On the occasion of the 2015 greetings, Bernard Kleynhoff reviewed the main actions carried out by the CCI in 2014 and announced the plan for the year that has just begun.
“Being close to businesses, being able to respond to them” is the leitmotif of the President of the CCI Côte d’Azur, Bernard Kleynhoff.
“Our objectives are focused on supporting businesses, competitiveness, and the attractiveness of the territory. In 2014, we continued to evolve our locations in various economic areas, as we are now established in the Eco-Vallée (‘Nice-Premium building), in Sophia Antipolis, in Antibes, and in the Cannes area, all to be closer to businesses. We aim to better understand their expectations and desires,” Bernard Kleynhoff reminds us.
The President of the CCI highlighted the importance—both for businesses and the territory—of promoting “Made in Côte d’Azur”. “Côte d’Azur also encompasses the tourism sector as well as the promotion of events that may occur. As part of this approach, we are guiding our hoteliers towards green labels. These are particularly important elements that highlight our territory and make it attractive, especially in the eyes of Northern European countries.”
The CCI from 2015
For the year 2015, the CCI plans to support more closely the businesses experiencing difficulties due to various crises. “We had set up ‘bounce-back’ programs and the ‘rapid intervention force for businesses’ in the hope of not having to use them. Unfortunately, they are necessary. Businesses are experiencing increasingly significant difficulties. We see many more direct liquidations than judicial recoveries,” announced the president of the CCI.
The CCI is taking action with 500 students, apprentices, and trainees in training. One of the significant investments underway is the Regional Apprenticeship Campus, costing 85 million euros. It will open on 24,000 m² in the heart of the Eco-Vallée and the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis by 2018. Described as the “eighth wonder of the world” by the government, it plays a role in learning, training, and experience. It will accommodate 18,000 students aged 16 and over and help combat school dropout.
“This campus allows acquiring experience, understanding life in a company—with which the student is directly connected—and obtaining a diploma. By offering many accommodations, the project provides the opportunity to no longer select by geographic criteria,” explains Bernard Kleynhoff.
However, this project is challenged by the reduced financial revenues of the CCI following various measures adopted within the framework of reorganizing the consular system.
In this regard, the president of the CCI Côte d’Azur gave a very cautious opinion: “If the request is: 145 chambers of industry and commerce are too many, I answer yes. How to reduce costs, pool resources, integrate services, I answer: I don’t know. What is the model? The territory? but up to what size to protect proximity? horizontal integration with other consular chambers (crafts, agriculture) as in Italy? why not. A unique model or variable geometry depending on the socio-economic context (the CCI Côte d’Azur has 71 thousand member companies, others 7 thousand), I say it’s not the same thing.
The question of the privatization of Nice airport has not escaped scrutiny.
Faced with “do not touch our airport,” the President of the CCI confirmed his pragmatic stance: “we must wait to see if the clause—in the Macron law—concerning the alleged privatization of airports will be voted on or not and if voted, under what terms.”
Not wishing to interfere, he still wanted to remind that an important question for judging this government bill being examined by deputies and senators will be the destination of the money the State will derive from the sale of its total or partial participation. For example, will it return to the territory in the form of infrastructure investment funding?
The question is not neutral, and such a delicate issue requires a strategic vision, attention, and caution rather than gesticulation and political exploitation to gain some fleeting benefits.
Finally, regarding the economic situation, Bernard Kleynhoff deferred his response to a forthcoming conference that will take place at the beginning of February, once the official 2014 figures are known.
“I am neither pessimistic nor optimistic. However, I see no elements that lead me to be optimistic,” he concluded.
by Imane Hyjazi
