Nantes, the gateway to trade and investment in Western France

Pays de la Loire and Nantes : a dynamic economic region

With a population of 3.9 million, the Pays de la Loire region ranks among the most attractive in France. Nantes, the sixth-largest city in the country, with 600,000 inhabitants, benefits from strong innovation capacity driven by 10 competitiveness clusters and a dense economic fabric of SMEs and major corporations.

The region is home to six campuses and ten leading higher education institutions, including Audencia, L’École de design Nantes Atlantique and ICAM, offering high-level academic programmes. Nantes is also a recognised hub for industry of the future and healthcare, and is at the forefront of ecological transition and decarbonisation.

To facilitate your expansion into the French market, the Nantes St-Nazaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement and Team France Export have designed a comprehensive offer structured around five key pillars. It combines collective support with tailored individual guidance to assist you at every stage of your development, from market assessment to business establishment.

General or sector-specific exploratory missions :

Gain first-hand insight into the Nantes Saint-Nazaire economic area to identify its strategic strengths and assess the relevance of potential locations for investment in Western France.

• Organisation of tailored learning expeditions,
• Visits to key sites and strategic infrastructure across Pays de la Loire,
• Meetings with regional economic and institutional stakeholders.

Sector-specific exploratory missions :

Deepen your understanding of your industry within the French and European markets by analysing sector dynamics, key players and growth opportunities.

• Design and coordination of dedicated sector-focused missions,
• Targeted meetings with industry leaders and stakeholders,
• Visits to competitiveness clusters and participation in specialised business events.

Individual market testing :

Validate your development potential before or after establishing your business in France by confronting your offer with key market stakeholders.

• Organisation of feedback meetings with sector experts (industry professionals, end-users, potential partners),
• Operational support throughout your market entry phase,
• Deliverable : a market analysis report and a structured programme of meetings

Individual business set-up support :

Assess the viability of your business set-up project in France and secure your strategic decision-making through tailored support and direct access to the regional ecosystem.

• Organisation of meetings with trusted partners : HR, legal experts, accountancy firms, banks and commercial property specialists,
• Connection with the local ecosystem: institutions, business networks and economic decision-makers,
• Support in identifying suitable land or business premises within the Nantes Saint-Nazaire economic area.

Soft landing offer - Establish your business in France with confidence :

Start your operations in France with peace of mind thanks to flexible hosting solutions and facilitated access to the local business ecosystem, reducing risk and maximising your chances of success.

• Access to flexible and competitive workspace solutions: co-working spaces, meeting rooms and registered office services,
• Tailored support covering legal, tax, HR and intercultural matters,
• Introductions to the local ecosystem (partners, institutions, business networks, import/export companies) to accelerate your integration and generate new business opportunities.

Key sectors and investment opportunities in Pays de la Loire :

We primarily operate in the following strategic sectors, offering strong potential for international companies looking to invest in France :

• Health & Life Sciences,
• Energy,
• Aeronautics,
• Electronics, Plastics and Mechanical Engineering,
• Agri-food industries,
• Maritime Industries,
• Decarbonisation, Innovation, Smart Cities and Sustainable Mobility.