Exports to France have fallen by 6.7% in the past year, coinciding with a rise in exports to Spain. Despite the positive performance of business data, ambassador Noëlia Souque has indicated that the government aims to reverse this trend and maintain equilibrium between the two territories.
Investment figures also reflect an imbalance: while investments in Spain amounted to approximately €7 million, those directed towards France have surged to €15 million, largely due to ongoing roadworks in the French territories.
These statistics were presented during the second day of the national cross-border forum held in the capital, attended by around seventy business leaders and political representatives. The cross-border area, which encompasses three French provinces (Haute-Garonne, Ariège, and Pyrénées) and two Spanish provinces (Lleida and Girona), is home to over 271,000 businesses.
The region boasts a GDP of €137 million, with a growth rate of 0.7% over the past year. It employs 1.5 million workers within a stable population of approximately 3.5 million residents across these areas. In the past year, Andorra has seen 4 million vehicles cross through these border regions.
In an effort to diversify the economy within the cross-border space, Andorra is developing economic zones on both sides of the border. Daniel Aristot from the Andorran Family Business Association emphasised the security that the area can offer but called for a well-defined legislative framework, unified management, and a single major operator.
Business leaders have requested the establishment of companies focused on software for tourism, healthcare, and environmental sectors, as well as high-value-added enterprises to enhance per capita GDP in these regions.
