Paris - economy
Paris is the leading industrial center of France, with about one-quarter of the nation’s manufacturing concentrated in the metropolitan area. Industries engaged in the manufacture of consumer goods have always been drawn to Paris by the enormous market of the metropolitan population; and modern, high-technology industries also have become numerous since World War II (1939-1945). Principal manufactures are machinery, automobiles and other vehicles, chemicals, and electrical equipment. The cultural and artistic preeminence of Paris has attracted a large publishing industry and a wide range of luxury manufactures, such as high-fashion clothing and jewelry, for which the city is particularly noted.
Most key service activities of the nation, especially banking and finance, are concentrated in Paris. The city has made major efforts in recent years to attract the headquarters of multinational corporations and is now one of Europe’s most important centers of international business and commerce.
An additional advantage enjoyed by Paris is its location at the center of one of Europe’s richest agricultural regions, with nearby districts, such as the Beauce and Brie, famous for the production of wheat and other crops. This strong agricultural economy has ensured Paris a reliable food supply throughout its history and has also created a solid economic base for the region.
Because the Seine is navigable by barges to points upstream of Paris, the city is an important port (fourth in France, by tonnage), with major concentrations of processing, refining, and distribution activities. The city is the principal focus of the national railroad and highway networks. The first line of the Paris subway, called the Métro, opened in 1900. Today the system has 16 principal lines, with frequent service. The Réseau Express Régional (RER) is an express commuter system serving the suburbs. There are two international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, and one main domestic airport, Le Bourget.