The 9th Territorial Economic Meetings focused on the economic development of the Nice Cรดte d’Azur metropolis through two panel discussions. The exchanges centered around the airport and its development, as well as land use planning and enhancing its attractiveness.
Christian Estrosi, President of the Nice Cรดte d’Azur Metropolis, Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Cรดte d’Azur Region, was present alongside Jean Pierre Savarino, President of the Nice Cรดte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippe Renaudi, President of UPE 06, Dominique Thillaud, Chairman of the Management Board of Aรฉroports de la Cรดte d’Azur, and numerous business leaders from the region, took the opportunity to review the economic development strategy.
Numerous points were discussed during these two hours of exchanges, first regarding the development of the Nice Cรดte d’Azur airport:
- It enjoys steady growth, increasing from 8 million passengers a few years ago to 13.85 million in 2018 (including 9 million international passengers)
- To remain competitive, the focus must be on operational performance on the ground
- A new long-haul flight to New York will be established soon
- Minimize public road blockage near the airport to avoid delays and inconveniences
The airport is currently connected to 122 destinations with 60 regular airlines. The airport platform is the 3rd largest in terms of business aviation in Europe and provides 580 direct jobs and 5000 indirect jobs.
Regarding land use planning and strengthening attractiveness, the direction taken is a policy of investment support. It is also about stabilizing the tax level.
The Universitรฉ Cรดte d’Azur has been awarded the Idex label and has established the Mediterranean Institute of Risk, Environment, and Sustainable Development (IMREDD) in the Var plain, consistent with an eco-industrial policy approach. 5000 square meters are dedicated to offices and laboratories (researchers, students, companies).
Another important point is the essential role of new technologies with the Nice Mรฉridia technopole project and the establishment of startups in the Notre-Dame district.
Finally, a metropolitan attractiveness agency is expected to be launched soon, and discussions are underway about renewing the Exhibition Center.
Olivia Baali and Robin Poncelet
