Contenido principal
Presentation
La Rioja, the cradle of the Spanish language and crossed by the St. James Way, is one of the most developed regions in Spain, and is one of the most prosperous regions in the European Union (EU).
The figures show constant growth in our exports, the continuous creation of jobs and businesses, increase in our GDP and the income of the inhabitants of La Rioja.
The region’s economy is headed by a solid industrial base. The enormous adaptability of La Rioja and its quick response to the needs of foreign investors, are undoubtedly two of the main attributes of La Rioja.
La Rioja is one of the most dynamic regions in the European Community and one of those that has most strongly instilled the spirit of technological development, research and innovation in its business culture, in order to make its products stand out and to be more competitive, among which our wines are particularly noteworthy. Our wine proudly flaunts the name “Rioja” which combines our climate, soil, varieties, tradition and culture in equal amounts, to make it unique, unrepeatable and satisfies the tastes of wine drinkers from all over the world who demand our products.
Thanks to its geostrategic position, La Rioja occupies a privileged position as a business nerve centre for companies that work on a global level and also serves as a bridge to the rest of the world. Moreover, La Rioja has some excellent transport infrastructures, highly qualified professionals and wide educational and training facilities.
Association of this land with the concept of quality in its highest degree of excellence, along with its vigour and social peace reached between the Regional Government and the social and economic agents, make La Rioja a highly attractive place for investment and for the implementation of new business initiatives.
La Rioja is a dynamic region in which all the factors required to guarantee the success of foreign companies converge. Basically, it is an ideal place to live and work.
La Rioja as a synonym of quality
Our wines are protected by the oldest Designation of Origin, or appellation, in Spain, officially recognised in 1926, and since 1991 it bears the maximum qualification category, which is unique in our country.
The Rioja Designation of Origin has undergone unprecedented expansion over recent decades, making Rioja wine a model and reference point in terms of excellence for the rest of the products made in La Rioja.
Dynamic and integrating region
La Rioja is chosen by foreign businesses because it has an economy that is in constant growth and offers multiple business opportunities. La Rioja has grown by 4% over the last 10 years, and is one of the fastest growing European regions among the great European economies and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Spain.
Our region stands out in different aspects, such as citizen safety, the environment, culture and leisure, level of education, income and social wellbeing. These parameters prove that this Autonomous Community is among the Spanish regions with the highest quality of life.
Access to growing markets
With a population of 315.651 people and income per capita of 25.507 euros in 2015, above the domestic average, and above the average of Spain, set at 23.300 euros, La Rioja is an ideal market to launch new business projects.
La Rioja is a natural bridge for products entering the Iberian market (Spain and Portugal), the South of Europe and North Africa, which are high potential regions in terms of consumption, with a population of over 300 million people and in constant growth.
La Rioja is positioned along the Ebro economic corridor, and is integrated in the wide, powerful economic growth zone known as the “European Backbone” or “Blue Banana”. The starting point is London, and it then crosses part of Belgium, Holland and Germany before ending in the North of Italy.
From here, there is a very economically dynamic branch that reaches across the south east of France and joins up with the “Mediterranean Arc” and the “Ebro Economic Corridor”. La Rioja is therefore a region located along the largest backbone of economic activity in Europe.
The companies that have settled here, thanks to our geographical situation, enjoy unbeatable interregional and international connectivity and accessibility. This leads to lower distribution costs and greater global proximity to customers.
Availability of flexible, skilled labour, with languages and competitive costs
La Rioja has qualified, flexible professionals at competitive costs for Western Europe. Our workers stand out because of their adaptation and creative capacity.
The Government of La Rioja has promoted training for companies, yearly increasing the amount assigned to qualification of labour through the Rioja Employment Service.
The University of La Rioja closely collaborates with the business world and scientific research. The University currently has tools to promote research activities.
The involvement of the University of La Rioja in R&D+I activities has increased notably over recent years. Our young University is now firmly rooted and understands that it plays a fundamental role in the promotion of research activities and in the transfer of knowledge to businesses.
Technological leader
We are able to assert that we have made a great effort in research from the Public Administration of the Autonomous Community, the University of La Rioja and mainly from within businesses.
The data relating to technological innovation places us in a privileged position on a domestic level. The expenditure on R&D in 2007 accounted for 1.18% of the GDP.
Businesses in La Rioja understand that a decisive factor for growth and modernisation is their research and innovation capacity. In fact, the business sector concentrates the majority of the efforts made in La Rioja on R&D&I activities.
La Rioja has a Technology Centre Network:
- La Rioja Footwear Technology Centre (CTCR)
- Biomedical Research Centre (CIBIR)
- International Research Centre of the Spanish Language (CILENGUA)
- Technology Centre for Mushroom Research (CTICH)
- La Rioja Meat Industry Technology Centre (CTIC)
- La Rioja Food Technology and Research Centre (CITA)
- Food and Agriculture Technology Development Research Service (CIDA)
- Knowledge and Technology Agency (ACT)
Water, energy and waste management resources
La Rioja is rich in water resources, and we are therefore able to guarantee meeting the growing demand.
In La Rioja we are aware of the constant, high industrial development that has taken place over recent decades, which involves tackling the gradual increase in the quantity of waste and dumping.
The infrastructure of electricity networks in our region is well adapted and distributed, and is also one of the most efficient regions in terms of non-scheduled power cuts.
Direct access to energy sources such as gas and petroleum. The region is crossed from East to West by an oil pipeline and gas pipeline. Therefore, for full exploitation of the gas pipeline, a combined cycle power plant (800 Mw) was built on the "El Sequero" Industrial Estate.
Maintenance of the area and respect for the environment are one of our main objectives.