SPECIAL EDITION THE ARDENNES’ ECONOMIC MAGAZINE FRANCE CIAL E P N N S S TAXION ©Amanda Rohde - Zlatko Kostic - Jacob Wackerhausen EXEMPT O E I D I T It’s the moment to invest in the Ardennes ARDENNES : THE GOOD REASONS THE ADVANTAGES - TAX FREE ZONE : HOW-TO-GUIDE AREA CONCERNED - TO WHOM DOES IT APPLY - 200 000€ - THE DIFFERENT EXEMPTIONS ©Michel Tuffery - Charleville-Mézières 2 2008 There has Special edition - a better Ardenne économique économique Ardenne to invest in Jean-Luc Warsmann Deputy for the Ardennes President for the Law Commission at the National Assembly The plan to boost the employment area called « Tax Free Zone » The objective is easy : boost the department’s economic was created by an amendment that I tabled during a cor- fabric either by simplifying the development of existing rective financial tax debate for the year 2006, and which was companies, or by being more competitive than others, voted unanimously at the French National Assembly. encouraging investment projects to be set up in the Ardennes. It allows the reduction of taxes and social security contri- In all countries, companies are demanding a reduction in butions for all investments localized in one of the 362 taxes and social security contributions. Ardennes’ municipalities concerned by this or for all jobs In the 362 Ardennes’ departments this has already been done. created in the same region. Welcome to all project bearers !!!! ©Michel Tuffery - Sedan never been 3 moment the Ardennes Géraud Spire President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Ardennes With this plan to boost the employment market area, French The CCI of the Ardennes is doing all that is possible to and European company directors in the Ardennes, have an guarantee the success of these measures and provide the advantage available which we hope, they will benefit from. necessary technical support to project bearers. These new measures, whose advantages will remain open for several years, are not only intended for people who set There has never been a better moment to invest in the up companies but also for those who have already invest- Ardennes! ed and who would like to continue their development. Therefore, take advantage of these grants. Distribution of the Ardennes population Sources : INSEE 33,6% 30,4% 28,4% 27,3% 17,8 % 23,6% Ardennes : from 0 to 24 years from 40 to 59 years 60 years old and + the good reasons In the north of France, the Ardennes Department has a unique geo- graphical situation, opening directly onto the entire North East European continent. Therefore, it is situated in the heart of a European Union in full expansion and a direct market of some 250 million inhabitants. The department is served by waterways, air, railways (high speed train service - TGV East European) since June 2007, and motorway network A wide range (going towards the Benelux in the North, Paris to the West and Germany of Financial Aids to the East.). In a legal and statutory framework, The Ardennes distinguishes itself, by a strong industrial tradition. Europe, the State, the Regional Council, the Departmental Council - The department remains one of the most industrialized in France 4 and the municipalities offer a wide range of aids which companies can and employs 40% of the working population in this sector but at the benefit from, under certain same time it has been able to take a different direction towards tech- 2008 conditions. There are particular financial aids for : nological innovation and quality, in order to widen production offers - founding or taking over a company, - hiring and training, and meet customers’ requirements. Special edition - - safety and working conditions, It is also listed as one of the first exporting French departments thanks - development and investment, - innovation and technology transfer, to the dynamism of all the companies that have contributed to main- - developing international exchanges for financing from the top to the taining a balance of trade surplus for more than 20 years. bottom of the balance sheet, Moreover, the plan put into place by the public authorities and the - the protection of the environment Ardenne économique économique Ardenne and sustainable development, state - even the European community - participates in the region’s - as well as sectional aids: (food processing industry, tourism). attractiveness. The « Tax Free Zone » plan by its exceptional character gives additional strength to all that companies and businessmen are looking for in the Ardennes department. For more information about financial aids, please contact the CCI of the Ardennes : We suggest that you discover it in the following pages. Hubert Rosoy, Telephone : 00 333 24 56 62 68 email : [email protected] Distribution 34,4% of Small craft industries 33,9% 34,2% 30,5% Sources : The Chamber of Trade of the Ardennes, 2007 21,2% 15,5% % 16,2 14,1% Job distribution stry by sector of activity Source : Transport Trade Construction Industry Food indu Food Production Building The CCI and CMA files 2007 Transports/services LONDON 7 AMSTERDAM A2 ANTWERPEN The Ardennes (08) : BRUSSEL KÖLN LIÉGE LILLE FRANKFURT CHARLEROI A3 A26 Charleville A4 LLUXEMBOURGUXEMBOURG a privileged geographical Mézières 4 Sedan A3 Sedan A31 METZ PARIS A4 A6 REIMS A4 A5 and strategic situation A4 A26 TROYES NANCY STRASBOURG The Ardennes in Europe Industrial parks Brussel National BELGIUM High Speed train TGV Brussel South Givet Charleroi River port Meuse E411 Airport E25 Revin LUXEMBOURG Bogny-sur-Meuse 5 A34 Boating A34 Charleville Luxembourg Mézières * From Charleville Mézières Tournes-Cliron E411 Signy-L'Abbaye Sedan Donchery Bazeilles-Douzy Poix-Terron Mouzon E46 dennes A34 Ar s l de Cana Rethel Aisne TGV East : 45 min* Vouziers A26 Reims Metz Roissy Charles de Gaulle A4 A4 A4 Nancy Châlons-en-Champagne Paris A26 TGV East : 1h30* An attractive operational land offer 5 industrial parks with a logistical and indus- trial vocation situated near to the A34 The advantages motorway offering improved land : Rethel : 70 hectares 15 minutes from Reims (extension to 380 hectares). Bazeilles : 100 hectares (extension to 280 hectares). Ardennes Emeraude in Tournes-Cliron : 80 hectares alongside the west branch of the A34. Ardennes Azur à Donchery : 80 ha alongside the east branch of the A34 Givet : 52 hectares in the north of the department. Village PME-PMI in Douzy : 3 000 square metres situated to the east of Sedan. Poix-Terron : 8 hectares to the south of Charleville Mézières. Industry: tradition, The CCI of the Ardennes innovation, diversification represents a cooperative A department with a strong industrial tra- fertile ground where dition, the Ardennes from a very early stage all the forces involved was recognized as the pioneer of techno- logical innovation and was able to bring have for their objectives, its numerous qualities to the forefront www.cci.sfia.fr : the internet site of progression and success. which makes this department a privileged the Ardennes’ industrial Know-How 6 On the other side of implantation for national and internatio- This catalogue, an interactive window of nal investments. the Ardennes Industrial know- 2008 this page, are some of Numerous high security parts, either for how, lists not less than the successful realizations the launch rocket Ariane, the high speed 343 companies in all and other projects train (TGV), Airbus, or automobile indus- sectors of industrial try are made in the department. Special edition - activity as varied as : that are underway. With a strong industrial know-how pas- timber, household If you are company directors, sed on from generation to generation, the equipment, food- project bearers, craftsmen, Ardennes Department is a leader as far as processing, auto- industrial employment is concerned. mobile, plastics or shopkeepers, researchers Ecobiz : a collaborative Platform connection. Ardenne économique économique Ardenne or investors… to generate business You are welcome This collaborative platform put into place Ascott’s (Ardennes Territorial Skills) : to our department. by the CCI of the Ardennes allows all its national members to access rapidly to the the integrator of the Ardennes department’s economic news and to confi- Industrial know-how dential information concerning their sec- Created on the 12th October 2006 on the tors of activity. initiative of a group of company directors Ecobiz also generates a volume of business from the Ardennes, Ascott’s leads to the between them. manufacturing of complete sets or subsets, encouraging collaborative engineering and allowing companies to land markets which before were inaccessible. 1 600 collaborators 34 companies. Poles of competitiveness for a global influence Genuine levers dedicated to support com- « Ardenne Accueille » : panies and research establishments, the an association which helps with poles of competitiveness encourage the the newcomers’ installation cooperation between international indus- trialists and our company directors and This association which was created in 1967 therefore perpetuate the economic fabric by some young executives has for vocation of the Ardennes. the welcoming and accompanying of new executives and their families that are set- Castle of Sedan - The Pole « P2MI » (Deals with the ting up home in the department. Tourism and Culture : a way of life implementing of innovating materials) 3 306 small craft industries The vocation of this pole of competitive- The Ardennes department has consider- ness leads to an opening into the research This sector participates actively in the crea- ably improved its accessibility over the past and development of all materials : metal, tion of the Ardennes richness. Jobs in the years and has adapted its supply to an ever plastic, wood or new materials. food trade, metalworking, textiles, wood, increasing waterway tourism with 210 km paper, building, joinery, excavation, trans- of inland navigation. port… These craftsmen occupy all sectors of the economy. The international Puppet theatre festival and Arthur Rimbaud have given to the Ardennes their letters patent of nobility.