The head of State is also awaited funding

With the crisis, the State especially played firefighters to extinguish the fire, Continental Molex from Philips or Total. Today, the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, réenfiler her clothes of architect in defending its industrial policy since the site of Eurocopter in Marignane (Bouches-du-Rhone). To do this, it will draw in some 800 proposals from the States General of the industry, extensive debate had gathered 5,000 participants for three months. While recalling what has already been done since 2007: business tax, tax credit research, EWB - SME, large loan, competitiveness clusters, etc.

The ambition is to prevent a loss of competitiveness and a movement of delocalization which are not yesterday. In twenty years, the France lost about 2 million industrial jobs. And over the last ten years, the weight of the industry in the economy did that reduce, to represent approximately 16 of the value added in 2008, when it was still in Germany. The crisis was that accelerated this decline, with manufacturing output result to its 1997 level.

Strengthen the fabric of SMEs

Shock treatment is necessary. In the large borrowing, "EUR 6.5 billion have already been mobilized for the industry, including 1 billion to draw the consequences of the States General", reminded the Elysee mid-February. On the envelope reserved for the States General, it was decided in the Parliament to spend EUR 500 million for subsidised green loans. Will make the Government, encourage businesses to invest in more environmentally friendly productions tools of the environment and to reduce their energy costs them more competitive. Beside, EUR 185 million will go toward relocation. This return aid will take the form of advances repayable for SMEs and middle-sized enterprises have relocated in recent years outside Europe ("Les Echos" from January 26). "They will be provided under conditions of investment and job creation," it said in the Government.

The remaining funds will be used to support a policy of nets, to strengthen the fabric of SMEs, taking example on the Germany (see below). The idea is to better associate public research, and rebalancing relations between donors of order and subcontractors. To do this, the States General proposed the drafting of charters of good conduct. The establishment of channels deemed the more strategic investment fund is also defended by Christian Estrosi, Minister in charge of the industry. Like what was done for the aéronoautique, automotive and biotechnology.

What about funding

Competitiveness, the research tax credit will not be extended to innovation ("Les Echos" of yesterday), but the sustainability of its prepayment (decided in the stimulus package and maintained in 2010) is also claimed. The head of State is also awaited funding. "Should guide further French savings to industry", stated Christian Estrosi mid-February. Currently, 1,250 billion euros are placed in life. When he was at Bercy, Nicolas Sarkozy had already implemented a device to promote the reorientation of these funds to companies focusing on tax actions (read here). It's to go further.

The States General also proposed establishing a "savings industry booklet", on the model of sustainable development (LDD, ex-money) booklet. But the site of the financing of companies exceeds the fields of industry and, if it should be the subject of first directions today, will extend in the coming months.