Pays de Meaux - Eastern promise

At the dawn of the creation of an immense intermunicipal business zone – one of the biggest in France – and to highlight the dynamic nature of this region, Jean-François Copé, Jean-François Copé, Minister-Delegate for the Budget and Administrative Reform, Government Spokesman, Mayor of Meaux and President-Founder of the Community of the Agglomeration of the Pays de Meaux agreed to answer questions put to him by Commerce International’s Philippe Adam.  

Commerce International: Why does the Pays de Meaux need an Agglomeration Community? 
Jean-François Copé: « The solution of intermunicipality was self-evident: we are stronger together than separately. Our major concern was to improve services for the region’s inhabitants whilst at the same time lowering costs for taxpayers. Uniting has enabled us to create the Agglomeration Community. Another obvious fact is that a single municipality cannot deal with many of the issues facing local elected officials today. This is clearly the case with economic development and employment. If a company establishes itself in a town, all the region’s job-seekers benefit. The agglomeration is now the only coherent and relevant scale of action. We therefore created the Community of the Agglomeration of the Pays de Meaux by bringing together 18 towns including the central town of Meaux, medium-sized towns and rural towns. Of the different spheres of competence we have chosen, economic policy comes first, but there is also employment and integration, the environment, living conditions and housing. » 

C.I.: What is the economic role of the Community of the Agglomeration of the Pays de Meaux?
J-F.C.: « Or role is above all to develop the region. We will listen to anyone who has a project to put forward. When a company wants to set up here or is looking for information, they can come to us. We give them information, put them in touch with the chambers of commerce and analyse their business plan with them. When the project begins to take shape we help them look for a suitable site and premises, the ideal investor even, and we help them in the preliminary stages of setting up their business, in particular with the administrative and legal formalities. We also offer to set up recruitment campaigns in collaboration with our partners in the field of employment. »

C.I.: The Pays de Meaux has a long industrial history. Could you tell us more about it as a modern economic region?  
J-F.C.: « Meaux has a long history and major companies have been establishing themselves around the town for a very long time. In the past, many establishments were linked to the automobile factories in Aulnay-sous-Bois, thirty kilometres away, because their sub-contractors then chose to locate to Meaux. Today, we have acquired real economic dynamism since our siting rate is extremely positive and exceeds the average for the Seine-et-Marne. This trend should be confirmed in the next few months since several major businesses are expected in our various business zones. We are home to four main types of business: automobile sub-contracting, chemicals, construction and civil engineering, and finally business services. As in France as a whole, more than 75% of our companies are small businesses.
Another advantage for the Pays de Meaux is its abundance of young, qualified workers. 30 % of our population is less than 20 years old and 60% less than 40. The Pays de Meaux’s workforce mainly falls into categories 4 and 5, that is to say, educated to university diploma level. We offer a wide range of training with courses ranging from vocational qualifications to university degrees. In Meaux itself, we have a University Institute of Technology dispensing recognised courses in IT which is set to develop over the next few years, and three centres for the training of apprentices in fields as varied as mechanical engineering, building, personal services and the food industry, not to mention the nearby University of Marne-la-Vallée. Naturally, in the economic field we have forged strong partnerships and work in close collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Seine-et-Marne and with the Meaux Chamber of Trades. We also work hand in hand with the departmental agency for economic development. Lastly, we can also rely on the support of CEZAM, the umbrella association for company directors in the Pays de Meaux. » 

C.I.: What is the sphere of influence of this regional centre and its capacity to attract business. Could the East of the Ile-de-France be a strategic choice of location for a company with international horizons?  
J-F.C.: « Choosing the Pays de Meaux is a strategic choice of the future. Our ambition is to confirm our existence as a front-ranking economic centre on a par with our neighbours Marne-la-Vallée and Roissy. To achieve this, we took a key decision ten years ago to develop the access and by-pass road infrastructures to make us into the major hub we are today. We are situated near Paris, but also near Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport and are linked to the motorway network (A1, A4, A5, A6, A104, A86). Broadly speaking, two types of business are interested in moving here: those leaving Paris or the inner suburbs, notably for financial reasons, and those wanting a location near Roissy and the heart of Europe, logistics platforms that serve the whole of France. » 

C.I.: By initiating the creation of the Pays de Meaux Agglomeration, you hope to give the area a future. Can you tell us about future projects such as the Intermunicipal Business Zone to the west of Meaux? Do you have any other hotel or business projects?
J-F.C.: « The future Pays de Meaux business park was the subject of preliminary market surveys. These revealed considerable interest in commercial activities that complement those already existing in the Agglomeration and for the high added-value logistics activity. A first phase of 80 hectares is under study and we are in the process of completing preliminary consultations. The marketing of this first phase could therefore begin in 2006. The future Intermunicipal Business Park in no way overshadows the development of existing zones however. We are working on several business hotel projects. For example, in the autumn we will open a new business hotel in our Urban Free Zone. » 

C.I.: For the company director and his employees alike, choosing a site often depends on living conditions in the area. In what ways have you fostered this aspect of the economic development of the Pays de Meaux?
J-F.C.: « It is indeed important for us to offer real quality of life to the entrepreneurs and workers who choose the Pays de Meaux. We were lucky and proud that the agglomeration’s central town - a real city of 50,000 inhabitants, the biggest in the Department – is one that has its own history and cultural and sports facilities and a range of clubs and associations to offer. Meaux has many undoubted advantages. It is a « Ville d’Art et d’Histoire », which has earned a « 4 Fleurs » award, the highest national distinction, for its living environment. Likewise, the other towns and villages in the agglomeration, flanked by the river Marne and the Ourcq Canal, and situated amongst greenery and near countryside preservation areas, all have their own charms and special features. We are taking great care to improve the quality of life in the agglomeration. As I mentioned previously, this means new infrastructures. In summer 2006 will have a real by-pass, which will change the traffic situation. Cultural and sports facilities, educational establishments, child care for infants and indeed, the attention paid to people at all stages in life, make the Pays de Meaux a place where one can live in the full sense of the term. »