Seville, July 4, 2005. - Today at 20:30h, the Academy of Social Sciences and the Environment of Andalusia organized, in collaboration with the Focus-Abengoa Foundation, the presentation ceremony of the Plaque of Honor, the Academy’s most prestigious award, to the Andalusia Businessmen’s Confederation, for its contribution, since 1979, to the economic and social development of Andalusia.

The ceremony, held in Hospital de los Venerables, the headquarters of the Focus-Abengoa Foundation, was chaired by Manuel Chaves Gonzalez, president of the Regional Government of Andalusia; Antonio Pascual Acosta, president of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Environment of Andalusia; Miguel Rodriguez-Piñero y Bravo-Ferrer, a member of the Academy and emeritus president of the Constitutional Tribunal; Candido Mendez Rodriguez, secretary general of the trade union UGT; and Javier Benjumea Llorente, chairman of both Abengoa and the Focus-Abengoa Foundation.

The Andalusia Businessmen’s Confederation, which, this year, celebrates its 25th Anniversary, has been presented with this recognition, awarded for the first time, for its contribution, since 1979, to the economic and social development of Andalusia. The prize has been gathered by Santiago Herrero León, chairman of the CEA. Since its creation, the Andalusia Businessmen’s Confederation has enhanced its formation by developing new entrepreneurial initiatives and has facilitated the entry of Andalusia’s economy in new realities such as its incorporation in the European market.

The Andalusia Businessmen’s Confederation came to be in Antequera, Malaga, in 1979, as a consequence of the illusion of a small group of businessmen from Andalusia’s eight provinces. It is currently the most representative business organization, implanted throughout the entire region and in all production centers. Its members number more than seven hundred and fifty business associations from all over Andalusia, and include large, small and medium-sized companies (pymes) and self-employed workers.

The Focus-Abengoa Foundation was established in 1982 as a consequence of the cultural activity initiated in 1972 by Abengoa with the publishing of the works "Sevillian Subjects" and "Iconography of Seville". During this same period a collection of documents, books and prints on Seville, or by Sevillian authors, was being put together. This initial cultural activity brought Abengoa's senior management to see the importance of the company being seen outside its essential technological functions through an activity that would be of benefit to society as a whole, which led to the founding of the Fundación Fondo de Cultura de Sevilla.

The Foundation's activities have been ever-increasing, while complying unwaveringly with its foundational objective of promoting culture in its different artistic and scientific manifestations. The major protagonists in the existence of Focus-Abengoa have been education, painting, restoration and music, closely followed by seminars, the written word and prints.