Bernard Kleynhoff provides his analysis of the economic situation in the Azurean region from his perspective as the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Without wanting to be negative or create anxiety (others take care of that) but simply being realistic, the economic situation of our Territory is poor. Practically all the indicators are currently in the red.
Following various start-of-term meetings, such as the General Assembly and the economic outlook conference, I proposed implementing 7 measures to revive the local economy.
These 7 proposals have been sent to all our parliamentarians, senior officials, and decision-makers. Our objective is to create an echo, to be a sounding board for as many people as possible, and to propose solutions to actively contribute to the recovery of our territory.
Because now it is urgent to move from promises to action with concrete effects for 2015 and restore confidence between the Government and business leaders.
These conditions are imperative to encourage our entrepreneurs to invest and then to hire.
You can count on our involvement despite a very tough fiscal context for the network of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, particularly ours.
In addition to a 37% cut in our tax revenues from 2014 to 2017, which will continue to be collected from businesses, it is planned to withdraw 500 million euros from the CCI’s reserve funds, 15 million euros of which is from our Nice Côte d’Azur CCI, it’s our capacity to invest.
Some might see this as the result of the good and sound management of my predecessors who have built up this reserve and investment fund until now. Remember that this reserve fund is meant to allow us to invest, build our Regional Apprenticeship Campus, to be at Business Pôle in Sophia Antipolis, to be present everywhere in the field, and to support businesses.
By dismantling the CCI network, it would be the businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, that the State would penalize. They would be deprived of local services meeting their needs, such as support for creation, assistance with export, innovation, formalities, training, and particularly apprenticeship
