Île de France Regional Development Agency
Paris Region, a rich, dynamic, diversified, competitive, creative and innovative economy.
Ile-de-France is the French name for the Paris region, including the urban core and the commuting field around it. The Paris region is France’s foremost economic region, and also one of the leading economic regions in the world with a GDP approaching that of the Netherlands, Poland or the State of Texas.
The Paris region, with an international reputation for tourism and luxury goods, also offers exceptional economic and technological resources.
Among its particular qualities that deserve to be highlighted are the following:
- The Paris region has the world’s second largest concentration of corporate headquarters going by Fortune magazine’s ranking of the world’s 500 largest companies.
- The Paris region has retained a strong industrial tradition represented by a high density of technology companies including large groups and start-ups, the presence of centres of competitiveness of international repute, and the coveted status as the most important technological and scientific region in Europe.
- Although industry is still relatively important by comparison with London for example, services provide around 81% of jobs in the Paris region. All types of services are present, from convenience stores to commercial law firms through design companies.
- It is the largest employment catchment area in Europe, and its workforce is regarded as highly qualified. Nearly half of managerial staff working in France are concentrated here, with a much higher proportion in some industries such as finance, video game design, private research and media.
- Many higher education and research establishments (universities and graduate schools) in the fields of information technology, mathematics, telecommunications, renewable energy, biotechnology, management and international trade are located in the region and form part of the European elite;
- The Paris region also offers the widest range of commercial property in Europe. Offices, business premises, warehouses and other properties are highly diversified in their location, environment and price.
- Finally, its history and its cultural environment are still huge attractions in the Paris region, and Paris in particular. For several years, it has been the top tourist destination in the world.