Le Var, a defense ecosystem unique in France
The Var CCI brought together SMEs and the Ministry of the Armed Forces to present Defense business opportunities.
In a context where threats "combine the military, economic, cyber, and industrial spheres," the resilience of the local productive fabric is a pillar of national economic sovereignty.
It is with this perspective that the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Var and the ministère des Armées organized "Le rendez-vous de l’économie de Défense" event on October 1st.
Held at the Palais du Commerce et de la Mer in Toulon, this day brought together more than 100 local businesses. The initiative aimed to demystify access to public procurement and create direct links between SMEs and major military ordering authorities.
An often overlooked pool of opportunities
The core of the approach was to present companies with the vast scope of the ministry's needs, far beyond high technology. So-called "non-armament" purchases represent a considerable and accessible volume of business.
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These contracts cover a broad spectrum of services: construction, infrastructure maintenance, green space maintenance, security, waste management, personal services, catering, cleaning, digital technology, or fuel logistics.
Faced with SMEs often deterred by perceived administrative complexity or fear of payment delays, the speakers were keen to reassure. They recalled that the ministère des Armées has held the "Relation fournisseurs et achats responsables" label since 2014.
This label guarantees a commitment to the quality of relations with its subcontractors. Commissaire Général Christophe Daurel, director of the plateforme commissariat Sud (PFC SUD), thus insisted on the concrete actions implemented to ensure compliance with payment deadlines.
Le Var, a strategic territory
Holding this event in Toulon is highly strategic. Le Var is the leading military department in France, built around the naval base of Toulon, which is also Europe's primary military port.
This presence forms a powerful economic ecosystem: over 26,495 military personnel, 650 direct supplier companies to the ministry, and a major impact on employment with 6,062 direct jobs in the defense industry, generating nearly 12,800 indirect jobs.
On a regional scale, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur ranks as the leading French region for the defense economy, with a sector accounting for nearly 6 billion euros in annual revenue.
This momentum is supported by massive investments, such as the 273.3 million euro budget committed as of 2025 to modernize Var military infrastructure (Toulon, Hyères, île du Levant, Canjuers). These projects include a strong ecological transition component and represent potential markets for local companies.
Amplify local dynamics
The CCI du Var initiative is part of the broader framework of the André Jubelin departmental plan. Led by the Préfecture du Var, this roadmap supports the 2024-2030 military programming law by maximizing local economic benefits.
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Structured around 35 concrete actions, this plan anticipates nearly 10,000 recruitments and coordinates efforts in training and innovation. One of its flagship projects is the conversion of the Cercle naval de Toulon into an engineering school dedicated to maritime industries by 2027.
Opened by Basil Gertis, president of the CCI du Var, and marked by the presence of François de Canson for the Région Sud and Simon Babre, préfet du Var, the day allowed SMEs to meet buyers from major entities such as the Service d’infrastructure de la Défense (SID), the Service de l’énergie opérationnelle (SEO), or the Service de soutien de la flotte (SSF).
A concrete approach to transforming a national sovereignty issue into a driver of development for the Var economy.
Photos Philippe OLIVIER.