Challenge to the transfer of businesses and their needs

November 25, some 170 Presidents of Chambers of commerce and industry will have to decide together a major reform to transform the consular network in depth and thus write a new page in its history.

Chambers of commerce and industry are the oldest and largest network of support for business and economic development of the territories. Public establishments managed by contractors, they assume since almost two centuries of missions of general interest, with an obsession: serve the businesses. So far, the rooms are now at a turning point in their history and face multiple challenges. I see mainly three.

Challenge to the transfer of businesses and their needs. The massive use of new technologies, the progressive internationalization of SMEs, innovation, environmental requirement necessarily lead to rethinking the supply of network services.

Challenge linked to the emergence of real competition spurred, in particular, local communities, which, in respect of the powers conferred by the different laws of decentralization or the principle of free administration, have invested so abundant and sometimes unruly skills fields who, yesterday, were the exclusive domain of the consular world.

Finally, challenge related to the foreseeable evolution of territorial organisation. The State supports the economic dimension of the region; He is concentrated itself its means of action, now, the prefect of the region gives a power of evocation in public policy. Bet that upcoming Balladur commission proposals strengthen the coherence of public action.

Therefore the alternative available to the Presidents of Chambers is simple: they will need either clinging to a quasi-status quo around a network of public institutions to the uncertain future 100, or transform the consular network in depth to make it more efficient in its organization, without losing the proximity with businesses its strength. This is the meaning of the project carried by the President of the Assembly of French Chambers of commerce and industry, Jean-François Bernardin, which I support: a network of 22 area Chambers erected in public institutions consisting of territorial rooms closer to local needs and with a governance guaranteeing proximity and efficiency.

The internal debate in recent weeks, was established between the proponents of these two scenarios, is not pure form. I will not trial to the defenders of the status quo to the springs also simplistic and reducing as "anti-parisianisme" engine or I don't know what the regional fact refusal. No, I think that they are betting that the present organization of the consular network responds, again for the time being, to the needs of those who are its reason for being: businesses. On the other hand, those advocating reform believe that consular worldwide must reinvent itself to anticipate needs rapidly evolving and must upgrade its service offering.

The consular network is one of the building of the general revision of the policy conducted by the Government. In the situation which is ours, the reform is not only desirable, but essential! This is not something that Hervé Novelli, on behalf of the Government, came to explain to the House Presidents gathered in the General Assembly on 29 October.

This project is vital for the businesses we support in our houses of France. It is the only tomorrow, which can meet the needs of development of the capital region, by the President of the Republic, when he appointed Christian white Secretary of State for the development of the capital region. It is necessary, in the service of its economic development, to a large Ile-de-France ICC, unique public institution, based on territorial chambers in each Department.

Of course, to the realization of a large-scale reform are multiple. But we do not want the movement to our companies and disallow for the consular network. It is these challenges showing ambitious, that the ICC will be able to turn, reinforced and relégitimées, to companies to reinforce their development. This is by incorporating the realities and constraints of the current economic world that we will remain the operator of reference of the economic development policies in the eyes of the State, local communities and all their partners. US consular officials, will thus demonstrate in the eyes of the State that unprecedented reform is possible in this country and that business leaders know the lead.