In this episode, recorded live at Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, we sit down with Darío Moreno, Mayor of the Municipality of Sagunto, Spain. He shares the story of how his city secured a historic €3 billion investment for a Volkswagen battery gigafactory, positioning Sagunto as a key player in Europe's reindustrialisation.

Our guest explains the "leap of faith" required to develop 5 million square meters of industrial land in record time and how this project is transforming the local economy. He also discusses the unique challenge of governing a city with two distinct souls, the 3,000 year old historic centre and the industrial port, while managing housing pressures and mobility.

We also dive into his background as a United Nations lawyer, his call for stronger multilateralism, and why he compares Sagunto's bright future to a blooming orchid.

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• (00:01:38) - Teaser question: If you would have to describe Sagunto as a plant, which plant would it be and why?
• (00:02:13) - Guest background
• (00:05:02) - 00:05:02
• (00:07:02) - Managing Two Urban Identities
• (00:10:34) - Volkswagen Battery Gigafactory
• (00:16:13) - European Reindustrialization Strategy
• (00:18:37) - Mediterranean Electromobility Hub
• (00:21:49) - Negotiating Large Investments
• (00:26:55) - Challenges in Housing and Mobility
• (00:29:44) - Segment: Shout Out
• (00:33:55) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”