The tandem leading the Azur employers’ union, Yvon Grosso and Honoré Ghetti, presented the 2015 results and the 2016 outlook for the organization, which brings together 33 branch unions and direct members, totaling 8,500 companies (+200 in 2015) and over 115,000 employees.
Yvon Grosso extensively revisited the highlights of a busy year full of events, which enabled the employers’ organization to play its role as a defender of the category’s interests and a watchdog in an often unfavorable context for the business world.
All this in addition to the traditional business support activity in the form of 360° services, an activity that is even more important and almost indispensable considering the local entrepreneurial fabric consists mostly of very small and medium-sized enterprises (VSE-SMEs).
Particular attention was given to mobilizing for businesses affected by the floods last October: over 1,100 companies were impacted with more than 70 million euros in damages.
For 2016, major projects are on the horizon.
The first of which is called “Horizon 2021.” It is intended to be an economic program for entrepreneurs, comprising 27 proposals focused on 10 major priorities.
With the assignment to the Region of economic development responsibilities (…and the election of Christian Estrosi), the undisguised goal is to make PACA (and the Alpes-Maritimes) an area of economic growth at the European level.
A second project that will require a lot of commitment is the launch of a Regional Tax Observatory, in collaboration with PACA employers’ bodies. It will serve as a tool for analysis and proposals on local corporate taxation.
The UPE will also be engaged in the privatization of the Airport, a process that is now starting. The aim is to represent potential industrial investors to form a blocking minority that can counterbalance the future concessionaire’s strategic choices in favor of the territory’s interests.
Likewise, the employers’ association plans to be strongly mobilized for the High-Speed Train Line during the public consultation scheduled from March to June.
Taking the opportunity, Yvon Grosso could not refrain from expressing his views on government policy. As usual, his remarks “skinned” the economic and social policy, especially concerning employment.
But, in these cases, we know in advance that the tune is always the same: sometimes it might be good, but it is never quite enough in the end!
2016 will also be a “sparkling” year for the democratic life of the UPE: the assembly on June 30 will elect the new president who will take over from Yvon Grosso, who, after two terms, will not be able to run again.
But, but, in November, there will also be the renewal of the governance of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, whose current president Bernard Kleynhoff has followed Christian Estrosi to the regional assembly.
The electoral weight of various components of the business world means that it’s the UPE candidate who holds the key.
From there, one can imagine the scenario…
Of course, the actors in this drama retreat behind a diplomatic “campaign calendar.” But, like in the “commedia dell’arte,” the ending is already written. Everyone knows it, but each pretends to ignore it.
Besides, without this entertainment, it wouldn’t be the “commedia… dell’arte”!
