0s and 1990s helped Pontevedra to regain some weight in the Rias Baixas region, acting again as a trade hub and focusing on its administrative functions as provincial capital. Since 1999 Pontevedra has seen intense urban renewal and cultural revival, positively influencing the local economy. Pontevedra has transformed into one of the most accessible cities for disabled people, and was awarded a national prize for this issue in 2006.
The introduction of university studies in the city during the 1990s contributed further to the growth of the city
