With the highest population growth in France (average of +1.4% in 2005) and one of the highest rates of GDP growth for the past 10 years, the Languedoc-Roussillon region is economically attractive to foreign investors. The region offers the highest ratio of private sector salaried job creations per head of population.

The region has several key sectors that are well established (agro-food, ITC, healthcare industries, construction and services) as well as sectors offering future potential (logistics, sustainable energy supplies, environment…) and has several niche sectors (motor sports, boat industry). The Languedoc-Roussillon region offers many advantages including: a developing agricultural industry, a successful tourist industry, efficient logistics and telecommunications infrastructures, the availability of clean space, a supply of real estate facilities, and an exceptional quality of life.

The region offers a pool of intellectual resources in terms of innovation, R&D and technology transfer: 11 000 research scientists working in over 200 laboratories, “Canceropôle” cancer research cluster, “Génopôle” genetics research cluster, Agropolis International…

4 clusters have been officially labeled by the French government in the Languedoc-Roussillon region:

• ORPHEME (dedicated to orphan diseases and emerging       pathologies)
• QU@LI-MEDiterranée (sustainable agricultural industry based around the quality of life in the Méditerranean)
• TRIMATEC (based around the use of innovative nuclear technology for sustainable development projects)
• DERBI (Development of sustainable energy resources in the construction industry).

The number of foreign companies in the Languedoc-Roussillon region is constantly increasing and reached 166 in 2004. The 5 key industries that attract foreign companies are the region’s specialized sectors: ITC, the agro-food sector, shipping/wholesale distribution, the healthcare/biotechnologies/cosmetics sector, the construction sector (including construction materials), and packaging (glass, cardboard, paper…).

In 2006, foreign investment in the Languedoc-Roussillon region enabled the creation of 1 300 jobs.