A surprisingly calm and composed Christian Estrosi, who normally thrives on adrenaline, outlined the economic landscape of Nice and its metropolitan area and revealed his upcoming perspectives and major orientations.
A large and attentive audience, in the presence of the local oligarchy, gathered to hear about the business community of this rapidly changing territory that its President wishes to transform from a renowned tourist destination into a modern European and global technopole.
The intention is commendable, and the aim is noble: now, the conditions for its realization need to be defined. There is certainly no doubt about Christian Estrosi’s will and determination, but if it were that simple…
In short, the Mayor-President’s one-man show had the merit of revisiting the list of ongoing projects and the commitment in terms of investments from which the local industrial fabric has benefited and will continue to benefit, thanks to the metropolitan Small Business Act, which favors local businesses in public tenders.
As for the industrial densification of the territory, two new industrial zones are being planned: one on the municipalities of Castagniers and Colomars for SMEs/micro-enterprises, and the other in Carros (strengthening the existing one), Saint-Esteve, and Saint-Jeannet.
This orientation aims to rebalance the commercial development of the Plaine du Var, which is currently increasingly occupied by shopping centers that do create jobs but are far from having the innovative profile of an OIN’s activities.
Faced with this commercial gigantism that is making the Plaine du Var more of a Market Valley than a technopole, and its negative impact on local retail activities, a new initiative has been announced: the creation of a fund for local commerce, financed by these same distribution groups. But for what purpose?
The ambitious policy of the Mayor-President (3.7 billion euros have been injected by the Metropolis and the City of Nice into the economy) represents an interesting lever but one that needs to be supported and developed.
Hence Christian Estrosi’s appeal to an audience more inclined to preserve acquired assets and lament rather than react boldly: “I need you! I could not continue without you.”
Does this call not conceal a deeper truth: in fact, without the adrenaline of its Mayor-President, would Nice Metropole be nothing more than a tourist beach destination?
