Some information about the economy and the local life
The local economy
Located in the heart of the South West of France, the Gers is one of the eight departments of the Midi-Pyrenees region. With a surface of 45,000 km² (vaster than the Netherlands), the region is renowned for its economical dynamism (1st French region for the creation of employment) and its quality of life that makes it the first destination desired by French people.
Less than an hour away from Toulouse, the regional capital with 600,000 inhabitants, second university town in France and historical cradle of Airbus and Ariane, the Gers, one of France most rural departments offers numerous activities linked to the agri-food industry.
Even though agriculture remains one of the mainstays of employment in the Gers, the tertiary sector, in constant progression, represents today over half of the labour force. Barely industrialised due to tradition, the Gers comprises 550 companies with more than 10 salaried workers, of which about twenty employ over 100 salaried workers. (Key figures for 2004: chiffres clés 2004).
The proximity of the Toulouse-Blagnac international airport and of the Aéroconstellation site where the future A 380 will be assembled contributes, moreover, to make the East of the department particularly attractive to companies in the aeronautics industry. This is why the aircraft parts manufacturer Latécoère has recently chosen to set up its brand new production site in Gimont whose reputation was until now linked to foie gras (Comtesse du Barry and Ducs de Gascogne).
The development of Information and Communication Technologies as well as the planned deployment of fibre optic which crosses the department open at last huge prospects in the field of economical development. The Gers looks therefore today like a pioneer amongst the French rural areas with regards the applications linked to geomatics. (Digitizing of the land register, e-services, promotion of the area on the Internet, development of broad band …)
Support services to entrepreneurs in the Gers
A welcome and information platform as well as an accompanying network for the SOLOS newcomers (individual entrepreneurs) is at your disposal at the CEEI Gers Gascogne.
In addition, numerous SOLOS have already been won over by the Gers. Over 150 of them have settled here to live and work differently. You will be able to obtain useful advice from them regarding your setting up formalities and your integration.
Infrastructures
The region comprises several airports and is linked to the main French and European towns. It also has a motorway linking it to the European network and it is situated at the junction of two important railways axes: the North -South axis (Paris/Orléans/Limoges/Toulouse or Agen/Bordeaux/Paris by TGV) and the West-East axis (Bordeaux/Toulouse/Vintimille). For more information: www.midipyrenees-expansion.fr/infrastructures.htm
The Gers educational system
In the Gers, each child benefits from an early age from a good quality education, in particular thanks to the great number of schools evenly spread out in the whole of the department and the high rate of computerisation. Several possibilities are therefore at the disposal of the youth from nursery to secondary school to which these past ten years have seen the addition of undergraduate and graduate courses (Bac+2 and Bac+3) (over one thousand students in Auch). The proximity of Toulouse which is the second university town in France (90,000 students) offers moreover a vast choice of subjects for higher education.
The medical-social system
Several hospitals can be found in the Gers and the whole of the medical profession is represented.
