A THRIVING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

The Paris region is one of the most dynamic economic centres in the world, a thriving commercial and financial market that attracts a host of international exhibitions and conferences each year.

Paris is a leading centre for business where more than a third of French companies have their head offices.

Population: 11.1 million
GNP: €430 billion
Businesses: 617,000
Jobs: 5.4 million
Researchers: 73,800
Students: 563,000

Renowned as a centre of excellence, Paris ranks second in the world, just behind Tokyo, for hosting the greatest number of Top 500 companies, followed by London, New York and Chicago (Source: Fortune 500, 2004). The Paris region is one of the world's leading centres for scientific and technological innovation, with more than 1,800 research laboratories.

Paris, gateway to the world

Ideally located at the heart of Europe, Paris is served by some of the world's most concentrated air, rail and road transport networks making it easily accessible from all parts of the world :

2 international airports
1 business airport
5 TGV stations

The majority of Europe's major cities are less than three hours from Paris by plane, train or road.

London - 2 hrs 15 mins by Eurostar
Brussels - 1 hr 25 mins by Thalys
Madrid - 90 mins by plane.

Intercontinental flights link Paris with all the world's major cities. A total of 13,792 domestic and international scheduled flights serve 324 destinations worldwide.

The city's main international airport, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, is just a short distance from Paris-Nord Villepinte.

for more information : ADP, Air France, SNCF

Paris, the world's top exhibition and conference destination

Paris is the world's number one meeting and incentive destination, having hosted more than 1,703 exhibitions, conferences and conventions in 2005, including (source CCIP 2005):

379 trade fairs and exhibitions, which drew more than 94,000 exhibitors and 8.9 million visitors
311 conferences
1,013 events of various types (symposiums, conventions, product launches, etc.)

The city enjoys a worldwide reputation for hosting high-profile exhibitions and conferences attracting participants from all spheres of activity.

Paris, an outstanding choice of venues

Paris has an abundance of outstanding and unusual venues for holding evening events (gala dinners, shows) in parallel with exhibitions and other events.