CONFERENCE & B2B – ANIMA was present at the Aix Marseille Forum organized by Provence Promotion

The second edition of the Aix-Marseille Forum was held at the Palais de la Bourse, in the heart of the CCI, with the theme “International Groups Betting on Metropolises.” This forum was organized by the economic development agency Provence Promotion, a member of ANIMA, as part of the influence program, bringing together key players in territorial development, including the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, the CCI Aix-Marseille-Provence, the Port of Marseille Fos, Marseille Provence Airport, Euroméditerranée, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department, and the Club Top 20.

On this occasion, leaders of major foreign companies operating in France were invited to provide recommendations regarding the attractiveness of regional metropolises. The morning featured two plenary conferences: “Talent: Diversity, Inclusion, Mobility: The Response of Metropolises” and “Decarbonization and Energy Transition in Industry and Logistics: What Role do Metropolises Play?”

Zoé Luçon, Senior Expert, and Raphael Cohen, Project Director, attended the Palais de la Bourse to represent ANIMA and actively participate in the debates and discussions that marked the event.

Promising Economic Enthusiasm

During the event, Jean-Luc Chauvin, President of the CCI Aix-Marseille-Provence, highlighted the current economic enthusiasm in the Aix-Marseille metropolis. He announced a wave of major industrial projects, including the notable creation of thousands of jobs through Airbus’ involvement. Among the topics discussed, accelerating land and transportation projects was emphasized as a priority. Finally, it was underscored that political will is essential to successfully implement initiatives such as decarbonization and the preservation of the quality of life in the region.

Marc Lhermitte from EY presented the results of the 2023 France Attractiveness Barometer, highlighting the significant impact of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in France. These FDIs contribute to 25% of private R&D and 35% of industrial exports. Metropolises must work on their positioning regarding key issues like competitiveness, fluidity (entry barriers), exports, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), employability, innovation, and transitions. New criteria are influencing the investment decisions of foreign groups, especially in terms of political approaches to climate change and sustainability.

Aix-Marseille: A Competing Metropolis?

In terms of image and dynamism, the Aix-Marseille metropolis stands out with a diversified portfolio, covering various sectors such as energy, recycling, information technology, transportation, storage, financial services, agri-food, and cultural and creative industries. The metropolis’s challenges are clear: to combine pragmatism and sustainability to attract foreign investments, taking into account criteria like climate policy, liquidity of financial markets, and the adoption of technologies by consumers and clients.

Crucial Debates at this Second Edition

A roundtable addressed crucial questions related to diversity, inclusion, and talent mobility in metropolises. Alain Roumilhac, President of Manpower Southern Europe, highlighted the challenges related to skills shortages and sociological changes, especially concerning the balance between professional and personal life.

The plenary session titled “Decarbonization and Energy Transition in Industry and Logistics: What Role do Metropolises Play?” delved deep into the France 2030 Investment Plan, launched in 2021 with a budget of 54 billion euros. This ambitious plan aims to catch up with France’s industrial backlog while significantly investing in innovative technologies and supporting ecological transition. During this session, it was stressed that the France 2030 Program represents a crucial opportunity for industries wishing to embark on decarbonization efforts. Furthermore, the importance of government support in achieving these ambitious environmental and industrial objectives was highlighted, underscoring the need for close collaboration between the private sector and public authorities. Companies such as Air Products, Siemens, LyondellBasell, and Heidelberg Materials also shared their efforts and commitments to reducing CO2 emissions and promoting decarbonization.

Congratulations to the engaging panelists, the Provence Promotion teams, and their partners for these discussions that strongly resonate with the concerns and missions of ANIMA network members.

For more information on the Aix Marseille Forum, visit next link.