Joan Clos, Chairman of the Forum 2004 and Mayor of Barcelona, and abertis Chairman Isidre Fainé, together with Forum 2004 Director-General Jordi Oliveras and abertis Managing Director Salvador Alemany, this morning signed the sponsorship agreement making abertis, one of Europe’s leading infrastructure operators, a sponsor of the Universal Forum of the Cultures Barcelona 2004.

With its sponsorship of the event, to be opened this coming Saturday, abertis demonstrates its support for the three core themes of the Forum: cultural diversity, sustainable development and the conditions for peace. It also subscribes to the Forum Barcelona 2004’s Agenda of Principles and Values, the Forum’s ethical declaration of intentions and the inspiration for its actions.

In recent years, abertis has promoted a strategy of commitment to society by means of its corporate social responsibility programmes. A range of sustainability, transparency, good corporate governance, social action and cultural sponsorship projects form part of the activities encouraged by abertis.

In addition to the general sponsorship for the events which will be taking place until the end of September, abertis will carrying out specific work on improving mobility for visitors to the Forum showground, which occupies a total of 30 hectares. This mobility initiative is aimed at those disabled persons who may require special help during their visit, and is based on the development of a prototype wheelchair by the Mechanical Research Centre of the Univesitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), research which has had the support of abertis. Visitors with mobility difficulties will be able to enjoy their visit to the Forum showground thanks to the 60 wheelchairs provided by the organisation.

abertis will also be participating in the good business practices area with an exhibition covering the actions it has carried out in connection with people, the environment and culture.

Furthermore, abertis is sponsoring a large model in the “Barcelona Progress” exhibition, dedicated to planning in the city and designed by Barcelona Municipal Council and the Institute of Architects within the framework of the Forum of the Cultures. This 200 square-metre, 1:1,000-scale model provides visitors with a glimpse into the future for millions of Barcelona’s inhabitants and can be seen as part of the free exhibition offered by the Council in the Forum building.

abertis, the Barcelona-based business group of 60 companies, is currently one of Europe’s largest global infrastructure operators. Its activities focus on four areas key to economic growth: motorways, telecommunications infrastructure, car parking and the development of logistics services areas.