From Left to Right: General Francisco Javier Garcia Arnaiz Chief of Staff of Spanish Airforce, Angel Ramirez President GTD, Xavier Trias Mayor of Barcelona and Juan Dalmau ESA. The Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias has chaired the 'Festa del Cel', which has closed the program of the Mercè festivities. The airshow was closed with the awards that distinguish individuals and organizations that have stood in the promoting aviation sector. The GTD’s President, Angel Ramirez, received the award ‘Cristòfol Juandó’, which acknowledges the work of this company from Barcelona, a Spanish and European first player in space launchers and satellite market. The award ‘Josep Canudas’ was given to Joan Dalmau, an engineer of European Space Agency (ESA), for its international effort in order to promote the aerospace sector in all European institutions. The Mayor said: "In difficult economic times like the present, it is important that initiatives to participate in the growth of the city and act as strategic sectors to overcome the crisis." Trias added that "we have enormous potential as a city of culture, knowledge, creativity, innovation and know well that we take the opportunity to lead the economic capital of southern Europe and the Mediterranean." In this sense, the mayor has stated that Barcelona has to combine his potential with a clear commitment to future sectors, such as aeronautics, "that generate employment, attract talent, foster innovation and promote value-added industry and new technologies".
