• • Aerospace
  • Agri-food
  • Automotive
  • Footwear
  • Renewable Energies
  • Services

Aerospace

An important sector in the region following the installation of the company Mecanizaciones Aeronáuticas, S.A. (MASA) in 1982. This company is specialized in the manufacture of finished and equipped metal components for the aerospace industry and has clients such as EADS and its subsidiary Airbus, Embraer, Latecoere, Gamesa Aeronáutica, Air Liquide and Sino Sweringer. Several companies specialized in meeting the requirements of the sector have also established themselves in the same area.

Agri-food

The agri-food sector is the most important in La Rioja’s industry. Differentiation through innovation and high-quality products has been the basis of the sector’s success. To this end, La Rioja has several of its own technology and research centers dedicated to the agri-food sector.

Within the agri-food sector, the following sub-sectors are noteworthy:

• Meat. Dedicated primarily to sausage making (chorizo, salchichón, etc.).
• Preserves. Associated with the region’s significant agricultural production of fruits, garden produce (vegetables, legumes, etc.), and mushrooms.
• Wine. The region’s primary industrial activity. Rioja wine is synonymous with quality and tradition and has gained significant international prestige, becoming the best ambassador for La Rioja abroad.

Within the sector, the tobacco industry has also been important due to the historic presence of Tabacalera, now part of the British firm Imperial Tobacco.

Automotive

A highly important sector throughout the Ebro Valley since top auto manufacturers (Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Seat and Volkswagen) established themselves in the area. This has generated a large ancillary industry in our region to serve the needs of these and other international plants.

In La Rioja, primarily after the opening of the Opel (General Motors) factory en Figueruelas (Zaragoza) in 1982, there have emerged numerous companies which manufacture components for the auto industry, some from La Rioja and others subsidiaries of foreign multinationals.

Among companies from La Rioja, especially noteworthy is Grupo Rioglass, which was established in 1992 and manufactures glass primarily for the automobile industry. It currently has factories in different areas of Spain, Belgium, Brazil and France.

Footwear

A traditional and important sector in La Rioja. The sector includes renowned international companies such as Calzados Fal (Chiruca), Fluchos, Calzados Hergar (Callaghan, Gorila) and Calzados Nuevo Milenio (Victoria), and a number of companies that manufacture components.

Renewable Energies

Spain is a world power in renewable energies. La Rioja is highly important for wind energy, photovoltaic solar energy and biodiesel production.

As regards wind energy, the Ebro Valley has numerous wind farms, making La Rioja an important testing ground ideal for companies operating in this sector to establish themselves.

As regards solar energy, La Rioja has captured the interest of several groups of companies intending to install photovoltaic solar panel factories in the region in response to the great demand for their use in solar farms and incorporation into the architecture of buildings, which will give the sector a big boost.

As regards biodiesel, the largest biodiesel production plant in Europe is being built in La Rioja. It will be operational in 2008 and have a production capacity of 250,000 tons/year.

Services

The services sector is very important in the economy of La Rioja. It accounts for more than half of the GDP of the region. It is very diversified in nature and includes estate agencies, company services, retailing, hotel and catering, transport and communications.

La Rioja has excellent retail and hotel opportunities, far better than the national average and mainly found in Logroño.

Information and communications technologies have grown in importance in La Rioja following the consolidation of the La Rioja company Arsys.es, created in 1996 and now the Spanish leader and one of the most important companies in Europe in the web hosting sector.