1. 1. IntroductionIntroduction 2. 2. Location and administrationLocation and administration 2.1 2.1 locationlocation 2.2 2.2 Administrative organizationAdministrative organization 2.3 2.3 The populationThe population 3. 3. Commercial area of influenceCommercial area of influence 4. 4. Communication routes present and Communication routes present and

futures. futures.

5. 5. Information sources:Information sources:

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction The Grenadian economy and as a consequence, Loja’s economy The Grenadian economy and as a consequence, Loja’s economy

moves within a context of difficulties in growth, been extended to moves within a context of difficulties in growth, been extended to the entire national economy. The deterioration of the construction the entire national economy. The deterioration of the construction sector would have to add the high level of indebtedness of sector would have to add the high level of indebtedness of households, businesses and public administrations and difficulties households, businesses and public administrations and difficulties in obtaining financing by economic agents. in obtaining financing by economic agents. The adjustment of public finances in the country and the crisis in The adjustment of public finances in the country and the crisis in which the agricultural farming, basis of our economy is immersed which the agricultural farming, basis of our economy is immersed make almost impossible the revival of economic activity. make almost impossible the revival of economic activity.

As it happens in the rest of our country, the most serious problem As it happens in the rest of our country, the most serious problem is unemployment that affects all statements of society although is unemployment that affects all statements of society although young people applying for their first job are, by far, the most young people applying for their first job are, by far, the most directly affected.directly affected.

The low weight of the industrial sector in the province of Granada, The low weight of the industrial sector in the province of Granada, joined the small number of large companies based in the joined the small number of large companies based in the province, leading to a profile of the most engaged and most province, leading to a profile of the most engaged and most demanded occupations in which the unemployed poor skill demanded occupations in which the unemployed poor skill premium of almost all them. The immediate consequence of this premium of almost all them. The immediate consequence of this is that many of the top professionals in the province are forced to is that many of the top professionals in the province are forced to go to other regions or even outside Spain. go to other regions or even outside Spain. It is inevitable that many young people with higher education It is inevitable that many young people with higher education seek a job far from Loja, in destinations that offer better seek a job far from Loja, in destinations that offer better prospects, more in line with professional training and much better prospects, more in line with professional training and much better paid. paid.

2. 2. Location and administrationLocation and administration 2.1 Location2.1 Location

• Loja is nestled in the western part of the province of Granada (Andalusia). The municipality of Loja, located in the region of Western Granada west of the capital, consists, in addition to the population center itself, for another 21 annexed more: Los Arenales, Cuesta La Palma, Dehesa de los Montes, Source Camacho, Milanos, Pliner, Ventorros San Jose, Los Alazores, Cuesta Blanca, La Esperanza, The Factory, The Frontil, Manzanil, Riofrio, Agicampe, Ventorros Balerma, Ventorros Laguna, Lightning Sale, Sale Santa Barbara The Rozuelas and The Bujeo. 's total population of 21,135 people, of which about 16,000

• live in the town of Loja. extension of the municipality is 454.7 km 2 , of which 300 correspond to vegas and crops and 150 mid-mountain areas. Their dimensions vary between 1,670 m altitude of Sierra Gorda, north of the town, and 500 meters from the population itself, a situation that makes it a natural gateway between high and low Andalusia. 

• Walk is located at the A-92, km. 192, (CN-342) communication backbone of Andalusia, why today most of the trips are made within our region, allowing more capital from distant provinces are not used more than three hours to reach the city, leaving the international airports of Granada and Malaga at 20 and 40 minutes respectively.

• The municipality of Loja, located in the region of Western Granada west of the capital, consists, in addition to the population center itself, for another 21 annexed more: Los Arenales, Cuesta La Palma, Dehesa de los Montes, Source Camacho, Milanos, Pliner, Ventorros San Jose, Los Alazores, Cuesta Blanca, La Esperanza, The Factory, The Frontil, Manzanil, Riofrio, Agicampe, Ventorros Balerma, Ventorros Laguna, Lightning Sale, Sale Santa Barbara The Rozuelas and The Bujeo. 's total population of 21,135 people, of which about 16,000 live in the town of Loja. extension of the municipality is 454.7 km 2 , of which 300 correspond to vegas and crops and 150 mid-mountain areas. Their dimensions vary between 1,670 m altitude of Sierra Gorda, north of the town, and 500 meters from the population itself, a situation that makes it a natural gateway between high and low Andalusia.

2.22.2 Administrative organizationAdministrative organization

Loja Loja is a Spanish city in the province of is a Spanish city in the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalucía. Andalucía. This west part of Granada This west part of Granada province is called “Poniente Granadino”which province is called “Poniente Granadino”which consists Loja—the most important place of consists Loja—the most important place of this region and all the surrounding districts, this region and all the surrounding districts, Barrio de San Antonio, Ventorros de San José, Barrio de San Antonio, Ventorros de San José, Fuente Camacho, El Bujeo, Venta del Rayo, Fuente Camacho, El Bujeo, Venta del Rayo, La Fábrica, La Esperanza, Ventorros de la La Fábrica, La Esperanza, Ventorros de la Laguna, Riofrío, La Palma, El Frontil, Laguna, Riofrío, La Palma, El Frontil, Ventorros de Balerma, Venta Santa Bárbara, Ventorros de Balerma, Venta Santa Bárbara, Cuesta Blanca and Atajea. Cuesta Blanca and Atajea. In 2013 Loja had In 2013 Loja had 21 135 inhabitants according to the National 21 135 inhabitants according to the National Statistics Institute(INE). Statistics Institute(INE).

Loja forms a municipality which is governed Loja forms a municipality which is governed by a city council of democratic governance by a city council of democratic governance since 1979. It consists of 21 members since 1979. It consists of 21 members elected in local elections as it is stipulated in elected in local elections as it is stipulated in the Organic Law of the General Electoral the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime. The Town Hall is located in the Duke Regime. The Town Hall is located in the Duke of Valencia palace. of Valencia palace.

2.32.3 The population. The population. The financial crisis that affects all The financial crisis that affects all

Europe has caused a cause a fall in Europe has caused a cause a fall in the number of inhabitants in our the number of inhabitants in our town. Nowadays Loja, including the town. Nowadays Loja, including the neighbouring towns that belong to neighbouring towns that belong to our district, has a population of our district, has a population of 21,618 inhabitants: 10845 are men 21,618 inhabitants: 10845 are men and 10773 are women. 16,297 of and 10773 are women. 16,297 of them are working and 2,190 are them are working and 2,190 are unemployed. unemployed. The unemployment The unemployment rate with 13.9%rate with 13.9% is quite high, but not is quite high, but not much higher than in the other much higher than in the other prominent cities of our province. prominent cities of our province.

The town of Loja covers a lot of The town of Loja covers a lot of villages and hamlets such as villages and hamlets such as AgicampeAgicampe, , AlazoresAlazores, , AlmendroAlmendro, , Los Los ArenalesArenales, , La AtalayaLa Atalaya, , Campo DauroCampo Dauro, , La CiudadLa Ciudad, , Dehesa de los MontesDehesa de los Montes, , Los GallombaresLos Gallombares, , Huertas BajasHuertas Bajas, , Jardines de NarváezJardines de Narváez, , ManzanilManzanil, , MolehonesMolehones, , Nuño DazaNuño Daza, , PlinesPlines y y Puerto Blanquillo (Puerto Blanquillo (National Statistics National Statistics Institute, INE).Institute, INE).

Demographic evolution from 1900 to Demographic evolution from 1900 to 2012 when the population began to 2012 when the population began to decrease. In 1995 there were more decrease. In 1995 there were more than 22,000 inhabitants.than 22,000 inhabitants.

3. Commercial area of 3. Commercial area of influence.influence.

The bulk of the provincial economic activity is The bulk of the provincial economic activity is concentrated in the capital and its metropolitan concentrated in the capital and its metropolitan area and coastal municipalities. Five urban area and coastal municipalities. Five urban districts, Granada, Motril, Albolote, Peligros and districts, Granada, Motril, Albolote, Peligros and Loja, employ more than half of workers in the Loja, employ more than half of workers in the province (50.94%).province (50.94%).

Loja is economically supported by agriculture Loja is economically supported by agriculture and livestock. The most frequent technique is and livestock. The most frequent technique is irrigated agriculture which consists of 85% of irrigated agriculture which consists of 85% of olive growing together with asparagus and olive growing together with asparagus and other agricultural harvests like cabbage, parsley other agricultural harvests like cabbage, parsley and tomatoes which constitutes the 15% of the and tomatoes which constitutes the 15% of the total crops. total crops.

Obviously, our region is worldly known for our Obviously, our region is worldly known for our olive oil. olive oil. We produce olive oil of excellent We produce olive oil of excellent quality, which has a very defined features quality, which has a very defined features thanks to the uniqueness and richness of the thanks to the uniqueness and richness of the soil and climate of this region, typically soil and climate of this region, typically Mediterranean but strongly influenced by Loja’s Mediterranean but strongly influenced by Loja’s sorrounding mountains.Our land is suitable for sorrounding mountains.Our land is suitable for the different varieties of olives, being the the different varieties of olives, being the predominant varieties Hojiblanca by more than predominant varieties Hojiblanca by more than 80% and the so-called Picual. The most 80% and the so-called Picual. The most importan olive oil factory in Loja, as well as, in importan olive oil factory in Loja, as well as, in the province of Granada is The famous the province of Granada is The famous “Cooperativa San Isidro”. Cooperativa San “Cooperativa San Isidro”. Cooperativa San Isidro de Loja was founded in 1958 with the aim Isidro de Loja was founded in 1958 with the aim of unifying the efforts of its partners to sell the of unifying the efforts of its partners to sell the products they have produced. It has over 950 products they have produced. It has over 950 members with an average annual production of members with an average annual production of more than 30 million kg of olives that produce more than 30 million kg of olives that produce about 6.5 million kg of olive oil, and an average about 6.5 million kg of olive oil, and an average annual production of green asparagus over annual production of green asparagus over 600,000 kgs. 600,000 kgs.

Regarding livestock, we must Regarding livestock, we must stands out the autochthonous stands out the autochthonous sheep bred exclusively here. In sheep bred exclusively here. In addition, we have wide commercial addition, we have wide commercial trade of products like ecological trade of products like ecological food, sturgeon eggs or caviar, olive food, sturgeon eggs or caviar, olive oil and asparagus among others. oil and asparagus among others.

During the last decades of the XX During the last decades of the XX century, it was also important the century, it was also important the construction industry employing a construction industry employing a large number of people and the large number of people and the services sector with a wide range services sector with a wide range of possibilities, ranging from luxury of possibilities, ranging from luxury to small rural hotels. Despite the to small rural hotels. Despite the crisis, many of hotels and rural crisis, many of hotels and rural houses are still an important houses are still an important economic source. However, the economic source. However, the construction sector has severely construction sector has severely been hit by the country economic been hit by the country economic problems.problems.

4. Communication routes 4. Communication routes present and futures.present and futures.

► Transport and Communications.Transport and Communications. It is important to stand out that we are in the heart of It is important to stand out that we are in the heart of

Andalusia and in the centre of the communication Andalusia and in the centre of the communication network, connecting all the main capital cities, that is, network, connecting all the main capital cities, that is,

Malaga, Seville, Córdoba, Granada, etc.Malaga, Seville, Córdoba, Granada, etc.► Loja is perfectly connected with the airport of Granada Loja is perfectly connected with the airport of Granada

which is 20 minutes from Málaga International from which is 20 minutes from Málaga International from which more than 40 minutes are not used.which more than 40 minutes are not used.

► We can also reach the city by rail, which is within the We can also reach the city by rail, which is within the municipality three stops: Loja, San Francisco and municipality three stops: Loja, San Francisco and Riofrio, upon request by the latter groups. Loja is easy Riofrio, upon request by the latter groups. Loja is easy rail link with any city in Spain.rail link with any city in Spain.

► On the other hand and easily found the bus service to On the other hand and easily found the bus service to arriving and departing all cities in Spain either directly arriving and departing all cities in Spain either directly or through transfers. or through transfers. The frequency is one every The frequency is one every hour.  hour.        

► There are several bus lines that There are several bus lines that communicate Loja with Granada, Malaga communicate Loja with Granada, Malaga and other cities. It also has a stop in the and other cities. It also has a stop in the railway connection: Almería-Granada-railway connection: Almería-Granada-Sevilla, Granada-Antequera-Algeciras and Sevilla, Granada-Antequera-Algeciras and Granada-Antequera-Córdoba-Madrid. In Granada-Antequera-Córdoba-Madrid. In addition, there is a project to build a station addition, there is a project to build a station for the new high speed train line Seville-for the new high speed train line Seville-Granada, in the upper area of the city.Granada, in the upper area of the city.

►         ► As a curiosity, In the 1960s there was a As a curiosity, In the 1960s there was a

commuter train that connected Loja with commuter train that connected Loja with Huétor-Tájar, the train was known as “the Huétor-Tájar, the train was known as “the short” of Loja. That is why our local news short” of Loja. That is why our local news paper is called That way “El Corto de Loja”.paper is called That way “El Corto de Loja”.

5. Information sources:5. Information sources:

Páginas web: Ayuntamiento Loja, Diputación Páginas web: Ayuntamiento Loja, Diputación de Granada, Cámara de Comercio de Granada.de Granada, Cámara de Comercio de Granada.

Instituto Nacional de Estadística (www.sepe.es)Instituto Nacional de Estadística (www.sepe.es) National Institute of Statistics (INE)National Institute of Statistics (INE) University of Granada: website and University of Granada: website and

publications.publications. Interviews to business personalities in town.Interviews to business personalities in town. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Poniente_Granadino#Poblaci.C3.B3nPoniente_Granadino#Poblaci.C3.B3n http://www.lojaturismo.comhttp://www.lojaturismo.com