,000 companies that have seen their infrastructure destroyed and their activity paralyzed can find in adversity an opportunity for transformation and adaptation.
Founded in 1996 in the border town of Fuentes de Oñoro, Global Exchange has come a long way to become one of the largest currency exchange operators in the world, with presence in 25 countries and 420 offices. The company, which serves more than 12 million customers and employs 2,500 people, is expanding, with plans to increase its reach. Isidoro J. Alanís, president and CEO of Global Exchange, emphasizes the importance of having strategic allies in your growth process. He cites Iberaval as “key”, especially in the beginnings of the company, facilitating access to credit at times when initial capital was crucial for its operations. Alanís highlights the relevance of this guarantee company in the transformation and expansion of companies like his, particularly in a context of growing digitalization and innovation. “It is essential that entities like Iberaval exist,” emphasizes the manager, “that provide the necessary support in the processes of expansion or technological transformation.”
A headquarters of the Salamanca company Global Exchange
The company has consolidated its commitment to innovation through its new headquarters, Global Exchange Digital Technologies (GETD), in which he has invested more than three million. This center, located in Salamanca, has become a reference for cutting-edge technology, with advanced AI and cybersecurity capabilities. Alanís highlights that the continuity of its expansion requires technology, but also financial support that is up to par, and suggests the opening of new lines of guarantees to support large companies in their international projects.
Innovation in Hospitality
The Zibá project, led by Rocío Ruiz Aragoneses in Segovia, constitutes another example of how the commitment to innovation in the hospitality industry can position a city as a reference destination. This event space, which is part of the group in which the emblematic José María restaurant is also located, is projected as an attraction for companies looking for alternatives close to Madrid for their meetings and conventions. Located just 25 minutes by AVE from the capital and five minutes by car from Segovia station, Zibá has managed to attract a growing clientele, with business appointments, weddings and galas scheduled until 2025. The creation of this complex, however, was not free of challenges. The pandemic posed a great difficulty for Gastronomía José María, the parent company, which until then had not needed to take on debt. In more than three decades of activity. According to Ruiz Aragoneses, Iberaval provided agile and personalized financing, which allowed the project to remain on track during that disastrous period. In addition to the proximity of Segovia to Madrid, Zibá offers a first-class infrastructure that has responded flexibly to the needs of its clients.
Rocío Ruíz leads the Ziba project, in Segovia
They are examples of the power of business resilience, but also the importance of having the right support to overcome unexpected challenges. Iberavalwhich already supports 228,000 jobs with its living risk, It has become that key connector in the continuity of these businesses, which has ultimately influenced the development of the territories. As Jiménez de Cascajares expresses, the work of this guarantee society allows entrepreneurs to focus on what is essential: creating employment and generating wealth,
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