Emmanuel Macron promises investments and jobs in Dunkirk and to “fight” for Valdunes

Emmanuel Macron repeat it over and over again: among its major objectives is the reindustrialization from France. It is on this theme that the Head of State focused his trip to Dunkirk, which has lost 6,000 industrial jobs in twenty years. “The mother of battles begins now”, launched the Head of State in the Aluminum Dunkirk plant, while assuming his controversial call for a ‘pause’ new European environmental standards.

In terms of announcements, the Taiwanese group ProLogium is going to set up in the northern city, erected by the Elysée as a “symbol” of an industrial awakening in France, a “huge electric battery factory for an investment of 5.2 billion and the expected creation of 3,000 direct jobs, rejoiced the president. The company had already unveiled its project, but Emmanuel Macron reserved another announcement: the Chinese XTC and the French Orano will invest 1.5 billion euros and create 1,700 jobs in a site linked to lithium batteries, still at Dunkirk.

Points scored against American competition

Three other “gigafactory” projects had already been announced in the north of France, gradually transforming this land, long in the process of deindustrialization, into an electricity valley in France. ProLogium CEO Vincent Yang acknowledged that his company once considered investing across the Atlantic. ” THE UNITED STATES have the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act), very good subsidies”, he said to some journalists in reference to the colossal plan of public aid wanted by Joe Biden to support American industry in favor of the energy transition imposed by climate change.

But the Taiwanese finally chose France, in particular because of its nuclear energy. “We need good, stable, cheap and green electricity,” he explained. Whey for Emmanuel Macron, who sees in it the demonstration of the merits of his “electric vehicle strategy” and nuclear power. And who has built his plan to accelerate the reindustrialization of the country, presented this week, precisely to keep up with the Washington as well as in the face of Chinese competition.

Commitment to Valdunes

On the front line for Europe to respond to these proactive if not protectionist policies, the president unveiled several measures on Thursday intended to support French industry while greening it: a new tax credit for the production of batteries, wind turbines or solar panels supposed to generate 20 billion euros of investments by 2030, and an overhaul of the bonus for the purchase of an electric car so that it indirectly targets the “Made in Europe “.

As with every trip lately, the Head of State was expected by 200 to 300 demonstrators, sometimes armed with pans. Opponents of his pension reform, even as he tries to turn the page on this crisis by reinvesting in the economic field. But also employees of Valdunes, the last manufacturer in France of train wheels, released last week by its Chinese shareholder. “The Minister of Industry will be at their side to find a buyer and help,” promised the Head of State in an interview with The voice of the North published in the evening. “It is not because we are creating jobs on the side that we are not going to fight until the last quarter of an hour for Valdunes. »




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