Home to 3.7 million people and 54% of the national working population, the Norte Region, located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, is characterised by its external openness, by strong tradition and experience in international trade and a deep-rooted trend for migration. Its 144 kilometres of Atlantic coastline offer further opportunities for internationalisation and economic communication, an ancient connection to the sea that is at the basis of a unique cultural and historical heritage.