The sixth edition of the Economics Congress of Navarre, to be held in the 'Baluarte' Congress Centre in Pamplona on 16-17 November, is organised by the Government of Navarre and Caja Navarra. Its theme this year will be 'Competitiveness and economic growth'.

The congress is a biannual event that serves as a forum for meeting and debate by senior managers, institutional figures from the public administrations of Navarre and representatives from the university world. It is open to anyone interested in the subject. Enrolment is open until 9 November and can be done on-line at www.cfnavarra.es/congreso.economia or in the Congress Secretariat (Servicio de Economía, calle Arrieta 8-5th floor).

The theme of this year's edition has arisen from the situation of the economy of Navarre, which has maintained steady growth in recent years that has brought about an ongoing improvement in employment rates and convergence indicators of the European Union. To maintain this situation in a globalised context of growing competitiveness, the economy of Navarre must focus on improving in this area.

Many different factors come into play in competitiveness, for example, investment in technological capital, the training of human resources, the generation of employment that creates added value, the improvement of productivity in the factors that intervene in the production process, and an economic and social climate that reduces uncertainty. The European framework in which these policies are implemented is the Lisbon Agenda of 2000. The Vice-president of the Government of Navarre and Regional Economy and Treasury Minister, Francisco Iribarren Fentanes, will inaugurate the Congress on 16 November at 16:30 hours. The opening conference will be about 'The European challenge' and will be given by the Director of the Bank of Spain, José Mª Viñals Iñiguez.

In the congress there will be parallel sessions on two subjects: 'The competitiveness of companies in Navarre: some empirical evidence'. There will be four communications on this subject, and the other area, 'Economy and employment', (5 communications) will examine the evolution of unemployment in different areas of Navarre; employment indicators in the EU as a yardstick of the success of local employment policies; the creation of companies in Navarre, current situation; the impact of universities on the local economy, and competition in the Spanish oil sector. The President of the Government of Navarre, Miguel Sanz Sesma, will chair the official closing of the congress on 17 November at 20:00 hours.