This morning marked the 13th economic and territorial relaunch meetings of the Alpes-Maritimes. Under the theme “resilience and recovery,” this seminar addressed various important topics of the department.
It was a highly anticipated event. In a time when the health and economic crises are prevalent, it was necessary to provide answers to numerous questions. To this end, three major themes were addressed:
the strategic axes of the Departmental Council, the role of the Nice Côte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) within the Alpes-Maritimes territory and its action as part of the recovery plan, and finally, departmental tourism. Firstly, it was noted that the health context and the highly probable arrival of a new lockdown in the coming days would mark a new turning point. Indeed, this would lead to the closure of certain businesses, but the president of the departmental council, Charles-Ange Gynesy, still praises the assistance that has been provided over almost a year. “We have found ideal partners to face the health crisis, it’s thanks to you that we have been able to provide this assistance since last March.” He was then obliged to address the situation of the valleys affected by Storm Alex last October “exceptionally, a community managed to invest money to save people.” He also stated that he did not expect such damage in the mountains, but that the coast seemed more at risk considering the rainfall. Furthermore, it will take many years to rebuild everything given the damage.
Businesses in Difficulty
The year 2020 did not come without consequences for some entrepreneurs. Despite the aid received, Philippe Renaudi, president of the UPE 06, maintained that “the problem for an entrepreneur is to have activity, not aid.” So yes, a lockdown would have dramatic consequences. That is why in this year 2021, everyone must do what is necessary to ensure the sustainability of these businesses. “In 2021, we must jointly tackle the challenges related to the economic crisis, social divide, ecological urgency, and digital transformation.”
