NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 5.0 MILLION

Francisco Camps, President of the Valencian Region, accompanied by Arturo Virosque, chairman of the Valencian Chamber of Commerce, and Alberto Catala, chairman of the Valencian Trade Fair complex, distributed certificates for "Trade Excellence" to 264 small shops of the 75,000 in the Valencian Region that employ 300,000 people, account for 13% of the wealth of the Region, and bill 25,000 million Euro.

In 2009, the Valencian Government invested over 20 million Euro that benefited all the sector, and in 2010 these subsidies will be increased by 20%.

Gerardo Camps, Valencian Government Councillor of Economy, the Treasury, and Employment, met with the executive committee of the Valencian Federation of Contractors of Public Works - FECOVAL, and during the meeting announced that the new Agility Payment Plan will enable government payments to accelerate and guarantee liquidity to supply companies.

The "Confirming" and launching of conditions for negotiation between the treasury and and private companies will generate 4,000 Euro in financing.

Manuel Cervera, Valencian Government Councillor of Public Health, presented the book "Molecular Bases for the Future of Health" and during the presentation declared that the molecular research will created a therapeutic tools and diagnostics adapted to people and the individual genetic map will enable the prediction of the pathologies a person is susceptible to suffer.

Councillor Cervera also revealed that since 2005, the Valencian Government has invested 185 million Euro in health research and innovation.

Mario Flores, Valencian Government Councillor of Infrastructures and Transport, visited the third phase of the renovation work being carried out on the Episcopal Palace in Orihuela, Alicante, that will house the new Diocesan Museum for Sacred Art at a cost of 776,118 Euro.

the Palace was declared a National Monument in 1975..

Serafin Castellano, Valencian Councillor of Government,, participated in the Balearic Isles VI Meet of Autonomous Regions with six other representatives of Autonomous Governments, to discuss ways to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Attending the Meet were Jose A. Biel, vice-president of the Governor of Aragon; Jose A. de Santiago, Councillor of Presidency of the Junta of Castilla y Leon; Jose Valverde, Councillor of Presidency of Castilla-La Mancha; Emilio del Rio, Councillor of Presidency and Speaker of the Government of La Rioja; and Francisco Antich, President of the Government of the Balearic Isles.

Marisa Gracia, manageress of Valencia Government Railways (FGV) - Valencia Underground, presented the special Underground and TRAM services to be implanted from the night of the 15th March to early morning on the 20th March when 72 trains and trams will run 24 hours to enable people visit the hundreds of Fallas or gigantic papier mâchè monuments erected around the city of Valencia.

Trains will cover a total of 253,753 kilometres over the aforementioned five days (or six times around the word).

More information is available on telephone 900.46.10.46 or contact the official website http://www.metrovalencia.es

Angelica Such, Valencian Government Councillor of Social Welfare, presided the XII edition of Women's International Day Isabel Ferrer Awards, that were received by Teresa Gisbert, Chief Prosecutor of the Provincial Court, the pyrotechnic company Reyes Marti, and the photographer Ouka Leele.