AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES and its advantages for setting upWhy invest in Auvergne
Rhône-Alpes

A powerful and industrial region

Located at the crossroads of Europe, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a strategic driver of the French and European economy. As France’s leading industrial region with a GDP of €346 billion, it boasts 61,000 industrial companies and 23,500 foreign-owned establishments. With a strong international reach, the region is a member of the “Four Motors for Europe” and stands out as a key hub for innovation and economic exchanges.

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Industrial region from france with 535,000 jobs
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GDP of France with €346 billion
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Industrial companies installed

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Region on import and export
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Exported in 2024
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Imported in 2024

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is at the heart of international trade to boost your business.
It is a member of the “4 Engines for Europe” with Lombardy (Italy), Catalonia (Spain) and Baden-Württemberg (Germany), a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of these four Regions.

A dynamic region

2nd region
the most populated
from France
8 Millions
establishments
with foreign capital
in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes
380 000
students
€71 billion
Generated by export in 2024
5,400
establishments with foreign capital
23,500
businesses in the region export

ZOOM on…

TOP 3 countries

Destinations
privileged for export:
North America (9.5%),
Europe (61%), Asia (10%)

Main
Partners
Germany (€11.2 billion);
Italy (€7.5 billion);
Spain (€6 billion)

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes opens the doors to Europe, ideally located on the border with Italy and Switzerland. Crossed by the Paris-Lyon-Marseille Rhône logistics axis and the Clermont-Ferrand-Bordeaux-Toulouse axis, the region promotes international economic exchanges.

Access 80% of French territory in less 
than 4 hours by road

  • More than 1,600 km of highway
  • At the heart of the great north-south dorsal (Lille-Paris-Lyon-Marseille)
  • Privileged gateway to Switzerland and Italy

Benefit from a dense rail network

  • Nearly 30 TGV stations
  • More than 3700 km of rails

Fly to over 120 international 
destinations

  • 2 international airports (Lyon Saint-Exupéry and Geneva)
  • 10 secondary airports

Take advantage of France’s leading river port for container traffic (Lyon)

  • 12 million tonnes of goods handled/year
  • More than 700 boats and 1700 trains welcomed each year, and nearly 5000 trucks per day
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