The Council of Government has taken note of three calls for aid from the Ministry of Employment, Business, and Self-Employment to support the activity of SMEs and associations in the commerce and crafts sector of Andalusia, as well as to finance projects to support both sectors promoted by municipalities. With an investment of 10.2 million euros, the objective is to improve competitiveness, promotion, and access to digitalization in two activities considered key for the economic growth of the region.
The first call ( offers Andalusian municipalities the opportunity to submit participation requests until May 12 for a program aimed at improving, modernizing, and promoting both local commerce and crafts. Endowed with 1.4 million euros, actions with a maximum amount of 60,000 euros are financed through two lines of aid.
The subsidizable projects include, among other concepts, the drafting of municipal commercial strategic plans, initiatives for the modernization of marketplaces, the adaptation of spaces dedicated to street vending, and projects aimed at digital transformation of businesses. It also supports the installation of equipment or furniture, especially smart lockers to safeguard purchases; the implementation or maintenance of permanent exhibition spaces or the organization and development of commercial and craft fairs, as well as any other event for the promotion and revitalization of both sectors.
The second call ( open until May 21, 2025, mobilizes 1.8 million euros to support the activity of the most representative associations in the commercial and craft sectors, as well as the dynamization and promotion of their projects. It finances actions that promote cooperation among companies within the entities themselves, the organization of workshops or other training activities, and information or awareness campaigns that disseminate the work of the productive fabric linked to these two activities.
It also includes aid for the preparation of sector studies or the drafting of digital modernization projects, especially the implementation of IT solutions that improve communication among associates. The call also encompasses initiatives for the dynamization and promotion of retail commerce, both in open commercial spaces and in street markets and marketplaces, as well as actions for customer revitalization and loyalty.
The BOJA publishes aid for digitization and use of new technologies in commerce.
In the specific case of the craft sector, actions such as participation in fairs or in the events celebrating the European Days of Crafts are subsidized, as well as the dissemination and identification of the ‘Crafts made in Andalusia’ brand, an official distinction granted by the Andalusian Government to workshops and creators where the quality of their products is certified.
Finally, the third of the calls, whose publication in the BOJA is imminent, contemplates an investment of 7 million euros to facilitate the transformation and adaptation of commercial and craft SMEs to digitalization, especially in the use of new technologies for business promotion and opening up to new online sales channels. In this sense, projects that involve the installation of software in any of its applications to the sector (accounting, invoicing, sales, supplier relations, or customer and supplier relationship management), the development of digital solutions and office automation, or the design of content for mobile applications and web platforms can benefit from this line of subsidies.
The acquisition of point of sale terminals (POS) and complementary technological accessories will also be financed. These initiatives can be reinforced through the hiring of consultancy services to help implement online communication and marketing strategies, as well as services focused on optimizing digital channels for businesses, including actions related to relational marketing and social media management.