Editing Nord-Pas-de-Calais (section)

==Economy==

===General data===
In 2014, the Nord-Pas de Calais [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] reached €140&nbsp;billion making it the 4th biggest French economy, although this figure has to be put in the context of the large population of the region. The region was only in 16th place out of 24 for GDP per capita in 2014 with €34,422.

The [[unemployment rate]] is higher than the national average. About 11% of the population was unemployed in 2014, particularly people aged between 18 and 25.

The economy is essentially led by the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]], which employs 75% of the working population, followed by manufacturing (23%) and agriculture (2%).

=== Agriculture and fishing ===
Due to its location close to the [[North Sea]], the Nord-Pas de Calais region has a strong [[fishing industry]].

The [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] harbor is the biggest French port in terms of capacity with more than 150 boats. 45,000 tons of fish were traded there in 2012. The harbor is also a leading European seafood processing center with 380,000 tons of shellfish, fish and [[algae|seaweed]] traded every year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Port du peche|publisher=Port de Boulogne-sur-Mer|url=http://www.portboulogne.com/port-de-peche.html|access-date=7 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220013002/http://www.portboulogne.com/port-de-peche.html|archive-date=20 December 2012}}</ref> Some 140 companies are present in the port.

The agricultural sector comprises 13,800 farm businesses using {{convert|820000|ha|acre}} of farmland. The temperate climate as well as great fertility makes the region a leading production center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/regions/nord-pas-de-calais/reg-dep.asp?theme=10&suite=1 |title=Insee – Régions |publisher=Insee.fr |access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref> The Nord-Pas de Calais region supplied 26.1&nbsp;million tons of wheat (approximately 7% of the national production) and a third of the French potato production.

=== Industry ===
The region's industry was originally focused on coal and textile production, and was one of the cradles of the [[Industrial Revolution]] on the continent. After the end of the Second World War, migrant workers from all over Europe came to the region, making up for population losses due to the war. In the 1970s, the leading coal and textile industries began to fade away and unemployment rates increased rapidly. The region started a process of restructuring which still continues today. Nowadays, the manufacturing sector is led by the [[automobile industry]].

The [[Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin]] was the leading region of coal production in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For its three-hundred-year history of mining and its testimony to the advent of industrialization in France, the mining basin was listed on the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]] in 2012.<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1360 |title = Nord-Pas-de-Calais |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 4 December 2021}}</ref>

==== Automobile industry ====
In the 1970s, the sector represented a small part of the working population. Some 40 years later, it is the main industry in the region, employing 55,000 people. In terms of productivity, the Nord-Pas de Calais region is ranked second nationwide and is one of the main export areas.

Three main worldwide car manufacturers operate plants in the region: [[Toyota]] produce the [[Toyota Yaris|Yaris]] in [[Valenciennes]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toyota-valenciennes.com |title=Toyota : Usine Toyota Valenciennes, Fabrication Yaris |publisher=Toyota-valenciennes.com |access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref> [[Renault]] build the [[Renault Scénic|Scénic]] in [[Douai]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.renault.com/fr/groupe/developpement-durable/fiches-sites/pages/douai.aspx |title=Le groupe automobile Renault |publisher=Renault.com |access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref> and [[PSA Peugeot Citroën]] operate a plant in [[Lieu-Saint-Amand]] where [[Peugeot 807]], [[Citroën C8]], [[Fiat Scudo]], [[Peugeot Expert]] and [[Citroën Jumpy]] are fabricated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sevelnord.psa.fr/index.php?id=536 |title=Les véhicules du site |publisher=Sevelnord.psa.fr |access-date=25 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182735/http://www.sevelnord.psa.fr/index.php?id=536 |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> In addition, automotive equipment manufacturers such as [[Faurecia]] employ 6,200 workers in the region. Small-scale manufacturers have also been based in the region, such as [[microcar]] manufacturers [[Automobiles ERAD|ERAD]], Savel, and Secma.

Nord-Pas de Calais is the second main region for the automotive industry in France after Île de France (Paris region). The sector trade fair, the Forum on European Automotive Industry in Lille Region (FEAL),<ref>{{cite web|title = Autoforumlille|url = http://www.autoforumlille.eu/|website = Autoforumlille|access-date = 12 April 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150427014518/http://www.autoforumlille.eu/|archive-date = 27 April 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> takes place biennially to showcase the industry of the region and its importance for France and Europe.

==== Food industry ====
The food industry in Nord-Pas de Calais draws on the agricultural sector of the region. By income, this is the most important industry of the region due to strong exports (€3.2bn in 2006). More than 27,000 employees were employed in the sector in 2007. Many global corporations such as [[McCain Foods]], [[Roquette Freres]], [[Bonduelle]], [[Pasquier]] or [[Boulangeries Paul]] are present in the Nord-Pas de Calais region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/regions/nord-pas-de-calais/default.asp?page=themes/dossiers_de_profils/dp_96/dp_96.htm |title=Insee – Régions |publisher=Insee.fr |access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref>

=== Services ===

==== Mulliez Family ====
The services sector of the Nord-Pas de Calais region is dominated by the multi-billionaire [[Association Familiale Mulliez|Mulliez family]], who own the main superstore chains of the region, some of which are known worldwide: [[Auchan]], [[Decathlon (retailer)|Decathlon]] or [[Leroy Merlin]] as well as the [[Flunch]] [[restaurant chain]]. The family also holds a stake in [[3 Suisses]], [[Norauto]] and many other companies.