Established in January 2016, the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area encompasses five major cities, 92 municipalities and is home to 1.8 million people. With France’s largest port and a dense network of infrastructure and logistics hubs to draw on, the Metropolis is now firmly established as the major centre for decision-making, trade and business in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
As the southern gateway to Europe, Aix-Marseille-Provence lies in a strategic position for business and trade: the leading area for exports across the Mediterranean, at the forefront of trade and diplomatic relations. Many international organisations and players working to further the Euro-Mediterranean partnership are also based in the area, including the World Bank, UNIDO, IMED, Business France, World Water Council, ANIMA, and the French National Research Institute for Development.
Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis boasts a diversified economy based on industry, innovation and services, focusing on six key sectors: health, maritime and logistics, digital and creative industries, aeronautics and mechanics, tourism and lifestyle, and environment and energy.
The Metropolis leads cutting-edge innovation at flagship sites such as thecamp, the Belle de Mai media cluster, Marseille-Provence Technology Park, Arbois Mediterranean Environment Technology Park and, shortly, La Constance in Aix-en-Provence. The digital technology sector accounts for 49,000 jobs, 11,200 companies and turnover of 8.4 billion euros.
Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) has 78,000 students, 10,000 of them are internationals students. The faculties of medicine, pharmacy, law, economics, human sciences, science and technology, rub shoulders with the IEP, IAE, Centrale Marseille, EMD Management School, Kedge Business School, the ENSAM and Polytech Marseille.
What’s more, Provence was voted one of the top 10 places to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, and Marseille was ranked among the top 10 cities on the sea by National Geographic in 2016. Six MIPIM and MAPIC Awards were awarded between 2014 and 2017 for Les Terrasses du Port, the InterContinental Hôtel Dieu, the Boulevard Euroméditerranée, Les Docks Village, and Le Prado shopping centre, together with the Council of Europe Museum Prize for the MuCEM, and the Équerre d’Argent prize for Tour La Marseillaise.
The Metropolis hosts reputed festivals, including the Festival International d’Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence, the Roque d’Anthéron International Piano Festival and the 5 Continents Jazz Festival in Marseille. Every year, Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis hosts many major sporting events and international conferences. Marseille has also been chosen to host the sailing competitions and certain football matches as part of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
