Roland Rolfo: "The economic situation is showing alarming signs"
For Roland Rolfo, president of the Délégation du Var of the Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat (CMA), a new year starting is always...
ALARMING SIGNALS Also, on the occasion of the New Year's wishes ceremony at the CFA de La Seyne-sur-Mer, the president took stock of his institution: "This assessment is rather positive despite the turbulence and uncertainties inherent in our political and institutional environment.
In 2024 in the Var, we supported 2,800 craft businesses which consumed 7,400 services, a figure that is up 26% compared to the average of the last 2 years." CRAFT BUSINESSES ON THE RISE "The number of craft businesses increased by 8%, in connection with the rise in registrations under the micro-entreprise status.
These favorable developments have become a constant for several years now, establishing Var crafts as an essential economic force, with more than 60,000 businesses, representing between 35 and 40% of the local economic fabric depending on the territory," welcomed Roland Rolfo. He made the same observation regarding training: "The number of signed apprenticeship contracts increased by 8.5% compared to 2023, and our exam pass rates rose from 83 to 85%!"
In this 2024-2025 school year, we are celebrating 50 years of training within the Chambre de Métiers du Var. Indeed, our first establishments were created in 1974 in Le Beausset and Saint-Maximin (...)".
However, for the CMA representative: "Today, the economic situation is showing alarming signs with inflation still present on the prices of raw materials and energy, an unemployment rate that is rising again, and above all, a very significant increase in business failures, beyond the catch-up unfortunately expected after the end of the health crisis aid.
Order books in the construction sector, the primary sector of activity within craftsmanship, are shrinking significantly in the face of a lack of economic and political visibility, and pending upcoming regulatory changes." WORRY "As for prospects, it is true, our artisans are worried, and so are we!
They want to quickly regain stability and guarantees regarding the economic, social, and budgetary policies that will be put in place. This national situation weighs on household morale and therefore on local consumption, which impacts artisans and shopkeepers. Regarding our CMA, we are not spared either, with a drastic reduction in State funding and regional subsidies on the horizon," warned Roland Rolfo (...)
Photos: Philippe OLIVIER. In the presence of: Jean Baptiste MORINAUD, Deputy Secretary General of the préfecture, representing Philippe MAHE, préfet du Var, Sandra KUNTZ, regional councillor, representing Renaud MUSELIER, president of the Région Sud, Ludovic PONTONE, departmental councillor, representing Jean-Louis MASSON, president of the Département, Hervé STASSINOS, vice-president of the Métropole, mayor of Le Pradet, representing Jean-Pierre GIRAN, president of TPM, Thierry ALBERTINI, mayor of La Valette-du-Var, Christian SIMON, mayor of La Crau, the deputy mayors, municipal councillors and representatives of the municipalities of La Seyne-sur-Mer (Christine SINQUIN and Sandra TORRES), Toulon (Magali TURBATTE), Cuers (Denise GAUTIER), Solliès-Pont (Jean-Pierre COIQUAULT), La Farlède (Christine BOCCHECLAMPE), La Crau (Christian LESCURE) and Barjols (Philippe MOACHON), Angélique RICORDEL-PAPIN, departmental director of France Travail, Pascale ROBERDEAU, deputy director of the DDETS, Geneviève MARC, deputy departmental director of the Banque de France, Didier GOGUENHEIM, director of TVT Innovation, Richard DONATI, deputy director at the Banque Populaire Méditerranée, Denis PERRIER, president of the La Seyne-sur-Mer committee of the Société des membres de la Légion d'honneur, Frédéric MINISCALCO, director of the mission locale Corail, Erick MASCARO, territorial director of GRDF, Martine GIUSTA, training manager at AFPA, Christel FORESTIER, president of Team Phoenix, the representatives of professional organizations.
Photos: Philippe OLIVIER.