The city's economy is driven by information technology, government administration, aerospace research, and retail.
* **Information Technology**: Thiruvananthapuram is home to **Technopark**, India's largest IT park by built-up area, which houses hundreds of IT and ITES companies and employs over a hundred thousand professionals. * **Aerospace & Defense**: The Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) and Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC), both under ISRO, are major research and employment hubs. BrahMos Aerospace also has a major integration facility here. * **Retail & Commerce**: Traditional business districts include MG Road, Palayam, East Fort, and the historic Chalai Bazaar (a bustling traditional wholesale market). Modern retail thrives at the Mall of Travancore and LuLu Mall Thiruvananthapuram, which is one of the largest shopping malls in the country.
