Towards localized containment in the South? "A disaster" for companies

INTERVIEW

Pending government measures to fight the coronavirus epidemic, which should be announced following the Defense Council this Friday, the southern region is holding its breath.

Particularly in the Bouches-du-Rhône, where the incidence rate is 186 per 100,000 inhabitants, even 280 in Marseille.

In intensive care units, the beds dedicated to Covid-19 are almost all full.

Local political and economic players fear local confinement which would be "a real blow, a disaster", assures Jean-Luc Chauvin, president of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Metropolitan Industry. 

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The fear of localized confinement 

"The difficulty stems in part from the summer and from the fact that we welcomed a lot of tourists," he said, welcoming the efforts made by local businesses to respect barrier gestures.

"We must avoid confinement, and in particular localized, which would harm the economy of the Bouches du Rhône compared to the rest."

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He assures us that the consequences would be dramatic for the local economic fabric.

"For our companies, it is a stop again of the economy in a complicated period, where we have no visibility, it is therefore probably companies in this confined area, will have additional difficulties, could not not get through this crisis, jobs would be destroyed, "laments Jean-Luc Chauvin.

"So it's a real blow, a disaster. We must do everything to absolutely avoid it. We must find all possible solutions, including for us entrepreneurs, to organize ourselves to do as much telework as possible, in order to 'avoid the travel of our employees. "

Concerned events, tourism and construction 

The Aix-Marseille-Provence CCI brings together 115,000 companies.

While it is still too early to assess the impact of containment on local structures, a business survey carried out in mid-summer reveals that 6 out of 10 companies say they have returned to normal activity, but 8 out of 10 companies have lost. at least 10% of their turnover.

"The situation is fragile", decrypts Jean-Luc Chauvin. 

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The events sector (concerts, sports) is particularly affected, with a loss of 70% loss of turnover since the start of the year, according to the conjecture survey.

"Unfortunately in the coming weeks, and in particular the fact that we are in the red zone, nothing is being prepared, everything is canceled," warns the president of the ICC.

"The tourism industry was able to find solutions, but has been quite worried since the beginning of September again."

It also points to the building sector, which no longer has visibility or orders, especially for public works.

Jean-Luc Chauvin hopes for a rapid and territorialized implementation of the stimulus plan announced by the government.

"It is necessary that from October, we can benefit from a number of devices," he says.