Why Paris

Paris Region is a global region with a population of nearly 12 million people. It accounts for 25% of France’s paid workforce, 29% of GDP and 40% of the country’s research personnel. More than 60% of the people who live here are under the age of 40 – this is a young and steadily growing population attracted by the region’s economic power but also by the quality of life it offers: rural spaces represent 50%, and forests 30%, of the region’s surface area. All of which suggests a region with a long-term vision for its future development.

Paris Region, a key European business hub

Europe’s No. 1 business region
At the heart of continental Europe
The highest GDP in Europe
A market of 495 million European consumers
Europe’s highest concentration of Fortune 500 corporations

Paris Region is Europe’s number one business region with a GDP 607,439 billion€ (30% of French GDP). It is a huge market of 11.9 million consumers, connected to the European market and its 500 million consumers.

A strategic location in Europe, close to EMEA market

Located less than 2,000 km from all the European Union countries, Paris is in the heart of the world's biggest market, with 500 million European consumers.
It is also an ideal gateway to Africa and the near and middle east (EMEA headquarters)

Paris, an attractive metropolis for companies and international organizations to locate their headquarters

Because of its central position in Europe and economic vibrancy, Paris boasts more headquarters than any other European city.

29 of the world's 500 biggest companies, as well as international organisations such as the OECD, International Chamber of Commerce and Industry and UNESCO, have located their main offices here.

Paris is 1st in Europe for the number of Fortune 500 headquarters and 3rd worldwide(Fortune Global 500 - 2015)

Hosting successful businesses

816,000 businesses in the Paris Region, from high tech sectors to traditional industrial activities
No. 1 region for developing start-ups in Western Europe
World’s leading destination for corporate meetings

An innovation hotspot

100 000 researchers and the highest number of high-tech patents filed
Europe’s No. 1 region for R&D capability & R&D expenditure
Most generous research tax credits in Europe
7 competitiveness clusters enhancing innovation

Spanning an area of just 106 sq. km, the Parisian ecosystem boasts an unprecedented concentration of economic players, including start-ups, large companies, service providers, media companies and institutions.
The city benefits from world-class infrastructure and can rely on strong political support and tax incentives for innovative companies.

Paris has 130,000 sqm of incubator space and will alocate 100,000 more sqm by 2021.
There are 10,000 start-ups in Paris Region.
Paris ahead of Berlin, Frankfurt, Tokyo, London and Boston for R&D implementation (Cost Simulation by KPMG, Competitive Alternatives 2014, based on labor costs, facility costs, transportation costs, taxes, financing costs and utility costs)

A world-class real estate offer

Europe’s biggest stock of commercial real estate:

330 business parks
52 million sq.m of office space
29 million sq.m of warehousing

Paris is the Europe’s leading region for Real Estate with 52 million m2 of office space

Paris proper has 16 million square metres of offi ce space, partly located in the central business district (centre and west of the capital), but also in areas that are undergoing massive changes. The local urban development plan provides for an extra 2 million square metres devoted to business in the coming years, including 660,000 m² by 2015.

10% of the paris area undergoing major changes

New emerging districts are providing housing of a high architectural and environmental standard, improved transport services, but also tertiary-sector programs suited to the new needs of enterprises, not forgetting the quality of life (green spaces, facilities, shopping).

Transport

Outstanding transport connections

3 international airports
3 ports along the Seine – Paris, Rouen and Le Havre – making up the biggest French port complex
At less than 3 hours from the main European cities (Europe by train: Paris-London: 2.15, Paris-Brussels: 1.25, Paris- Frankfurt: 3.50, Paris-Amsterdam: 4.10)

An extensive transport network

TGV (high-speed trains), RER (high-speed metro), metro system, bus system, Vélib self-service bicycles, Voguéo river shuttle service, Autolib self-service electric car rental
Grand Paris Express: 205km of new lines, 72 new stations

A Region sourcing talent

Europe’s largest concentration of higher education students
World-class science universities and business schools
20% of International students
France’s biggest labour pool with 11.9 million inhabitants

The region's 18 universities as well as the 59 engineering and management Grandes Écoles make Paris a benchmark for the education of mathematics, physics, biological sciences, multimedia, and management.

The Paris region has over 635,500 students, including 327,400 within the city limits, and 70,000 foreign studients.

Paris region hosts a working population of 5.6 million people and boasts a highly-skilled labour force.

Ambitious urban development projects

The largest European urban renewal project with the “Grand Paris”
A business development policy focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy and preserving biodiversity
29 sustainable districts in Paris Region
80% of Paris Region’s area devoted to parks and open spaces

Tourism

The world’s No.1 tourist destination

42 million visitors each year including 10 million trade show visitors
4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Château de Versailles, the Seine quayside in Paris, the town of Provins and Fontainebleau Château and park
The world’s biggest hotel industry: 150,000 hotel rooms

Almost 59.3 million people visit Paris and its region every year, making it the top tourism destination in the world.

The World Tourism Organization predicts a 50% increase in the number of visitors to Paris over the next 15 years! To address this growth in demand, Paris has introduced a hotel development plan that provides for the construction of 7,000 additional hotel rooms by 2020.

A unique cultural heritage

A large number of museums : Louvre, Orsay, Beaubourg…
World-known typical places (the Seine quayside, Saint-Martin canal, the famous coffee shops…)
World’s highest number of cinemas and libraries
Europe’s higher number of theatres

Leading financial marketplace in the eurozone

With over 800,000 direct jobs and 400,000 indirect jobs, France’s financial industry plays a central role in the French economy. Finance accounts for over 4% of French GDP, and is the third largest sector by employment in Ile de France (Paris region). Four French banks feature in Europe’s top 10, including two of the top three: BNP Paribas (2nd) and Crédit Agricole (3rd).More major industrial companies are headquartered in Paris than in any other European city. (Paris Europlace)

Focus industries

Paris is a major center for Aerospace, Fashion & Apparel, Cleantech, Financial & Insurance Services, Information Technology, Creative, Marketing & Media, Life Sciences and Transport & Logistics.

Learn about our Focus industries.