POITOU-CHARENTES - Economy
In 2000 Poitou-Charentes accounted for 2.2% of the GDP of France. The GDP per inhabitant (18 454 Euro/inh) was 25% below the national average, and 12% below the average for the provinces. The region?s biggest contribution was to the nation?s agricultural value added, accounting for 4.3%. The region?s contribution to other branches was lower: 2.8% of France?s gross value added of the construction sector, 2.2% to industry and only 1.9% to market services.
The region is the home to internationally renowned products: cognac, oysters from Marennes-Oléron, butter from Charentes, local goat's cheese, and Charentes slippers.
In 2000 agriculture accounted for 5.6% of Poitou-Charentes?s value added, compared to 2.8% for France as a whole. Despite a significant fall in the number of holdings, Poitou-Charentes remains an agricultural region, both in terms of the importance of the land farmed and the number of jobs. 69% of the territory of Poitou-Charentes is agricultural land. Farms are predominately geared to arable farming, which exploits 60% of the agricultural land. 17% is used for growing oilseed plants. Indeed Poitou-Charentes is the second biggest producer of oilseed (15%) after the Centre region. The region is also the third biggest producer of maize (11%). 5% of the agricultural land is used for vineyards principally for producing grapes for cognac. Only 28% of farms are geared to livestock farming.
Industry is also very present in the region, thanks to a very diversified set of activities, directed mainly by SMEs. In 2000 industry accounted for one fifth of the region?s value added roughly the same share as at national level. The agri-food industry is important and is well spread over the territory of the region, with it dairy and meat industries, and the production of Cognac (the region?s main export product). The timber industry, shipbuilding, aeronautics, rail building, and the car industry are all well established in the region.
In 2000, the agri-food industry accounted for 19% of the region?s industrial valued added, while on the national scale it accounted for 12%. The production of intermediate goods accounted for 35% of the region?s industrial value added, capital goods for 25%, and consumer goods for 11%. Compared to the national averages, the region?s intermediate goods sector is greater, the capital goods sector on a par, and the consumer goods sector smaller.
The main characteristic of the region?s tertiary sector is the preponderance of the insurance sector, due to a large number of mutual societies?s having their headquarters in the Niort area. Non-market services (public administration, military personnel etc.) are also very present, accounting for 33% of gross value added of the services sector. On the other hand, transport (4.6%) and market services to businesses (12.5%) account for a lesser share of value-added than on the national scale.
- Although the region is a long way from the economic strongholds of Europe, its situation on the Atlantic coast is of prime importance. The Atlantic coast, with its islands confer to Poitou-Charentes a strong maritime aspect through its oyster-rearing industry, fishing, sailing and tourism. The roman art, the poitevon marshes, and the Futuroscope Park also contribute to make Poitou-Charentes a reputed tourist destination. It has definite tourist appeal, with resorts concentrated around the islands, a mild microclimate, and a historic past which has left a legacy of many Romanesque buildings. Poitou-Charentes attracts its fair share of camping tourism. The region accounted for 7% of nights spent in camping sites in 2000. With 56 734 pitches for 451 camping sites Poitou-Charentes has an average of 126 pitches per camping site. In 2000 hotel capacity in terms of bedrooms amounted to 3% of total capacity of France and 3% of nights in hotels in metropolitan France.
- In 2001 there were over 1 million vehicles registered in Poitou-Charentes, of which 82.8% were private cars. The number of private cars in 2001 increased by 12.7% compared to 1990. In 2000 the road network of the region had 1 055 km of national roads, and 272 km of motorway. Poitou-Charentes?s maritime ports handled 8.8 million tons of freight and carried 15 000 passengers.
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