The future aircraft carrier, an economic “Big Pang” for the territory
ADETO brought together economic players from Var to prepare for the arrival of the future aircraft carrier in Toulon.
The planned arrival in 2035 of the next-generation aircraft carrier (Pang) in the roadstead of Toulon heralds a major economic and social upheaval for the territory.
Aware of the stakes, the local economic world mobilized on June 16 at the Ibis Styles hotel in La Seyne-sur-Mer, at the initiative of the Association de Développement des Entreprises de Toulon-Ouest (ADETO).
The “Le Printemps des Entreprises” event placed this challenge at the heart of its debates with a central question: “Is our territory ready for the Big Pang?”
Titanic project
For over four centuries, the history of the Toulon metropolitan area has been linked to that of the Marine nationale. The order for the new aircraft carrier, named “France Libre”, fits into this tradition while representing a historic turning point.
Between now and its arrival, a titanic project will transform the Toulon naval base, generating cascading repercussions across the entire local ecosystem.
The organizers do not hesitate to compare the scale of this event to hosting the Olympic Games, highlighting its direct and lasting effects on key sectors. Defense, construction, and residential economy companies will be on the front line to capture opportunities and meet the many structural challenges.
Thus, the round table, moderated by journalist Bernard Maury, highlighted the fundamental questions raised by this project. How to anticipate housing needs for thousands of personnel and their families? What mobility solutions to imagine for a territory already under tension? How to orchestrate the ramp-up of subcontracting SMEs and adapt the training offer to meet specific skill needs?
These crucial questions require the mobilization of all public and private actors. The objective is to turn this transformation into an opportunity for the development and attractiveness of the western Var.
Panel of experts
To address these complex topics, ADETO brought together a high-level panel of speakers, confronting institutional, military, and economic perspectives.
Present were Yannick Chenevard, MP for Var and Rapporteur of the Navy budget at the Assemblée Nationale; Gaëtan Lefrançois, Chief Service Officer for the PANG program; Jean-Baptiste Morinaud, Deputy Secretary General of the Préfecture du Var; Fabien Piersanti, President of the Fédération du BTP du Var and First-class Chief Commissioner Arnaud Tranchant, Commander of the Toulon defense base.
Their exchanges helped lay the first milestones of a common territorial strategy.
The Association de Développement des Entreprises de Toulon-Ouest (ADETO) represents an economic fabric of 1,500 companies and more than 17,000 jobs in the municipalities of La Seyne-sur-Mer, Ollioules, and Six-Fours-les-Plages. Its mission is to unite economic players around common actions and shared solutions to foster their development.
By placing the “Big Pang” at the heart of its flagship event, the association reaffirmed its role as a catalyst and animator of the territory's major transformations.
Photos Philippe OLIVIER.