French Prime Minister François Bayrou arrived at the Global Industrie salon on March 13, 2025, two hours late, due to a lengthy meeting on the situation in Ukraine. Despite this delay, he joined forces with Minister of Labor and Employment Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet and Minister of Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci to discuss pressing industrial challenges and advocate for economic sovereignty.
Bayrou’s late arrival did not deter his commitment to the visit. His initial schedule aimed for the event to begin at 18:00; yet, the extended meeting left attendees uncertain if he would even make it to Lyon. Thankfully, he persevered, arriving at the Eurexpo exhibition hall even when reports suggested he might cancel the trip altogether. His round trip took twice as long as his time at the salon, marking what many considered to be significant dedication.
Addressing the assembled crowd, Bayrou presented his thoughts on the “terrible conjuncture,” referring to both the turmoil stemming from Ukraine and the concerning American tariffs threatening economic stability. “Who are the front-line fighters, beyond the soldiers? It’s you! And that's why I wanted to simply say thank you,” he expressed, acknowledging the industrialists' efforts amid these challenging economic times.
The regional industrial investment scene is witnessing troubling downward trends. According to the baromètre industriel de l’État released on the same day, investments within the industrial sector have plummeted by 10% compared to the previous year—an unprecedented drop since 2019. This statistic starkly contrasts with the significance of the industrial sector within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where it comprises 17.8% of the local economy’s added value. This is considerably higher than the national average of 13%. Notably, the region reported 32 net site openings out of 89 nationwide during 2024.
To combat these bureaucratic hurdles, Bayrou urged industrialists to step up and propose measures to simplify the administrative processes, which he criticized as excessive. “Propose the changes, the alleviations, the necessary removals of regulations,” he encouraged, stressing the need to liberate economic initiatives. He emphasized how bureaucracy can act as chains preventing progress, saying, “We attach ourselves to the weights causing us to stumble and preventing us from running.”
Looking regionally, the response to Europe's defense needs was another topic of emphasis at the salon. While present industrialists prepared for increased production demands, President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet with French defense industry officials on March 14, 2025. The meeting aims to explore ways to accelerate production as military action and geopolitical tensions rise across Europe.
Overall, Bayrou's presence at the Global Industrie salon emphasizes the French government's commitment to invigorate the industrial sector. His visit underlines intentions to focus on innovation, resilience, and national sovereignty during times of economic uncertainty.
With rising global tensions and industry facing formidable challenges, Bayrou’s visit serves as both a rallying call and acknowledgment of the hard work undertaken by industrialists across France. The mood among attendees was one of cautious optimism—aware of the obstacles they faced, yet enthusiastic about the pathways moving forward.
Further supporting his arguments, Bayrou conveyed the importance of maintaining competitive advantages, especially against the backdrop of potential tariff increases from the United States, proposed by former President Donald Trump. “We cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed,” he affirmed, highlighting the resilience required of European industries to weather the challenges posed by external shifts.”