Editing Melilla (section)

=== Tertiary sector ===
The economic sector that generates the most wealth and employment is the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|services sector]], which accounts for 80% of the 1.564 billion euros of GDP in 2018, and employs 32% of the population (2021). The principal industry is fishing. Cross-border commerce (legal or smuggled) and Spanish and European grants and wages are the other income sources.

; Business activity

In 2022, there were a total of 4,856 companies in the city, generally small-sized. Of these, 2,617 were dedicated to commerce, transportation, and hospitality, 1,714 to services, 615 to professional and technical activities, and the rest to other services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla - How many companies are there in your municipality? |url=https://www.epdata.es/datos/numero-empresas-municipio-localidad/140/melilla/4494 |accessdate=2025-04-02 |website=www.epdata.es}}</ref>

Melilla is regularly connected to the Iberian peninsula by air and sea traffic and is also economically connected to Morocco: most of its fruit and vegetables are imported across the border. Moroccans in the city's hinterland are attracted to it: 36,000 Moroccans cross the border daily to work, shop or trade goods.<ref name="vk1">English translation of Volkskrant article: [http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/309191-melilla-north-africa-s-european-dream Melilla North-Africa's European dream] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307004142/http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/309191-melilla-north-africa-s-european-dream |date=7 March 2012 }}, 5 August 2010, visited 3 June 2012</ref>

==== Commerce ====
In Melilla, there are various commercial establishments, including the Centro Comercial Parque Melilla, several [[Department store|department stores]], [[hypermarkets]], and [[supermarkets]]. Among the most notable are those belonging to major distribution chains, such as the hypermarket [[Carrefour]], with a branch in the city, [[Mercadona]], with one store, [[DIA (supermarket chain)|Dia]], with three locations, [[Lidl]], with one store, and [[Aldi]], with one store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Food |first=Financial |date=2020-02-26 |title=Murias Parque Melilla shopping center increased its sales by 16.2% in 2019 |url=https://financialfood.es/el-centro-comercial-murias-parque-melilla-elevo-sus-ventas-un-162-en-2019/ |accessdate=2025-03-22 |website=Financial Food |language=es}}</ref>

Moreover, trade with Morocco has historically been key to the economy of Melilla, especially through the commercial customs office, which facilitated the passage of essential goods for the city. However, in 2018, Morocco closed this customs office, severely affecting Melilla’s merchants and the approximately 5,000 cross-border workers who depended on informal trade. In 2020, the border closure due to the pandemic further exacerbated the situation, limiting commercial exchange.

In 2025, after nearly three years of negotiations, Spain and Morocco agreed to reopen the commercial customs offices, though with new restrictions on the products that could cross and a limit on the number of trucks per day. This agreement, although limited, has allowed a partial recovery of cross-border trade, providing relief to the sectors most affected in Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Economic sector and province employment (3990) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=3990 |accessdate=2022-02-13 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-21 |title=Morocco considers the end of atypical commerce in Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/marruecos-da-por-finiquitado-el-comercio-atipico-en-melilla/ |accessdate=2022-02-13 |website=El Faro de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-06 |title=Morocco is considering permanently closing the borders with Ceuta and Melilla |url=https://www.niusdiario.es/internacional/africa/marruecos-plantea-definitivamente-fronteras-melilla_18_3166020487.html |language=es-ES |work=Nius Diario}}</ref>

==== Public administration ====
Melilla is a region where the [[Public Administration of Spain|Public Administrations]], especially the [[Ministry of Defence (Spain)|Ministry of Defense]], have a significant weight in the economy, accounting for a total of 47%, a circumstance it shares with Ceuta. In 2015, a Technology Center was inaugurated with the aim of promoting the development of ICT companies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 28, 2010 |title=The technology center will open Melilla to join the R&D+i network |url=https://www.diariosur.es/v/20101228/melilla/centro-tecnologico-abrira-melilla-20101228.html |access-date=July 31, 2018 |newspaper=Diario Sur |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Melilla inaugurates its Technology Center for training and employment in R&D+i |url=https://www.diariosur.es/agencias/andalucia/201503/13/melilla-inaugura-centro-tecnologico-337557.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062110/https://www.diariosur.es/agencias/andalucia/201503/13/melilla-inaugura-centro-tecnologico-337557.html |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |newspaper=hoy.es |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Inaugurates the Technology Center, which could start operating in May |url=http://www.melillamedia.es/n/5762/inauguran-el-centro-tecnologico-que-podria-empezar-a-funcionar-en-mayo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062209/http://www.melillamedia.es/n/5762/inauguran-el-centro-tecnologico-que-podria-empezar-a-funcionar-en-mayo |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |website=melillamedia.es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla gains momentum |url=https://europa.eu/investeu/projects/ict-culture-melilla_es |access-date=July 31, 2018 |website=investEU |language=es}}</ref>