Why choose Almeria as a location to start a business venture?

Almeria has the best climate in Europe with an average of 320 sunshine days per year. That compares to 214 in the Thames valley and 114 in the highlands of Scotland. Source Met office.

Almeria has one of the fastest growing economies in Spain. Spain has the fastest growing economy in Europe. Source IMF

The cost of living in Almeria is the lowest of any of the Mediterranean coastal provinces. The cost of living in Spain is the lowest in Western Europe. Source Healey and Baker.

The standard of living is Spain is the second best in Europe, with only those residents of Portugal experiencing a higher quality of life. Source William M Mercer Survey 2001 city rankings.

Spain has the highest per capita productivity output in Europe with exception of Ireland and Finland, and the lowest unit labour cost. Source US department of labour and OECD.

Despite a consistently slow climbing cost of borrowing, Spain still has interest rates far lower than the UK, and new more flexible lending criteria enable private and business investors to rely on the low overhead to stimulate growth.

The larger building conglomerates and the ancillary marketing and promotional companies that follow them have found a great climate for investment in Almeria bringing a constant flow of new money to the area.

Relaxed attitude to the almost Europe wide ban on Smoking in public places has given bar and restaurant owners in Almeria the choice and freedom to trade around restrictive operational controls.

Company law, taxation and employment conditions are similar if not identical to other European regimes allowing for easy integration in to new business practices.

Almeria retains a very typical Spanish cultural ambience despite 20 years of growth and a high level of new residents. This benefit makes it an attractive tourist destination for both foreign visitors and Spanish tourists alike.

10 good reasons to clear your desk and join the ever increasing number of northern Europeans taking up residence and holidaying in this riviera playground.