A “Davos of the suburbs” in September for businesses in working-class neighborhoods

Europe 1 with AFP 12:54 p.m., March 28, 2024

An economic forum or "Davos" of the suburbs, aimed at promoting the activity of businesses in working-class neighborhoods, will be organized on September 17 and 18 in Paris, its organizers announced Thursday. "The challenge (...) is to identify levers to initiate a real economic dynamic within the priority districts of the city policy (QPV), where more than 5 million French people live, most of whom are exposed at an unemployment rate 2.7 times higher than the national average,” indicates the Suburban Economic Forum (FEB).

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An economic fabric that could develop

In the premises of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese), the thousand expected participants will first spend a day discussing the economic situation of working-class neighborhoods and the solutions that can be found. The second day will be devoted to connecting local entrepreneurs with large companies, with the aim of securing 100 million euros in orders.

“This is an opportunity to set out a vision, an economic development plan for these suburbs,” said entrepreneur Aziz Senni, organizer of this “Davos of the suburbs”, a nod to the city. Switzerland where the World Economic Forum is held each year. “We often say that the suburbs cost the state budget, we are always told how much it costs without ever telling us how much it brings in,” he continues. “We have an economic fabric there that we could develop, by creating local jobs, internships, work-study programs.”

Many politicians expected

Each speaker will be invited to make proposals for businesses in working-class neighborhoods, which will be recorded in a White Paper. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire or former ministers Jean-Louis Borloo and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem are expected there, according to the FEB. As for private actors, the founder of Free Xavier Niel, the general director of the French Banking Federation Maya Atig as well as the former president of Medef Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux have confirmed their participation, the same source indicates.

The organizers wish to focus on VSEs and SMEs created more than two years ago and less eligible for public aid for entrepreneurship, explained Aziz Senni. The Suburban Economic Forum wishes to facilitate access to public and private markets for 250,000 of these businesses located in QPVs.