Overview
The Southeast Region of Louisiana is made up of 8 to 10 parishes encompassing 4,860 square miles near the mouth of the Mississippi River and straddling the commercial transportation crossroads of the north-central coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 1.5 million people live in the parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa.

Ports
The area's port system, including the ports of New Orleans, South Louisiana, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Manchac, is among the busiest in the world and has positioned the region as a leading gateway to the markets of the U.S. Heartland and also to emerging world markets, especially those in Latin America.

Transportation
The Southeast Region is crisscrossed by I-10, which connects Jacksonville, Fla., and Los Angeles, and I-55, which stretches north to Chicago. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport manages more than 10 million passengers annually. Many of these visitors come to New Orleans in association with its tourism and convention business, which contributes more than $4.5 billion annually to the region's economy.

Industries
Major industries include oil and gas production, petrochemicals, tourism, the arts and entertainment, food processing and consumer products, shipbuildings, aerospace, e- commerce and technology and biotechnology. The latter sector is based in the region's research universities, including the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, the Tulane University Health Sciences Center, the University of New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana.

Quality of Life
The rich, diverse culture of the region has created a climate for some of the world's most popular restaurants and cuisine, numerous museums, symphony orchestras, dance troupes, community theater and festivals ranging from gatherings that celebrate the rich natural resources of South Louisiana to the world class Mardi Gras and Jazz and Heritage Festival.