Introduction
Elche, business city
View of the city’s historical centre and El Palmeral palm groves
Elche is a city which is situated in the south of the Valencian Community, occupying the third position in terms of importance in the region and is among the 25 most important cities in Spain. The number of inhabitants (215,137), urban structure, good communication network and strategic position make it an ideal city as a place of residence and also as a centre of investment. Elche boasts the benefits and advantages of a medium-sized city in the throes of expansion.
Elche is Spain’s most important producer and exporter of footwear and is an international reference point in this sector. The municipality has administrative, communication, sociocultural, industrial and service infrastructures which are perfect for a dynamic life in all spheres. At the same time the city is still far removed from the problems that plague larger cities, such as massification and long distances to cover within the city itself.
Elche offers a high level of quality of life for its citizens and visitors, along with a large array of leisure, culture, entertainment and sports facilities, which is complemented by a wide range of opportunities in the world of business and employment.
Since the middle of the last century the footwear industry has constituted the heart of Elche’s economy. Elche is Spain’s most important producer and exporter of footwear and is an international reference point in this sector. The entrepreneurial nature of the business world and the professional dedication of its workers have contributed to this.
The consolidation of industrial development and the in-depth process of economic diversification in times of constant change have made it possible to create areas suitable for carrying out this economic activity. Among these areas Elche Parque Industrial is worth mentioning; a dynamic service centre aimed at high-quality companies with a vision to the future.
Elche, a city to be lived in Enviable natural characteristics, an excellent climate with moderate temperatures in winter and temperatures that are not too high in summer, a coastline with over 9 kilometres of beaches practically free of construction and an outstanding landscape of palm groves (with over 200,000 specimens in the entire municipal district), as well as several nature reserves, are among some of the reasons why Elche is the ideal place to live in or visit.
The attraction of these touristic values is strengthened by an exceptional quality that is within reach of only very few cities in the world: UNESCO has awarded World Heritage awards to two unique treasures: El Palmeral and the Misteri d’Elx. This increases the touristic and cultural potential of this extensive territory. All of this is complemented by a wide network of museums and exhibition centres that boast a permanent avant-garde programme of a high quality.
With this combination Elche can be described as a unique opportunity to make strategic investments with good future prospects in traditional sectors, as well as in the new sectors. Among these are tourism, leisure, communication, research and advanced services.
With the aim of maintaining and increasing these potentials for growth, citizens and local government are involved in the development of a Futurelx Strategic Plan which channels initiative and puts forward ideas to mark out the key proceedings necessary to design a better future in which high levels of social welfare take priority.
